Filed under: Etc., Frankfurt Motor Show
German environmental organisations against the "Greening" of the Frankfurt Motor Show
It is true that the Frankfurt Motor Show has offered a wide array of "green" offerings from almost all the manufacturers. However, some German environmental organisations have raised their voice against what they consider simple make-up. Along with the environmentally-respectful vehicles, the marques still show gas guzzlers.
According to these organisations, the automakers, who used to deny climate change, now say that they're working for the environment by creating low-emission vehicles and that governmental pressure doesn't allow them to relax this approach. This makes the organisations skeptical.
"When speaking about camouflage, tricks and lies, German automakers are world champions", said Werner Reh, a traffic expert from BUND. He concludes, "Instead of installing gas-saving technologies in all their models [...], they are modernising their image to appear as environment-friendly, which becomes a massive marketing campaign."
Jürgen Resch, president of Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH/German Environment Aid), doubts how sincerely automakers have changed their approach: "For many years, they have fuelled the idea of 'bigger, faster, heavier' and now they show prototypes that leave us speechless thanks to their low emissions. Nevertheless, those who believe this will be utterly disappointed".
[Source: Reuters]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Arnie 6:19PM (9/13/2007)
Extreme environmentalists are not interested in the greening of industry. They want to attain greening by abolishing industry. That's their political aim. Death to capitalism. Clean cars are a hurdle on the way to that goal in their opinion.
Reply
Xavier Navarro 3:51AM (9/14/2007)
I think that the article states clearly that these two organisations said that they are not for abolishing capitalism but to show that the green technologies for cars should not only be for marketing purposes.
Reply
Arnie 8:15AM (9/14/2007)
I would not expect them to state their intentions. That would not improve their credibility.
Reply
Tim 9:37AM (9/14/2007)
This clean car snowball has just begun to pick up speed. 2007 was the year of changing directions. Give the automakers a little time to get their bearings, and I'm sure the larger gas sucking models will be upgraded as oil prices and GENERAL public opinion against them solidifies. We can already see that process taking place and the pace of change is accelerating each day.
I do stress however, that CHOICE and COMPETITION are important if you are NOT a socialist.
Reply