The second in the series of protests against Land Rover organised by Berkshire Greenpeace occured today.
Yet another successful event!
Activists from Berkshire, Hampshire and Wiltshire Greenpeace groups converged on Webbers Land Rover on
New Road, Basingstoke. We were also joined by a journalist and two photographers from rival local papers. :o) Who will have the best pictures? Copies will be available soon if anyone wants to see...
Yet again we made an impression on the management, who wasted no time in asking us to leave his property
(before we'd even started) and quickly called the police when he realised we were gathering support from motorists passing by on New Road. Of course, the police didn't do anything, we were on the public highway, not causing any sort of nuisence - except maybe to the climate criminals business, hardly arrestable. What a waste of police time...
We positioned ourselves at a pedestrian crossing, conveniently located by one of the entrances to the showroom on New Road. With banners displayed along the road and activists with many placards we certainly caught the attention of passing motorists and pedestrians! We even had our very own lollypop lady assisting pedestrians across the road, with a lollypop that read "Stop Urban 4x4's". We received a lot of support from many motorists, pedestrians, traffic wardens (!) and some 4x4 drivers.
Time just flew by and before we knew it we had been there over two hours. We finished off with some ticketing and a well deserved Fairtrade coffee (it got a bit chilly out!).
When will the next one be? Which showroom will be next? You'll have to wait and see!
Monday, April 25, 2005
Friday, April 22, 2005
The New Cough it Up Campaign
There's a great new campaign group that has set up this neat website http://www.coughitup.cjb.net/
Their purpose? "It's about a war we're waging. You see, our opponents give out around 4 times the CO2 emissions of ordinary saloon cars and are 9 times as likely to kill a pedestrian...they are the one and only 4x4s!
Basically, we want to stir up opposition to these cars. We want them to be frowned upon as the polluters they are. Well, what can you do? This is where the name starts to make sense...COUGH! Cough! To take part in our campaign, all you have to do is fake cough at passing SUVs and urban 4x4s."
Right On guys!
Their purpose? "It's about a war we're waging. You see, our opponents give out around 4 times the CO2 emissions of ordinary saloon cars and are 9 times as likely to kill a pedestrian...they are the one and only 4x4s!
Basically, we want to stir up opposition to these cars. We want them to be frowned upon as the polluters they are. Well, what can you do? This is where the name starts to make sense...COUGH! Cough! To take part in our campaign, all you have to do is fake cough at passing SUVs and urban 4x4s."
Right On guys!
4x4s in the country
Well, we've heard our campaign is making it's way into the country. Here's a refreshing note from one of our country 4x4s owners who actually says he get's mud on his vehicle.
"Some twerp AAU4x4 rep comes to the country (um thats rural for u noodle heads)and sticks a thing on my windscreen about urban 4x4's. As ive just said this was in the country lol an my oversized gas guzzler, all covered in mud an dust tho it was cleaned 2 days prior, need i say more ? Guys target valid 4x4ers in say um London ? jeez , loopy's !!!"
"Some twerp AAU4x4 rep comes to the country (um thats rural for u noodle heads)and sticks a thing on my windscreen about urban 4x4's. As ive just said this was in the country lol an my oversized gas guzzler, all covered in mud an dust tho it was cleaned 2 days prior, need i say more ? Guys target valid 4x4ers in say um London ? jeez , loopy's !!!"
The Alliance Against Urban 4x4s hit mainstream media attention again last Friday night on BBC2's the Money Programme, with interviews and coverage from our January school run protest.
Are the new hybrid 4x4s really an acceptable answer? We don't think so. We think its a load of greenwash, and we challenge the Industry to start to take climate change and safety issues seriously.
For more information, read on:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4389871.stm
Are the new hybrid 4x4s really an acceptable answer? We don't think so. We think its a load of greenwash, and we challenge the Industry to start to take climate change and safety issues seriously.
For more information, read on:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4389871.stm
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Birmingham FoE take on Toyota's Rav4
Toyota stand accused of bringing the ‘bull’ into the Birmingham 'Bullring' with a fuel- hungry 4-wheel drive vehicle masquerading as being ‘good for the environment’.
The ravenous RAV4 emits 207g/km carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas human emissions of which are thought to cause global warming. These emissions earn the RAV4 a firm “F” rating in the UK’s new A-F labelling scheme and yet the vehicle is currently displayed in Birmingham’s largest shopping centre next to a board proclaiming Toyota’s commitment to protecting the environment.
Rob Pilling of Birmingham FOE said, “Toyota are talking a load of Bull. The RAV is a beast of car and to display it right in front of their environment claim is absurd. It is true that there are worse offenders on the road, but this vehicle emits well above the UK average. It is simply not an environmentally friendly option.”
There are many better cars to choose from. For example, Toyota manufactures the Prius, a hybrid vehicle, which emits 104 g/km carbon dioxide, half that of the RAV4. This earns it a more respectable B rating.
Birmingham FOE say if Toyota is determined to promote cars in the Bullring, they should stick to ones like the Prius. They should also display the new energy labels in a prominent position. This makes it easier for prospective buyers to choose the greenest models.
Even so, Birmingham FOE believe that sustainable transport is about a lot more than technology fixes. Even A-rated cars create problems with congestion, noise, safety, air quality, land take and social exclusion.
Rob continued, “We desperately need to reduce our dependence on private cars. We need to make more journeys on public transport and by walking and cycling.”
In this context, Toyota would have to change their stance dramatically in order to live up to their environmental rhetoric.
The ravenous RAV4 emits 207g/km carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas human emissions of which are thought to cause global warming. These emissions earn the RAV4 a firm “F” rating in the UK’s new A-F labelling scheme and yet the vehicle is currently displayed in Birmingham’s largest shopping centre next to a board proclaiming Toyota’s commitment to protecting the environment.
Rob Pilling of Birmingham FOE said, “Toyota are talking a load of Bull. The RAV is a beast of car and to display it right in front of their environment claim is absurd. It is true that there are worse offenders on the road, but this vehicle emits well above the UK average. It is simply not an environmentally friendly option.”
There are many better cars to choose from. For example, Toyota manufactures the Prius, a hybrid vehicle, which emits 104 g/km carbon dioxide, half that of the RAV4. This earns it a more respectable B rating.
Birmingham FOE say if Toyota is determined to promote cars in the Bullring, they should stick to ones like the Prius. They should also display the new energy labels in a prominent position. This makes it easier for prospective buyers to choose the greenest models.
Even so, Birmingham FOE believe that sustainable transport is about a lot more than technology fixes. Even A-rated cars create problems with congestion, noise, safety, air quality, land take and social exclusion.
Rob continued, “We desperately need to reduce our dependence on private cars. We need to make more journeys on public transport and by walking and cycling.”
In this context, Toyota would have to change their stance dramatically in order to live up to their environmental rhetoric.
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