Not Our Car Culture!

Rally for an Emission-free Future
January 13, 2008
WHERE: North American International Auto Show Detroit, MI
WHEN: 11:30 a.m. meet-up at Hart Plaza on Jefferson Ave. W at Woodward Ave. for 12:00 p.m. march and rally at Cobo Convention Center

We stand at an exciting moment in the struggle to cut greenhouse gas emissions from the auto sector. Students are converging in Detroit tomorrow at the Transportation Challenge Weekend Getaway to build the skills that will help them kick the tailpipe.

Sunday, as the North American International Auto Show kicks off in Detroit, students from around the midwest and activists from Freedom from Oil will band together merrily in a (peaceful) display of cogent intimidation that will undoubtedly draw the paparazzi, resolve this little “problem” with obstructionist automakers, and engage even more young people in the grand lucha against climate chaos! Come one, come all.

Students involved in the rally say they are pushing for more commitments by automakers to mass produce ultra-fuel-efficient cars and less mass marketing of environmental dreams. November’s Los Angeles Auto Show and last year’s NAIAS both received heavy criticism from environmental groups for having “green” themes that contrasted starkly with the auto industry’s poor record on fuel efficiency and vehicle greenhouse gas emissions.

With the first new CAFE standards in 30 years, record truck sale losses, rising gas and oil prices, and the unavoidable realities of climate change, producing fuel efficient vehicles has become politically savvy and increasingly profitable. Despite such incentives to mass produce green cars, the auto industry’s only response has been to roll out eco-concept cars that rarely make it to the assembly line.

This week, Michigan youth are holding their state’s cornerstone industry accountable to climate change concerns. Climate change is a problem we are inheriting, as the next generation of automobile consumers, we are standing up and refusing to drive cars that drive climate change.

Late last year, Michigan students delivered 80,000 letters to Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, urging him to take the climate crisis seriously.

If anyone has interest in attending the training (Friday and Saturday) as well as the rally (Sunday), have them contact Jodie Van Horn immediately for registration info: jodie@ran.org