Greenpeace calls for global ban on car ads

Greenpeace has come under fire this week after it proclaimed it is “time we treated the car industry as the health hazard it is” and said car-makers should be prevented from advertising their toxic wares.

Described as "a voice for this fragile Earth," the global environmental organisation said car companies should be banned from advertising in the same way as cigarette companies.

In response to an opinion piece published by the UK’s Independent about the "deadly car industry" and its "cretinous marketing," Greenpeace International Tweeted the question 'Cigarette companies are banned from advertising, why not car companies too?'

The article, titled 'Let’s suck the glamour from the car industry – and save our cities – by killing off its cretinous marketing,' suggested that by banning global vehicle advertising, people would be inclined to drive less and cycle, walk or use public transport more.

It also listed the effects that vehicles have on society, including increased obesity rates and deaths caused by poor air quality – saying transport is the leading cause of air pollution and is killing more people in Europe than smoking.

"Cigarette marketing has been increasingly restricted, from the 1960s when television advertising was banned to 2016 when plain packaging was introduced, and over that time smoking rates and related deaths have fallen," stated the article.

But in typical Twitter style, there was an immediate backlash to Greenpeace's post, with many users suggesting we'd be better off banning the peace-loving organisation instead.

"Should we ban Greenpeace? Communism dressed up as a charity. I think we should," said one user.

"What's Greenpeace doing to save the birds?" questioned another.

Another user simply wrote: "Greenpeace are evil".

Carsales has contacted Greenpeace for comment.