Hi, Here's an email I got from Greenpeace who have been lobbying VW over some of their environmental policies. Very positive result. (prompted to post this up for the people who want to keep their VW's and politics separate, oops, welcome to the real world, is that clean air your breathing? > ) Greenpeace Akdeniz VW's Dark Side 4 October 2011 Hello friends and Jedi, We’re not sure it’s true, but apparently Volkswagen has spoken to the Financial Times saying it can meet the car efficiency target it's been lobbying against. This is fantastic news and – if true – would represent a major shift in Volkswagen’s policy. Email VW to congratulate them and ask to confirm the news Earlier this year when we wrote to Volkswagen, they replied clearly stating they were opposed to the current European Commission recommendation for car efficiency. VW claimed the targets are "not based on sound impact assessment nor on a realistic appreciation of the costs and technical progress necessary to meet the goal within the timescale." But it seems that VW has changed its mind. An FT special report says: "[VW] says it can meet the European Union’s carbon dioxide target of 120 grams per kilometre by 2012 – and even the tougher 95g/km target expected in 2020." Sounds like a shift to us! And we need these efficiency targets if we're going to protect the Arctic from reckless oil drilling. That said, we’d like to hear it from Volkswagen so please email Jurgen Leohold, Head of Research, to confirm the good news. Use the Force, James Sadri Greenpeace UK PS We've just passed the 400,000 mark of people calling on VW to change - thanks to all of you! great to hear that VW are possibly taking a more responsible stance on sustainability targets, now we just have to get rid of all those dodgy old aircooled's and fit the hoverpads O0 Cheers s
I've only one thing to say to Greenpeace. :censored: off They should stick to saving whales. It's the only thing they're good at.
I was just trying to illustrate how little was said about the actual post which I took the trouble to put up here. i thought it was a positive thing that the company we revere is signing up to making moves to sustain our world. You can call Greenpeace all the names you like but it hasnt actually explained anything.. As an organisation I believe they are to be respected for what theyve done: http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/what-we-do the reaction of the forum, just name calling is frankly...Dull i love driving my bus but that's not going to be for much longer, clearly... decade? 2 decades... unlikely So here's hoping for some hoverpads! Cheers s
Hiya Steve. I suppose its of benefit to me that people who want to and can afford to can buy a lower emmisions car. But exactly how much benefit. My immediate environment should improve by.... probably not a great deal really but I suppose if the first world makes the effort then the emerging industrial powers will do also. Wont they!?
I hope you are right Steve. Its the role of the 1st world to move the technology on. Indeed to be the R+D dept for the globe. The faster we innovate the faster the producing nations will utilise the technology. There is a glimmer of hope there.
I'm not so sure we can claim that role now, remember the Japanese motorcycle industry. First they copy then they innovate. And now Indian and chinese production is outstripping the west not just because of lots of cheap labour but now they are innovating. I think our best chance is small batch engineering and micro production. Seen those 3D printer prototypes? it's a precursor to the star trekian dial up a product and it's manufactured on site. lots of very cool stuff coming, I wish i was my 10 year old ^-^ Yeah I am optimistic, think what could be in 30 years time! Cheers s
VW don't care about sustaining our world! They care about PROFIT only. That's their priority. They're no different from any other mass vehicle manufacturer, or any other business for that matter. Being seen to be 'green' and agree with Green Peace's views kills two birds with one stone. It keeps Green Peace of their backs and boosts sales to folk who've been fooled into thinking they can help save the planet by buying one of their cars. Generally, I think a lot of the 'general public' associate Splitties and Bays to Green Peace, 'being green', 'enviromentalism', 'save the world', 'planet-loving hippy types' and all that jazz. I have zero time for anyone who tries to preach to me about saving the world, CO2 emissions, etc, etc. I find it as offensive as a Jehovah Witness knocking at my door. Don't get me wrong, I believe in 'live and let live', but loathe folk who try to force their views on me. But if I were to meet an enviromentalist driving an old VW bus, then I'd feel compelled to force my view on him. I'd call him a hypocrite. Because if he had any idea of the amount of CO2 kicked out by his bus then he'd be quite disturbed. Maybe he does know, but conveniently turns a blind eye to it? So if you want to save the world then get rid of your bus.
keep your engine running well and choose your driving style and you'll keep your emissions down. One MOT we had for Wilma had an incredibly low emission results much better than modern cars. We've not had a reported emissions test on the last MOT but it's probably the same.
@baydreams I think that's the whole point, sustainability is actually good business If you're making cars and the fuel supply is diminishing then itakes sense to make your cars use less fuel. I don't see green policies as anti business actually it's the other way round. I also think it a bit one dimensional to polarise people into green and non green and call them hypocrites if they run a bus. I would say that most people on here take measures to save energy etc(recent posts about low energy bulbs etc.). If we take a longer view we all know that things have to change, current resources are finite. We know that gurgling around in our works of art won't last forever. Do we just put our head in the sand and call people hypocrites for having what are now mainstream views about energy use etc or do we acknowledge that the world ain't perfect and make decisions about how we use our resources. I for one will take my bus out. Not everyday there are now 80mpg cars for that. I'll enjoy my bus like a setting sun, and then one day it'll be over... Cheers S
Green policies are, generally, anti-business. It's one reason, of several, why China and India continue to forge ahead and leave the rest of the world for dead. Petrol powered vehicles are unlikely to ever become a thing of the past. The future is hydrogen. Petrol powered vehicles will still be used, albeit to a much less extent, similar to horses when motor vehicles were first invented. All I've been saying is that 'green this', 'green that' has become quite an obsession for some. Low energy bulbs are hardly going to save our planet are they. To me, it's all quite pathetic. It's nothing more than a load of folk jumping on the same band wagon, because it's seen as trendy, politically correct and the responsible thing to do.
And yet cars are averaging higher and higher MPG's. Why would that be. Every council in the land runs a recycling scheme. All new builds over a certain size are subject to energy audits etc The list goes on. Sustainability is definitely in the mainstream as a driver for business. I think your views used to be bang on about ten years ago but the world has moved on: Check out this article about China's green policies: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2011/mar/07/china-security-environment-policy The momentum is undeniably towards sustainibility and eficiency as the cornerstones of business.. Cheers s
It is all a con though. Oil is not running out and it's less harmfull to the planet to run an old VW in relation to a new vehicle, despite the diference inCo2 emissions or mpg. And for those reasons i'm out 8)
