For the past week Reuters employees around the world have been holding events to raise awareness on what we can do to save Earth’s environment. Like many dutiful employees I wore a green article of clothing to work today in Bangalore but I cannot say that my green tie raised my or any of my colleagues’ consciousness. However flying from India to Dubai I put my work aside and skipped the light comedy film my tired mind and body wished to watch to take in Al Gore’s recent documentary An Inconvenient Truth.
This is a great film which should be required viewing not just for those like me that were already worried about global warming but especially for those who believe it won’t happen or that it is someone else’s problem. At age 47 I just might make it through this lifetime without suffering the potentially devastating effects on our planet (but Hurricane Katrina made me wonder) but with an eight and six year old I am worried about them and the earth they will inherit.
If you want to become part of the solution go to www.climatecrisis.net. There is a lot we can do to reverse this chilling trend and we at Reuters are well placed to do so. In many ways this has been a green company from its roots as we have always used technology to avoid printing our news distributing paper copies and adding to man-made waste. Reuters has also played an important role in reporting accurately and independently about environmental issues especially in far-off places that are out of sight and out of mind. However I know there is more that we can do and I invite your suggestions.
Yeah I haven’t gotten a chance to see the movie but my step dad told me it has hardly snowed in minesodia at all this year. scary ha. Somethings up! I know it. weird weather I think it’s alot worse than people are willing to admit.
Hi Tom thought I’d try your blog after you mentioned it in your FT interview. Fully agree that “An Inconvenient Truth” should be required viewing and that we all need to become part of the solution. But not clear what Reuters are doing given it is a major energy user through it’s data centres travel offices etc. I saw that Angela Merkel mentioned 3C at Davos and when I looked at the detailed report behind the climate map at http://www.vattenfall.com/climatemap/ I was impressed by the analysis and recommendations. So is this something Reuters could/should sign up to ? One direct suggestion…. Reuters could investing in carbon offsetting through prevention of deforestation or trading carbon emissions. Mike Sayers
Mike I agree with you and Reuters has signed-up to the Climate Change commitment being led by my friend Lars Josefsson at Vattenfall. To reduce our own power consumption we are exploring the use of technological solutions such as virtualization of server farms and other ways to reduce energy use tom
Hi Tom I couldn’t agree with you more with regards to a “required viewing” of An Inconvenient Truth. As a father to be (June!) I want my children to grow up in a world with one of our greatest treasures our natural resources intact. QBP (Quality Bicycle Parts) recently achieved US LEED Gold certification for it’s 125000 square foot addition to their corporate headquarters in Minneapolis. I believe their founder Steve Flagg put his finger on the pulse in an interview with the magazine Architecture Minnesota (02/07): “The company pursued sustainable design not only for altruistic reasons but also because it made good business sense.”
Hi Tom I couldn’t agree with you more with regards to a “required viewing” of An Inconvenient Truth. As a first time father to be (June!) I want my children to grow up in a world with one of our greatest treasures our natural resources intact. QBP (Quality Bicycle Parts) recently achieved US LEED Gold certification for it’s 125000 square foot addition to their corporate headquarters in Minneapolis. I believe their founder Steve Flagg put his finger on the pulse in an interview with the magazine Architecture Minnesota (02/07): “The company pursued sustainable design not only for altruistic reasons but also because it made good business sense.”