[Greenbuilding] [BULK] Re: Tata, funny name, un funny topic.

[Lawrence Lile]

I knew a guy in Hong Kong that bought a car.  Fancy Mercedes.  It cost him so much to license, park, and insure, not to mention gas it up, that he finally sold it.  The bill was thousands and thousands per year. One time he picks us up in this car at the airport.  He was really excited about that.  I had suggested we just take the subway, it is really efficient.  After 45 minutes of traffic jams, we were nowhere near our hotel, he had already had a traffic accident, and he was arguing with a policeman.  

There *ARE* forces which may counteract the "one chinese, one car" trend!

--Lawrence 


-----Original Message-----
From: greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org on behalf of Bob Korves
Sent: Mon 1/14/2008 10:40 PM
To: greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org
Subject: [BULK]  Re: [Greenbuilding] Tata, funny name, un funny topic.
 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kirsten A Flynn" <kir at declan.com>
To: "John Porterfield" <john_m_porterfield at yahoo.com>
Cc: <greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org>
Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 9:34 AM
Subject: [Greenbuilding] Tata, funny name, un funny topic.


>I think the main point, and why eco freaks like me have our knickers
> in a twist over this car, has little to do with whether it is more or
> less efficient than a Prius.  The thing that frightens me is that if
> even a fraction of Indians and Chinese can afford this car, even if it
> is micro emissions, we are in deep (methane producing) poop.
>
> The car based North American lifestyle produces a lot more carbon than
> a more "primitive" lifestyle currently existing in other countries
> especially China and India.  These two continents also have tremendous
> population, many of whom have now been exposed to the idea of Western
> affluence.  (infected with Affluenza)  A recent survey of Chinese
> youth found that they were very interested in living a green
> lifestyle, but 84% wanted to get a car first.  I am sure this would be
> true in India also.
>
> This cheap car removes one barrier to these increasingly urbanized,
> and enormous populations starting to approach western levels of carbon
> emissions.  Yikes.
>
> Lets get a grip on population.  Every citizen of North America, added
> to every citizen of the EU,  added to every citizen of South America
> could each and every one of them find a friend in China.  Yikes.
>
> Now this is of course a touchy subject, as we have seen at Kyoto, in
> Bali, and even in the rhetoric of GWB.  Can we make the developing
> nations cap when we are the "carbon sinners"?  Is it fair to try and
> regulate a country that is just trying to achieve the health and
> quality of life for it's citizens that we already have?  I don't know
> the solutions, and I am not running for public office (thank god).
> But I am freaked out about cars that are affordable to everyone.
>
> Kirsten A Flynn

e·lit·ism or é·lit·ism (-ltzm, -l-)
n.
1. The belief that certain persons or members of certain classes or groups
deserve favored treatment by virtue of their perceived superiority, as in
intellect, social status, or financial resources.
2.
a. The sense of entitlement enjoyed by such a group or class.
b. Control, rule, or domination by such a group or class.

eq·ui·ty (kw-t)
n. pl. eq·ui·ties
1. The state, quality, or ideal of being just, impartial, and fair.
2. Something that is just, impartial, and fair

-Bob Korves


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