Los Angeles Indymedia : Activist News

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Rainforest Action Network, Global Exchange and others will rally outside of the Los Angeles Auto Show—United States Greenest Auto Show—Thursday, November 15th to call further attention to automakers pushing green vehicles while blocking California law that would reduce greenhouse gas pollution from vehicles and promoting gas guzzling vehicles.

Despite many of the car manufacturer’s touting “green” cars, Toyota, Ford, GM and other automakers are currently fighting the state’s efforts to implement AB 1493 (Pavley), legislation that would reduce vehicle global warming emissions and slow climate change. By focusing its energies on mass producing more fuel efficient vehicles like plug-in hybrid electric vehicles rather than fighting California’s Clean Cars Law, automakers could easily meet the emissions standards mandated by the new law and become an international leader by curbing their addiction to oil.

While the state of California is now suing the Bush administration to force the Environmental Protection Agency to pass a waiver to allow the state to issue emission regulations for automobiles, the waiver would allow California to require automakers to cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by 30% between 2009 and 2016—as mandated by a law the state passed in 2002. Identical measures have since been adopted by 14 other states, and a waiver for California would allow them to move ahead with implementation as well. The 15 states account for about 40% of all new cars sold in the United States.

Automakers oppose the waiver request as well as the regulations, and they are fighting the California law in a complaint before a federal judge in Fresno.

WHEN: Thursday, November 15th, 2007 at 12:00 p.m.

WHERE: Los Angeles Convention Center; on the corner of Figueroa St. and Pico Blvd.

FEATURES: Speed conversion of conventional hybrid into a plug-in electric hybrid that gets over 100 mpg, games, greenwash bingo, balloons banner, cool visuals, speakers and more.

WHO: Concerned citizens who care about clean air for California, Global Exchange, Rainforest Action Network and others.

WHY: California is one of several states trying to curb global warming through strict regulation of tailpipe pollution. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (AAM), which lobbies on behalf of major auto companies including Toyota, Ford and GM, is fighting such efforts by suing states that attempt to pass pollution regulations.

The AAM is currently lobbying against California’s request for a federal waiver under the Clean Air Act so that would allow the state to enact stricter tailpipe emissions standards. Clean air is for all of Californians,. Come on out to build further awareness on how we can curb climate change, stop our addiction to oil and provide an healthy future for our youth.