Hackney Labour Party

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Dow Chemical Contract

There was a recent announcement to award marketing rights for the Olympic stadium 'wrap' to Dow Chemical and many groups have already expressed their concerns about the suitability of this contract.

Hackney's Mayor, Jules Pipe, has written to Lord Seb Coe, Jeremy Hunt MP and Paul Deighton (Chief Executive of LOGOC, to express our opposition to this contract.

The organisers of the Olympic Games claim that they are committed to organising a sustainable and environmentally friendly event. It is therefore completely unacceptable for Dow Chemical to be sold rights to print their logo all over the the fabric wrapping of the olympic stadium.

There is also an online petition here.

Dear Paul

Re: Dow Chemical contract

I am writing regarding the recent announcement of the award of marketing rights for the Olympic stadium 'wrap' to Dow Chemical to add Hackney's concerns to those already expressed by among others campaign groups, Amnesty International, the Shadow Minister for the Olympics and the Chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee about the suitability of this contract.

Whilst we recognise that Dow did not own Union Carbide India Limited at the time of the Bhopal chemical leak in 1984 that exposed thousands of people to harmful materials, we believe their failure since purchasing the company in 2001 to address the outstanding compensation claims or accept the financial and moral liabilities associated with the disaster makes them an unsuitable partner for the London Olympics.

Specifically we consider Dow Chemical to fall well short of LOCOG's own sustainable sourcing code which states that LOCOG will "place a high priority on environmental, social and ethical issues when procuring products and services for the Games". More broadly it is our opinion that both the positive spirit of London 2012 and LOCOG's aspirations to make this the most sustainable Games of all time are compromised by association with the terrible human disaster that took place 27 years ago.

We hope you will reconsider this decision and support those who question the appropriateness of this contract award.

Yours sincerely

Jules Pipe
Mayor of Hackney

Cc Lord Sebastian Coe, Chair, LOGOC

Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP