In a recent article, Eco Chick nailed one of the most common pitfalls of “environmentalists” – the practice of buying a greener product, assuming the purchase will help to solve global warming and our environmental predicament.The debate is over how green a Smart Car really is once manufacturing and materials become part of the equation. It’s similar to the recent explosion of chatter over whether a Prius is actually more environmental than a Hummer when intensive elements like the hybrid’s batteries are included.
From Eco Chick:
Buying a Smart Car is kind of like putting a band aid on a giant gash- technically, at a minuscule level, it’s helping- but if your concern stops at your purchase, you’re still going to bleed to death… and worse, you may begin to confuse consumerism with activism. Often, trying to change the world by buying things isn’t really creating the change that companies convince us it is.
Of course if you’re going to drive a car, buy the most fuel efficient and least polluting model you can find, and cram as many passengers in there as possible. The end message is largely a redux of Carectomy’s central message: The greenest car is the one you don’t drive. Or better yet, the one you don’t buy.
Photo via flickr by Brad Pennock & s,B – Michael Brenton
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Its good that Alan Durning and his family gave up cars which I know can be difficult in a country like America, especially outside of the cities. I gave up cars in 1977, that’s 31 years without owning a car and I have never rented one in those 31 years. I’m a full time artist and rely on public transport. I do hire a truck to take my paintings to my exhibitions. I also use taxi’s sometimes but usually only if the public transport is closed down. I have lived in the countryside and alpine mountains and still managed without a car. I can’t even remember the last time I actually drove one. Of cause, no one is car free because our food is produced with cars, delivered by cars, the power and water companies, the sewers etc. I have tried to keep my carbon footprint to the minimum at least at the level of a second world country. I do not use air conditioning or central heating. If you be good if more people tried to live without cars, even if only for one year.
Thanks for that link I look forward to reading more from the Durings. and he is dead on when he states, [i]“When you don’t have a car, you are forced to consider your options for each trip. You have to think more. And that is often a good thing, because often there are better alternatives than driving.” [/i]
So true…