When Hewlett Packhard staff arriving for work at the company's California HQ checked their phone messages yesterday morning, they found a recorded message from Star Trek's Captain James T Kirk waiting for them. Actor William Shatner urged them to question their boss, Mark Hurd, about the reasons why HP recently reneged on its promise to phase out dangerous toxic substances from its computers by 2009.
At the same time a team of Greenpeace activists were up on the roof of the building, painting the slogan "HAZARDOUS PRODUCTS" in giant letters which could be seen by planes flying overhead. The paint was toxic-free, of course.
The action followed similar demonstrations at HP offices in China and the Netherlands highlighting the continued presence of toxic chemicals in its products.
