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Lego Ends Shell Partnership Under Greenpeace Pressure

Posted by samzenpus on from the lets-see-other-people dept.

jones_supa writes Since 1960s, we have been seeing the oil company Shell logo being featured in some Lego sets, and Legos being distributed at petrol stations in 26 countries. This marketing partnership is coming to an end, after coming under sustained pressure from Greenpeace. The environmental campaign, protesting about the oil giant's plans to drill in the Arctic, came with a YouTube video that depicted pristine Arctic, built from 120 kg of Lego, being covered in oil. CEO of Lego, Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, wants to leave the dispute between Greenpeace and Shell, and the toy company is getting out of the way.

6 of 252 comments (clear)

  1. Pixie Dust by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Because Legos are made out of pixie dust, not oil.

  2. Fuck Greenpeace by IWantMoreSpamPlease · · Score: 5, Insightful

    they are as bad as PETA. Lego are children's toys, leave your goddamn petty politics out of them.

    --
    So rise up, all ye lost ones, as one, we'll claw the clouds.
    1. Re:Fuck Greenpeace by Harlequin80 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      This. 100 times this.

      If you have a bone to pick with an organisation target that organisation. Going for non related entities because they make a softer target is wrong. The end does not justify the means. Where I work we have had death threats directed at us because some of our clients are in the mining and oil & gas space. There is nothing that can justify that type of action.

  3. Re:So, will they now be promoting "Greenpeace"? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    greenpeace isn't all good either they're often misguided and destructive.

    having shell logos on lego gas stations hardly seems that evil, if you are building a lego town you need a lego gas station, might as well be someones gas station

  4. Re:So, will they now be promoting "Greenpeace"? by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Don't forget Brent Spar: when they occupied the platform and took some measurements, it turned out Shell was actually right, so they fudged the numbers rather than admit their mistake. Greenpeace is not about the environment any more, even though many of its individual members and employees may still be. This often happens to such organisations: at some point it's no longer about the founders' goals, but about membership, money, and influence. Greenpeace is no exception: today they are a marketing firm with themselves as sole customer.

    I am sure they will offer up some excuse about Shell greenwashing its image, or brainwashing our kids about the blessings of fossil fuels, but the stark truth is that this does nothing for the environment. This announcement comes in time for GP to further their real goals: they have been out of the news for a bit and they needed a win and some publicity. Well played.

    --
    If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
  5. Re:WTF is Legos? by goulo · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Sure, just like there are not 2 Fords in the parking lot, but 2 Ford automobiles, and not 3 Pepsis on the table, but 3 Pepsi drinks, and not 4 Dells in the marketing department, but 4 Dell computers.

    Speakers, not corporate lawyers, determine language use, even if corporations wish it were otherwise.