Earth Day’s Outrageous But Legal: DOW Chemical Sponsors Live Earth’s Run for Water

Greenwashing has made it hard for discerning consumers to know which companies are truly eco-friendly. This year’s Earth Day winner of Most Obscene Greenwashing goes to DOW Chemicals (DOW). The global chemical giant was the platinum sponsor for Live Earth’s “Run for Water” event.

Wow. Dante has a special circle in hell for this level of hypocrisy. DOW is one of the largest polluters in global history. Here’s just a sample of the damage they’ve caused (Google has an endless list):

• In June 2008, DOW (and Boeing – BA) were fined $926 million over nuclear plutonium pollution in Rocky Flats, CO;
• Air pollution in Connecticut;
• Air pollution in Texas;
• Water pollution in Indiana;
• Water pollution in Cape Cod, MA;

For the record, I believe the environment will benefit most when large corporations go green. I disagree with cause-heads who bash corporations no matter how much progress is made. In fact, Fortune 500 companies are the key to reducing pollution and bringing safer products to the mass market. I love seeing Walmart (WMT) sell organic products. That’s change which will positively affect future generations.

With that said, companies like DOW should spend more time keeping cancer causing chemicals out of our water and less time insulting the intelligence of anyone who can run a simple Google (GOOG) search. It’s outrageous, but legal …

Do you think DOW should pretend to be a great custodian of our water supply? Let us know in the comments below …