Environmental group launches anti-Dakar Rally campaign
This year, the famous Dakar Rally has moved to South America because of security issues in its previous home in Africa. The race usually showcases the latest in all-road racing technology - diesel vehicles are doing well this year - but there's also the question of what is the real environmental impact of the race. One of Spain's most important environmental groups, Ecologistas en Acción, has asked the Rally to be finished early because of the environmental damage that more than 800 all-terrain vehicles are performing: for each 1,000 km of off-road motoring, one hectare (about 2.5 acres) is eroded. Then there is the high fuel consumption, noise and the general promotion of this type of "sport." Ecologistas en Acción thinks that the spirit of adventure and discovery themes of the adventure hide all too well the reality of big-engined vehicles running on heavyset frames through a natural environment.
[Source: Ecologistas en Acción]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ronEbear 11:03AM (1/14/2009)
And where were these activists during the last 18 Dakar rallies? Oh, I see. They only care about it now that it might affect their local regions. Does this fall under hypocrisy?
Lets not forget that they are driving through mostly inhabitable locations that are mostly devoid of life once a year, unlike the rest of the world that drive every day of the year in populated habitable environments.
I`m for the environment and green technology, but c`mon.
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damian 11:12AM (1/14/2009)
Ron, it seems that you misunderstood the post a bit. The ecologist group is from Spain (Europe) and the Dakar is taking place in Argentina/Chile (South America). They are definitely not "local regions".
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ronEbear 11:21AM (1/14/2009)
My bad, but still, c`mon.
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Curt Barger 11:53AM (1/14/2009)
Ron,
I must disagree with you.
Just because humans may or may not live in the areas affected, does NOT mean that no lives are affected. Other 2 legged and 4 legged critters are adversely impacted by such activities. So, the request to curtail the rally is perfectly justified in my opinion.
-cb
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Cellien 11:52AM (1/14/2009)
I'm torn here. I love Dakar racing (though I don't follow it very closely), but I worry about the environment. I'd have to wonder how much research was done and why they hadn't said anything in the past. I just don't see it doing that much damage, at least compared to normal everyday operations around the world.
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Tim 12:34PM (1/14/2009)
Eco-Fascists!
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Matt 12:49PM (1/14/2009)
I think the activists are missing the point. The purpose of the race is to develop technologies that make our automotive industry as a whole more efficient and therefore more environmentally friendly. The effect of 800 or so cars pales in comparison to the benefit they bring to millions of production vehicles. Besides, I find it very hard to believe that every car in that rally erodes 2.5 acres of soil. You're telling me that the event "erodes" 2,000 acres or otherwise stable dirt? Doubtful.
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Warren11050 3:24PM (1/14/2009)
These activists are WHACKED!!! They are the same people who believe that AGW is real! They are not activists... They are simply joiners of anything anti corporate.
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Chris 5:14PM (1/14/2009)
You can't single anyone out. If you are going after the Dakar Rally how about going after Nascar? Or Formula One? Or any of the sporting events using motor vehicles? I know NASCAR might be trying to cut down on emissions but there are other sporting events that contribute to green house gases more than the Dakar Rally.
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Michael 5:33PM (1/14/2009)
Yes, but since it's on a road, it's not bad for the environment. Jeez, don't you know anything?
NapierNomad 9:46AM (1/15/2009)
"how about going after Nascar? Or Formula One? Or any of the sporting events using motor vehicles? "
Those targets are in their sights. Dakar is easier to go after because not as many people follow it. Once they set the precedent, going after other motor sports will be less trouble.
bill 10:12AM (1/15/2009)
It is way past time to launch a campaign against environmentalists. Their concerns are well past their sell dates, and they need to be broomed from the shelf so the rest of us can live our lives without fearing our every breath is harming the environment.
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RPM 8:49PM (1/15/2009)
Some days my breath IS harmful to the environment :-)
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Joey Mazz 12:32AM (1/16/2009)
The amount of terrain erosion and environmental damage is almost nonexistant. Trucks driving on dirt roads, and through sand dunes aren't really hurting the local environment, it's not like they are intentionally running over toirtoises and native children. Sure they burn a lot of fuel, but daily commuters driving for an hour in a city like L.A. burn more fuel than these trucks will for the entirity of the rally. Besides, companies use this rally as a way to develop and advertise their off-roading technology, and I'm pretty sure most conservationists and biologists use SUVs and jeeps when they work in the field.
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Ruth Rosenhek 9:47PM (5/29/2009)
Public concern at a rally against the Repco rally in New South Wales Australia can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Md0jeE9rE1s. While there are some who are concerned from an environmental standpoint, the major problem, from my point of view, is that the democratic process here in Australia is once again being overridden by politicians who are now pushing through state level special events legislation that will take the matter out of the hands of Local Councils and make it a shoo in at the State level.
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