An Inconvenient Truth

We're very proud of our recent endorsement in the appendix of Al Gore's blockbuster book addressing global warming, An Inconvenient Truth.  It states, "To purchase reusable bags, learn more bag facts, and find actions you can take, visit www.reusablebags.com" (pg. 316).  The appendix offers a handful of practical tips with the overarching philosophy of "Consume less, conserve more."

Using our key statistics, facts and sound bites, Gore develops a succinct pitch to raise awareness to the many problems associated with use-and-toss shopping bags:

"...an estimated 500 billion to one trillion plastic bags are consumed world-wide every year. In the U.S. alone, an estimated 12,000,000 barrels of oil are required to produce the 100 billion consumed annually... furthermore, paper bags are no better than plastic." Paper bag production delivers a global warming double-whammy -- forests (major absorbers of greenhouse gases) have to be cut down, and then the subsequent manufacturing of bags produces greenhouse gases. In short, carry a reusable bag and when asked paper or plastic, say neither... (pgs. 315-316).

Gore then touches on a parallel cause we have been passionately committed to for several years, carrying your own refillable bottle, for water or other beverages as a smart alternative to use-and-toss disposables. Gore urges, "Instead of buying single-use plastic bottles that require significant energy and resources to produce, buy a reusable container and fill it up yourself. In addition to the emissions created by producing the bottles themselves, imported water is especially energy inefficient because it has to be transported over long distances..." (pg. 316).

Link: An Inconvenient Truth - About the Book

Comments

[lucia serna]

pido a Dios nos de la oportunidad de aliviar la tierra para que le quede algo a nuestros hijos .usted esta haciendo una gran mision que Dios le ayude siempre . soy colombiana vivo en new york quisiera coloaborar pero la verdad entiendo poco ingles y quisiera imformacion en espanol si fuera posible
gracias lucia

[Jimmie]

I think it is very odd that Al Gore is campaining throught out the U.S. on the Global warming issue. The funny thing is, he talks about people owning SUV's and trucks and ext. Guess what he pulls up in, a Suburban, 3 Yukons and a Buss. Funny how he says Americans are bad people for driving these cars. Maybe he should judge him self first.

[lulu]

I do not support anything liberal Al Gore supports. He and his family are hippocrites. Who does he blame for the Ice Age?

[jack]

If you were interested enough in this subject of the environment to get to this site, you should not get sidetracked by some of your fellow travelers, i.e. Al Gore. You may not agree with him, I certainly don't, but this subject is too important to let someone like him put you off. Some things just don't make sense. Bottled water for example... especially IMPORTED bottled water. I understand the convenience factor, but at least reuse the bottle by refilling with tap water. Most, if not all, tap water in the US is potable and fit for human consumption. If we assume a one pint bottle costs one dollar, a gallon would cost eight dollars. How much would we gripe if gasoline were $8/gallon? That's an economic argument, but how about the environmental arguement. The costs of producxtion, in terms of the fossile energy, the biodegradabi- ity, the impact on the environment in gereral, and the litter factor. Surely, there is a better way to quench our thirst. Along the same lines, is the pro-
blem of plastic bags so readily provided by retail-ers. Much of the world has survived successfully by suing reusable bags. I know that is impractical for most grocery shoppers in the US, but the next best thing is the use of paper bags made from recycled paper. Think we can turn the world around on these issues? The journey of 1000 miles starts with a single step. It's time you and I took the first. step.

[Annette]

Hi,

I have multiple chemical sensitivities. And I have learned through research that I should be avoiding plastics of any kind because they are toxic. They leach out chemicals. Plastics are not good for anybody. It is not good to reuse plastic bottles either. They need to get rid of the plastic bags that they put our groceries in and bring the paper bags back. I could go on and on, but I won't.

Sincerely

Annette

[sarah]

i am concerned about our environment and i am a republican!!!!!al gore is a hypocrite and i was a little put off by your support of him. i applaud your commitment to the environment, fair trade etc. we have strike a middle ground if we are going to make a difference.

sarah

[B Braun]

Posting that Al Gore is a hippocrite is a canned personal attack to distract from the issues around global climate change (GCC). Doing so illustrates the author's willful ignorance; an anti-social behavior that most persons grow out of as adults.

GCC is the greatest moral challenge of our generation, one liners lifted from faux-conservative pundits to discredit the messenger is a sophmoric responce and indicates the author's duplicity and poor education in the face of incontrovertable evidence for this coming disaster.

B. Braun

[shamy boy]

gore should be prez and i shouldnt have to grow up in a world like this,we are all f***** up!!!!!!!!

[Joey]

Great that you guys appear - love the site

[GlenStef]

Hi there, Onload of page my antivirus put alert, check pls. Thank you GlenStef