Chicago Auto Show Shutdown - There are no "green" cars
Protests at car shows are becoming a somewhat regular thing (see below), and if the activists had better press people (i.e., someone who sent us a tip or two before the event), I'd be happy to give them a mention before things go down. As it stands, we get more love from automakers than auto-haters .We can argue about some of the anti-car activists' points, but if there's one thing I like it's a message to Drive Less, and it's usually the activist community that's making these points.
Which brings me to the Chicago Auto Show Shutdown. On Feb. 10th, they created the 8th annual shutdown event, with a critical mass bike ride, a party and a clever website with videos, comics, and blog entries. The Auto Show Shutdown folks take a more out-there stance on cars than most people. As Auto Show Shutdown member Todd, who wrote in to AutoblogGreen, said, "As you probably know, there is no such thing as a 'green car'. Whether you want to look at direct use emissions, manufacturing, the infrastructure required, or the associated issues related to car culture like the suburban model, cars aren't green in any sense of the word. [...] Sure, some are worse and some are better, but they're all pretty bad. (And not just for direct environmental reasons.)"
I suppose on some level you can't argue with Todd and the Auto Show Shutdown crew (note: I'm refraining from using the abbreviation here out of respect, but I'm thinking they should come up with a new moniker, pronto), but cars are getting better and better (some of them, anyway). Living car-free is not for all of us (to be fair, that's not exactly what these particular activists are advocating), but any group out there that wants to encourage the reduced-car lifestyle is trying to make things greener and cleaner for everyone.
Related:
[Source: Auto Show Shutdown]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sam Abuelsamid 5:03PM (2/25/2007)
I agree that driving less is a laudable goal. We need to make better use of mass transit, and combining trips would help a lot too. Unfortunately, the epidemic of suburban sprawl in the US combined with the reluctance to fund transit systems, make this difficult for many people. Until we get more people moving into smaller spaces (more urban, less suburban) and make cycling, bus/train riding and walking more attractive than driving, the best hope we have is to try and make cars cleaner and more efficient.
Reply
Jim 9:26AM (2/26/2007)
OK, I'll admit there aren't any 'green' cars. But there aren't any 'green' bicycles, or trains, or buses either.
They are all made of metal alloys that have to be mined from the ground. They all contain rubber, petroleum products in the form or grease and lubricants, and all harm the environment in their very creation through manufacturing. And they require infrastructure to operate, even the little paved bike path has oil in it's asphalt.
The only completely 'green' transportation is the two feet God gave you, and only then if you don't wear shoes (made of rubber and eurethane). But how many of us are willing to go this far? Anything less is just drawing an arbitrary line and saying "this is OK, that is not". And the line can be reasonably drawn anywhere along the continuum.
Well, maybe not anywhere, but you get the point.
Reply
Mike 10:11AM (2/27/2007)
If you get to it then, anything that uses resources that can't be immediately replaced aren't green. It's about trying to reduce the amount of resources that the developed countries are using to a sustainable level. Imagine if the cars reach the saturation world-wide that they have in the U.S. Unfortunately, people won't see using less resources as being in their best interest without a change in culture and economic incentives to live in a more urban (read: crowded) environment.
Reply
scott in summit 2:27PM (2/26/2007)
The automobile is a lot more than just a way to get to work, the mall, etc. It is also a representation of mobility and freedom itself. Advocates of mass transit and high-density living should understand that the human experience should be heterogenous, not homogenous. We should not all be herded into high-rises and shuttled around on mass transit like cattle. People who prefer to live in rural or suburban environments should not be thought of as living some incorrect way, and should be somehow "encouraged" (forced) to live some other way. To each his or her own.
Reply
Chris M 1:12AM (2/27/2007)
Sigh. These are the kinds of pompous self-righteous twits that embarass the rational wing of the environmental movement.
One of them snuck in after the show was over and took a picture of stuff packed up, then pretended that they had somehow "shut down" the show. It's over, and they accomplished nothing.
Reply