In the past, I have written about Apple's environmental issues and the way it has handled the backdating of options.

Now Apple has announced it's boosting its green credentials by reducing or eliminating the use of toxic materials in its products in the next few years and increasing its recycling of computers and iPods.

As Portfolio points out, you have to be wonder whether it's coincidental. You can't really separate that from what's going on with Apple's options scandal.

"As Home Depot and Wal-Mart have recently discovered, announcing green initiatives in the face of bad news is a great way to divert media attention from things like $100 million C.E.O. pay packages and ongoing battles over worker wages and benefits."

All this in the lead up to a meeting this week when Apple shareholders will vote on an investor proposal asking the technology company to reform its stock-option grant policies in the wake of a $105 million financial restatement to account for past option grants.

But hey, let's not be cynical.