Apple has been, for a while now, the most valuable company on the planet, with a market cap of $469 billion as of today. The next largest is Exxon/Mobil with $417 billion, followed by Google with $408 billion.

The National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) is a conservative think tank based in Washington, D.C. and an Apple shareholder. At the company’s annual shareholder meeting, NCPPR’s general counsel Justin Danhof wrote in a statement before the meeting:

“We object to increased government control over company products and operations, and likewise mandatory environmental standards. This is something [Apple] should be actively fighting, not preparing surrender.”

Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO responded that environmental efforts also make economic sense. “We do a lot of things for reasons besides profit motive. We want to leave the world better than we found it.”

Anyone had a problem with that? They should sell their Apple shares.

“Get out of the stock,” Cook suggested.

Danhof’s proposal was voted down by shareholders.

Here is a company that takes no shit from pseudoscience promoters. Apple has a long way to go to clean up its act, but with this statement, my respect for Cook has just jumped up a few notches.