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Embargoed:
23/10/02
Huge
Motor Show Protests Mark First Day of World Climate Talks
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: 10.30am on Wednesday, 23/10/02 50 protesters outside NEC having a "Climate Chaos Party". For more information please contact Jenny Thatcher (details below)
Over
70 environmental activists gathered at the NEC on the opening day of the Motor
Show on Wednesday 23rd October to protest at the continuing promotion of car dependence in the
face of worsening climate change. As evidence, they point to the irony that
Europe’s largest car show opens on the same day as the COP8 intergovernmental
climate negotiations in New Delhi, India.
The
British International Motor Show, held annually at the NEC, is the largest
of its kind in Europe. It is being
criticised for its involvement in what environmentalists are calling the irresponsible
promotion of Car Culture.
The demonstration, organised by Birmingham Friends of the Earth and Rising Tide, joined the spirit of the show in celebrating the future of the motor car industry. The future they envision, however, is one characterised by flooding, hurricanes and other extreme weather as global warming worsens due to the continued burning of fossil fuels. The protesters, wearing wet weather gear marked with tyre tracks and dancing to a samba band, brandished a model globe with a tyre track across it bearing the slogan "What was that Bump?" at passing representatives of the car industry.
Jenny
Thatcher of Birmingham Friends of the Earth said ‘As World Leaders struggle
to come to an agreement on how to act on climate change, we shamelessly glorify
one of the Western World's biggest consumers of fossil fuels
[i]
. Climate change is the most serious threat we
face in the 21st century. We're calling
on the car industry, international governments and members of the public to
take this issue seriously, demand a decent public transport system and to
cut their car use. This is about appropriate use of technology - cars have
their uses, but so do fire engines, and this doesn't mean everyone needs to
have a fire engine parked outside their house.’
Demonstrators
are not simply protesting about climate change. Concerns have also been raised about the social, health and political
costs associated with the national addiction to driving. They are calling for a localised, foot-based
transport future where the car is an accessory, not a necessity.
ENDS
For
more information
contact
Jenny Thatcher at Birmingham Friends
of the Earth on 0121 632 6909, Mobile 0776 1234 945. beep@dial.pipex.com
Professional
freelance photographs will be available
For
broadcast quality video footage call 07973 298 359
Notes
to Editors