Green or Mean - etyres recommends An Inconvenient Truth

Green or Mean ? etyres recommends "An Inconvenient Truth"

By Emily Henry
Contributing Writer

Not only has etyres been committed to its green policy since its inception, it also encourages wider awareness about environmental issues. “What impacts the planet eventually impacts us all”, said MD Tony Bowman. On the subject of environmental awareness, a recently released movie of dramatic theme and content is recommended viewing… “An Inconvenient Truth”. Etyres believes that every company should have an active green policy, especially those that use fuels.

The once illusive threat of global warming… that seemed more of an ‘idea’ than a quickening actuality… has been given an increased presence in the political arena since hurricane Katrina. For Al Gore, whose political agenda had been dedicated to the immediacy of the threat of global warming since the 1970’s, Katrina was the icing on the cake. “What changed in the United States with Hurricane Katrina was a feeling that we have entered a period of consequences”, declared Gore in the lecture that formed the basis of his movie-debut, An Inconvenient Truth.

Unlike previous movies which have attempted to instil the sense of urgency that Al Gore deems vital, such as The Day After Tomorrow, this movie needs no special effects. In fact, the statistics speak for themselves and little more is required for “An Inconvenient Truth” than a lecture hall and a camera crew. The year of 2005 broke hurricane records, with a total of 28 storms; violent hurricanes have doubled in the last thirty years. The statistics not only prove that global warming is a pressing issue, but they also indicate future consequences: Over a million species will have reached extinction by the year 2050 as the Arctic Ocean becomes completely ice-free; droughts, wildfires and heat waves will be more intense and frequent and the global sea level will rise by twenty feet… as illustrated in “An Inconvenient Truth”.

Environmental issues have always been a difficult topic to push to the forefront of the public mind; they don’t affect the normality of daily life for the majority of people and they’re completely invisible. Research conducted by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) has found that 65% of the world’s leading companies (including Honda and Bridgestone) have not implemented an emissions reduction programme or other green policy. These companies alone are responsible for 10% of the world’s annual green house gases emissions.

There are many small changes that the average person can make to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the most significant of which involve their cars. For example, ensuring tyres are properly inflated improves mileage by 3%... and for every gallon saved, twenty pounds of carbon dioxide is protected from the atmosphere. The most drastic changes are coming from the greener laws implemented by the government. Since July 16th this year, used tyres are no longer allowed to be disposed of in landfills. This means that tons of rubber is being recycled.

Companies that have an operational green policy are to be credited for tackling the issue to the best of their ability rather than opting to ignore it. Many aspects of corporate routine, from the mundane to the extreme, can be altered to produce effects: ride-sharing and accurate journey planning reduces carbon emissions by one pound for every mile not driven; office waste can be recycled, and research can be done into greener options across the board.

Etyres’ Green Policy is not only in operation, but is being updated as often as environmentally friendly options become more increasingly available. Through paying close attention to developments and statistics, companies can aid the struggle against global warming without harming business. Pre-emptive action is necessary to solve this major problem, even before the new green laws may come into effect. Recommending the movie “An Inconvenient Truth” is perhaps another small step in raising the awareness needed to motivate other companies to enact an adequate green policy.

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