[Sacto Critical Mass] Shame on Shimano

[Russell, Jeff]

Fellow cyclists and ocean-lovers:

 

We are preparing to launch a “Shame on Shimano” campaign in Sacramento on May 16, in conjunction with the first stage of the Tour of California.  Shimano, a company that makes bike parts and fishing reels, is also the top funder of opposition campaigns against California’s Marine Life Protection Act and a national policy that would help sustain healthy oceans. 

 

Many people own bikes with Shimano components, but have no idea that Shimano actively tramples ocean protection efforts.  Shimano is the world’s largest bicycle component manufacturer, and we think it’s time to hold this company accountable for its anti-environment crusade, especially in light of the devastating events in recent weeks that have displayed the fragility of our oceans. 

 

volunteers ARE needed to wear (and take home) really cool Shame on Shimano t-shirts and help canvass the crowd.  The volunteers will engage with the crowd about Shimano and coastal protection and hand out brochures.  The scene will be videotaped to create mini films for social media web sites. So far we have found cyclists receptive to this information and very concerned about Shimano’s activities.

 

Volunteers need to be available the afternoon of Sunday, May 16^th from about 11:30: to 3:00 for the finish of the Tour of California’s first stage at the Capitol building.  If everyone gets there at 11:30 we may be able to leave before 3:00 depending on how the event goes and if we get all the video footage we need. 

 

It’s going to be a fun and festive event for an important cause.   Please let me know if you can participate, and if you can do it or have friends in the Davis or Sacramento areas who would be willing to help. I will send you more information about the campaign, meeting location and timing.

 

Many thanks,

Jeff

 

Jeff Russell

Oceans Program

Natural Resources Defense Council

jrus...@nrdc.org

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[Evan Shorter]

The reason that Shimano opposes these propositions is because preventing fishing and exploitation of ocean waters cuts down on the market for fishing supplies. We cant blame Shimano for fighting an initiative that would hurt the company. We ride bikes, i don't believe its right to tear down one of the largest contributors of the sport and the lifestyle for supporting a movement against excessive environmental protection at the cost of jobs and company services. If Shimano loses money, perhaps they'll have to cut production on that rare part that you're vintage fixie needs to continue working?
I'm concerned about you're excessive concern.
Just my thought's on the matter.
-Evan

[Thuha Tran]

Evan and everyone,

 

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Evan.  Although I agree with boycotting Shimano, your thoughts, Evan, do point out that there is an apparent conflict of interests here.  Not all cyclists are environmentalists, just as much as not all environmentalists are cyclists.  The situation with Shimano isn't black and white, so I shouldn't take it as that.  Although I'm for the environment, I couldn't just blindly oppose Shimano for their anti-environmentalist efforts, meanwhile support them as a cycling parts company.  How many of us drive cars made by anti-environmentalist car manufacturers for instance? From here, what this means for me or anyone else will be different.  Perhaps my path is to boycott Shimano parts because I'm in a place to choose to do that.  Maybe you or any other person would do something else true to yourself/ her/himself.  Your opinion has been helpful.

 

Thuha

[jrus...@nrdc.org]

Dear Evan and Thuha,

Thank you both for your thoughtful responses. I would like to clarify
a few key points.

First, it is important to know that the marine protected areas that
Shimano opposes would actually serve to rebuild fish populations in
the long-term, a benefit for fish, fishermen and fishing companies.
Scientific surveys of marine reserves around the Channel Islands that
have been in place for seven years show that fish populations both
within and outside of the reserves are rebounding (see
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/channel_islands/pdfs/fiveyears_full.pdf).
If you are fishing near the reserve, you have a much better chance of
landing a lingcod or rockfish now than you did before the reserves
were put in place. The Channel Islands study also monitored changes
in fishing activity: before the protected areas were created, the
number of recreational fishing boat trips had been decreasing
steadily, but since the reserves were created in 2003, those trips
have increased each year, providing a boost to the recreational
fishing industry.

Second, it is true that not all cyclists are environmentalists.
However, we think that cyclists who DO care about the health of our
oceans should know that the company they purchase bike components from
is using that money to fight ocean conservation efforts, including
California’s marine protected areas.

Finally, while NRDC supports the original Shame on Shimano campaign
goals of educating people about Shimano’s efforts to slow or suspend
California’s Marine Life Protection Act process and of urging Shimano
to withdraw from those activities, the Shame on Shimano campaign is
not an NRDC initiative and NRDC is not supporting a call to boycott
Shimano products at this time.

Thanks,
Jeff Russell

> > On Tue, May 11, 2010 at 10:36 AM, Russell, Jeff <jruss...@nrdc.org> wrote:
>
> >>  Fellow cyclists and ocean-lovers:
>

> >> We are preparing to launch a “Shame on Shimano” campaign *in Sacramento
> >> on May 16*, in conjunction with the first stage of the Tour of

> >> California.  Shimano, a company that makes bike parts and fishing reels, is
> >> also the top funder of opposition campaigns against California’s Marine Life
> >> Protection Act and a national policy that would help sustain healthy
> >> oceans.
>
> >> Many people own bikes with Shimano components, but have no idea that
> >> Shimano actively tramples ocean protection efforts.  Shimano is the world’s
> >> largest bicycle component manufacturer, and we think it’s time to hold this
> >> company accountable for its anti-environment crusade, especially in light of
> >> the devastating events in recent weeks that have displayed the fragility of
> >> our oceans.
>

> >> *volunteers ARE needed* to wear (and take home) really cool Shame on

> >> Shimano t-shirts and help canvass the crowd.  The volunteers will engage
> >> with the crowd about Shimano and coastal protection and hand out brochures.
> >> The scene will be videotaped to create mini films for social media web
> >> sites. So far we have found cyclists receptive to this information and very
> >> concerned about Shimano’s activities.
>
> >> Volunteers need to be available the afternoon of Sunday, May 16th from
> >> about 11:30: to 3:00 for the finish of the Tour of California’s first stage
> >> at the Capitol building.  If everyone gets there at 11:30 we may be able to
> >> leave before 3:00 depending on how the event goes and if we get all the
> >> video footage we need.
>
> >> It’s going to be a fun and festive event for an important cause.   Please
> >> let me know if you can participate, and if you can do it or have friends in
> >> the Davis or Sacramento areas who would be willing to help. I will send you
> >> more information about the campaign, meeting location and timing.
>
> >> Many thanks,
>
> >> Jeff
>
>

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>
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