Congratulations everyone!  Our creative work at the Los Angeles Auto Show brought together the best media response ever for our campaign.  Over the course of four days of action - Nov. 29th – December 2 - we organized a team of amazing people to become the group journalists turned to for the environmental perspective on the heavily touted “environmental” auto show.  In addition to that we hit CNN, NBC, ABC and over 700 other media outlets around the world. 

With our collective efforts over the past three years, it’s clear to us that the automakers are in a race to see who can appear to be the “Greenest”.  Now that we see this happening in the whole industry, we need to seize that motivation, turn it into real commitments and move that much closer toward our goal of catalyzing a revolution in the American auto industry.  Stay tune for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit and get involved with future events on the campaign.  For more information, contact nile@ran.org.

From the podium, Matt and Mike approached the stage right after GM CEO Rick Wagoner finished his speech about "GM going green" but still have plans to build a better Hummer.  Matt shook Mr. Wagoner hand and offered the CEO to sign a pledge agreeing to make GM "the most fuel-efficient company in the auto industry by 2010."  After they were asked to leave the the stage, they both went into the audience and were swarmed by auto reporters.  The main message was for automakers to commit to mass produce fuel-efficient cars, rather than mass-market environmental dreams.

At noon, we convened an “Oil Addicts Anonymous” meeting at the LA Auto Show to offer empathy, support and encouragement to help the American auto industry confront its grave addiction to oil. Other colorful events throughout the week include a “greenwash car wash,” giant balloon banners, and public education efforts focused on the auto industry’s contribution to global warming.

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On the second day of the “eco” LA Auto Show environmental hotties and hunks offered a free “Greenwash Car Wash” to automakers. After the auto industry’s packed schedule yesterday promoting “green” concept cars in LA and fighting regulations to limit greenhouse gas emissions in the US Supreme Court, the “Greenwash Car Wash” will offer a cool-down for the automakers. Ford, GM, Daimler Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, and Nissan are responsible for over 90% of the heat-trapping and smog-forming emissions from new automobiles today.

Despite scientific consensus that global warming is real and a threat to our economy, environment, health, safety, and future, the Alliance of Automotive Manufacturers in the US Supreme Court yesterday denied that C02 was a pollutant, and fought against regulation that would limit greenhouse gas emissions from tailpipes.  Motor vehicles are responsible for almost ¼ of annual US emissions of carbon dioxide—the primary global warming gas.

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Do Not Panic.  The Oil Enforcement Agency (OEA) have secured the perimeter.  We Are Here to Help.  After the 2006 State of the Union Address, the President of the United States stated "We have a serious problem...America is addicted to oil...we must...move beyond a petroleum-based economy."  The OEA was formed after this speech to protect the American citizens and our national security. 

Dressed in a black OEA shirt and OEA hat, with a metal officer badge, dark sunglasses, measuring stick, and survey's, agents with nicknames like A'ddict, Brownie, Jones, Smith and others gathered outside the auto show talking to everyday American auto show participants.  Than we went undercover, changing gear and changing back in OEA gear to organize a team of agents to do an action at the Toyota Tundra display and to impound a Ford Expedition XXL with yellow caution tape.  Stay tune for more OEA in the future!!

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