Does the
WWF cooperate with "the biggest environmental sinners on the planet"?
Author Wilfried Huismann says yes, and his dispute with the WWF about its
agenda and industry ties has escalated.
Miniature
pandas on yogurt containers and bags of frozen fish - the logo of the
environmental organization World Wildlife Fund (WWF) stands for environmental
responsibility. It is considered one of the "most trustworthy brands in
the world," writes documentary filmmaker Wilfied Huismann in his book
"Schwarzbuch WWF - Dunkle Geschäfte im Zeichen des Panda" (Black Book
WWF - Dark Dealings in the Name of the Panda).
That's why
Huismann was upset to see the WWF emblem on a package of salmon produced by a Norwegian
company that is responsible for what he calls a "major environmental
fiasco." He began digging into the company's production methods while at
work on a film about salmon breeding in Chile in 2009, Huismann told DW.
"There
were huge amounts of antibiotics and chemicals being dumped into the sea, and
fish populations were being completely fished out in order to produce food for
the salmon in cages," he said, adding that the principles of environmental
protection are being abandoned when the WWF places its logo on such companies'
products.
Since then,
the author and filmmaker has been at odds with the WWF.
On whose
side?
 |
| Huismann believes the WWF isn't living up to its mission |
Last year,
Huismann's film "Pakt mit dem Panda" (Pact with the Panda) unleashed
heated controversy. And this year, the filmmaker renewed his criticism in the
form of a book. Summarizing the book, Huismann said he charges that the WWF
cooperates with "major anti-environmentalists like Monsanto, the largest
biotech company in the world, or with British Petroleum and Shell,"
lending them a "green image" along the way.
The WWF
rejects the claims Huismann makes in his book and film.
WWF Germany
spokesman Jörn Ehlers said the author has the right to express his opinion, but
"when he goes beyond that and puts forth as facts things that are false,
then we of course react strongly."
Trading
words
The WWF
sought an interim injunction against the book at Cologne's district court. The
court said it could appreciate some of the WWF's concerns, but it also stressed
that the organization must accept criticism. Beginning in June, 2012, Huismann
and the WWF have tried to come to agreement outside of the court. But finding
evidence capable of negating Huismann's criticisms is problematic, Ehlers said.
As an
example, Ehlers cited the author's claims about the WWF's work in Indonesia.
The organization aims to stop deforestation initiated by palm oil plantations
there, but Huismann says the organization is content to protect just a small
part of the land while letting clear cutters have their way elsewhere. Deforestation
destroys the habitat of orangutans - animals which the WWF has used to wage
successful donations compaigns, Huismann added.
In
response, the WWF presented satellite images that the organization believes
refute that criticism. However, Ehlers acknowledged that it is very difficult
to provide evidence in enough detail to contravene what Huismann claims.
"It's
his word against ours," Ehlers said.
A further
point of contention for Huismann is the WWF's participation in talks with
industry representatives, like at the Round Table Palm Oil. Discussions held at
that event aimed to establish criteria and standards for certifying sustainable
forms of palm oil.
"Purely
false marketing," said Huismann, who argues that there can be no palm oil
without deforestation.
Some
environmental groups reject cooperation with industry representatives at
roundtable discussions like these. But Ehlers does not accept Huismann's
characterization of the talks as offering cooperation with
anti-environmentalists. Instead, the WWF spokesman said, the process is about
setting basic standards that limit negative effects on the environmental.
Greenwashing?
When
environmental advocacy groups take part at industry roundtables, there is a
danger their participation can lend undeserving companies a green image.
 |
| Deforestation deprives orangutans of their home |
"We're
aware of this risk, and we also have very careful internal discussions about
whether that is helpful. We think that we can achieve more by going this route
than if we don't participate," Ehlers said.
The
enduring dispute between Huismann and the WFF has led to frayed nerves and
harsh words from both camps.
"Ridiculous,
typical Huismann," the experienced spokesman said when asked about
Huismann's claim that the WWF's creation of a global land use plan represents
"a service for industry."
Huismann
always twists the facts "as though the WWF were responsible for all
environmental destruction in the world," Ehlers said.
Differing
approaches
The recent
escalation in the dispute between the WWF and the author suggests the
significance of the controversy for the "largest and most influential
environmental protection organization in Germany," as WWF Germany writes
in its mission statement. The credibility and image of the organization behind
the panda logo are at stake - as are its funding streams.
But the
back and forth with Huismann also suggests a fundamental split when it comes to
ecology.
 |
| Greenpeace favors more oppositional tactics than the WWF |
While
Greenpeace and other environmental organizations employ protests and
oppositional tactics, the WWF is convinced that the environment can only be
protected in dialogue with industry. But the organization has not done enough
to justify that stance publically, Ehlers said, noting that as one lesson the
group has drawn from Huismann's book.
"We
decided to take this path because we believe that it lets us achieve the most.
We perhaps have to go more on the offensive to say why we are doing these
things, so that people understand them," he explained.
Huismann
has said the goal of his book was to unleash a debate about the environmental
protection movement. On that point, he seems to have succeeded - both within
and beyond the WWF.
Despite the
environmental group's protests, the book is still being sold without any
changes, and it is now in its second edition.
Author: Irene Quaile / gsw
Editor: Andrea Rönsberg
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