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WORLD CARFREE NEWS >>>
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Edition no. 21 - June 2005 - English version
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Contents:
QUOTATION OF THE MONTH
IN BRIEF
WORLD NEWS
- EU EXPANSION BAD FOR RAIL
- GREENPEACE ACTIVISTS SHUT DOWN RANGE ROVER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- REGISTRATION FOR TOWARDS CARFREE CITIES V
- ECOTOPIA GATHERING, AUGUST, MOLDOVA
- ECOTOPIA BIKETOUR
- CARFREE DAYS IN SUMMER - GERMANY
- CARFREE DAYS IN SUMMER - PITTSBURGH, USA
- BIKE & TRANSIT EXPO, NEW YORK
- BIKE ZINE AVAILABLE
DISCLAIMER
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QUOTATION OF THE MONTH >>
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"The car has become the carapace, the protective and aggressive shell, of
urban and suburban man."
- Marshall McLuhan, social critic
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IN BRIEF >>
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- On May 25, the Energy Committee of the United States Senate voted to
require US ethanol production to reach at least 8 billion gallons a year by
2012, double the current output of this gasoline additive. Proponents of
the bill say it will help the U.S. be less dependent on foreign oil.
Opponents claim it will make gasoline more expensive. A week earlier, the
same committee rejected a plan to require sport utility vehicles and
minivans to become more fuel efficient and achieve the same gasoline
mileage as passenger cars in six years
- France is also moving to increase the production of alternative fuels on
May 19, granting tax rebates to produce an extra 700,000 tonnes of
biodiesel and 250,000 tonnes of ethanol per year. Current annual production
stands at 200,000 tonnes of ethanol and 500,000 tonnes of biodiesel.
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WORLD NEWS >>
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EU EXPANSION BAD FOR RAIL
One year after nine contries of Central and Eastern Europe joined the
European Union, the German rail alliance "Allianz pro Schiene" has released
a report saying that railways have been one of the big losers of EU
expansion. Truck transport is exploding, while train tracks are rotting
away. Although the group focusses on Germany ("If Germany doesn't massively
speed up expansion of train connections to Poland, it will negatively
influence not only the environment, but also economic development," says
Allianz pro Schiene's Dirk Flege), "transit countries" such as Austria and
the Czech Republic have felt the full impact of the new open borders.
Allianz for Schiene's specific demands include modernising at least the
most important train connections between Poland and Germany. A comparison:
there are eight train connections but 21 road connections (including four
brand-new motorways) between the two countries. "This doesn't give the
imporession that transport policy is serious about transferring more
traffic onto rail," says Flege.
The figures for personal transport don't look too promising, either.
Today, some 900,000 people travel from Germany to Poland by train every
year. This is expected to climb to
1.7 million by 2015. In comparison, personal automobile traffic is in the
same period expected to climb from 38.5 to 62 million people.
GREENPEACE ACTIVISTS SHUT DOWN RANGE ROVER
On May 16, 35 members of Greenpeace UK shut down an assembly line in Great
Britain that was making Range Rover SUVs. The volunteers cut power to the
assembly line and handcuffed themselves to unfinished vehicles along the
500-foot-long assembly line. Using yellow "crime scene" tape, they labelled
the area a "climate crime scene." According to Greenpeace, this is the
first time anywhere in the world that protesters have shut down a factory
making Sports Utility Vehicles.
The activists did not shut down production of the Land Rover Defender,
which they consider a vehicle for legitimate agricultural and industrial
purposes. The point was to call attention to the wasteful nature of
"off-road" cars built mainly for on-road personal transport and which have
a fuel efficiency of just 12 miles per gallon. The new Range Rover Sport,
says Greenpeace, has fewer miles to the gallon than the Model T Ford built
80 years ago.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS >>
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REGISTRATION FOR TOWARDS CARFREE CITIES V: JULY 18-21
Registration is open for the Towards Carfree Cities V conference, which
will take place July 18-21 in Budapest, Hungary. The World Carfree Network
annual meeting will take place afterward on July 22. You can register
on-line or download a registration form at
<<
http://www.worldcarfree.net/conference/>
www.worldcarfree.net/conference/>.
The conference programme and accommodation information can be found there
as well.
ECOTOPIA GATHERING, AUGUST, MOLDOVA
You are invited to Ecotopia 2005, taking place in the Saharna nature
reserve, in the Republic of Moldova from August 1 to 14. This year's theme
is Alternative Technologies, but as always the program will be created by
the participants.
Topics discussed will include renewable energy, solar power, waste
management and recycling, green building and eco-housing, organic food
production, windmills, green economy, green design and architecture, and
green-everything. The focus will also be on east-west issues in Europe,
planning local and global actions and developing ideas for new projects and
campaigns on the European level.
The special thing about Ecotopia is that the program is made by
participants. You are invited to give workshops yourself, if you like.
Applications at are due by July 10. People applying for travel
reimbursement should apply not later than June 20. For more information on
registering and fees, visit
<<
http://www.eyfa.org/ecotopia2005.html>
www.eyfa.org/ecotopia2005.html>.
ECOTOPIA BIKETOUR
Want to visit the Ecotopia Conference and have a great experience on the
way? The Ecotopia Biketour leaves Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on
June 17. This is your last chance to register - applications are due by
June 4. More info at <<
http://www.thebiketour.net>
www.thebiketour.net>.
CARFREE DAYS IN SUMMER - GERMANY, JUNE 19+21
"Mobil ohne Auto" 2005 celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, with a
carfree Sunday on June 19, followed by the Carfee School Day on June 21.
Events take place all over Germany - more information at
<<
http://www.mobilohneauto.de>
www.mobilohneauto.de>.
CARFREE DAYS IN SUMMER - PITTSBURGH, USA, JULY 23
Carfree Pittsburgh is planning a family-oriented street fair where the
community can celebrate the improved local air quality from reduced
emissions and traffic while obtaining information relating to healthy,
environmentally-conscious lifestyles and environmental issues.
<<
http://www.carfreepittsburgh.org>
www.carfreepittsburgh.org>
BIKE & TRANSIT EXPO, NEW YORK, JUNE 24-JULY 4
A whole week of workshops, exhibits, and other events promoting and
celebrating alternative transportation. Critical Mass bike ride, bike
repair workshops, meeting of "Auto-Free New York", bicycle law, grassroots
activism and more. Info at
<<
http://www.www.lightwheels.com>
www.www.lightwheels.com>
BIKE ZINE AVAILABLE
World Carfree Network member Go By Bicycle is offering reprints of the "Go
By Bicycle" zine, available for US$5 for all three issues or US$3 for just
one issue (International orders please add US$1). Check them out at
<<
http://www.gobybicycle.com/goodstuff.htm>
www.gobybicycle.com/goodstuff.htm>.
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DISCLAIMER >>
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Observant readers may have noticed that the monthly quote is from someone
who has been dead for 25 years. Those of you who feel uncomfortable with
our communicating with the dead are encouraged to send us car-related
quotes from living people at
<
mailto:info@worldcarfree.net><info@???>.
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