Protestors Say Hummers Are As Harmful As Cigarettes

CNSNEWS.com ^ | 11/12/03 | Susan Jones

[kattracks]

(CNSNews.com) - An environmental activist group, equating the health hazards of Hummers with those of cigarettes, is organizing what it calls a "National Protest Day Against Hummers." (Hummers are the civilian version of the military Humvee, or High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle.)

On Saturday, Nov. 15, protestors say they will "spend hours" demonstrating against Hummer dealerships in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Fort Lauderdale, New York, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, and ten other cities.

The activists are seeking a ban on all radio and TV advertising for the large vehicles, which they consider environmentally unfriendly.

The Chesapeake Climate Action Network, offering a "gas-guzzling" argument, says Hummers "contribute enormously to global warming, air pollution, and childhood asthma," and thus they are "a huge threat to children and other car passengers who share the road" with them.

"Yet GM is now flooding our TV and radio airwaves with ads for the vehicles, including ads that market the monsters directly to children," the group noted in a press release.

"A generation ago, cigarette makers flooded our airwaves with ads that made smoking -- which is a direct threat to human health -- seem cool to all of us, including our vulnerable children," said Mike Tidwell, director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network.

"Appropriately, as a society, we have now protected ourselves and our children from destructive cigarette marketing. But unless we do the same for Hummers, we are hurting our kids' health as much as putting cigarette machines in all of our schools."

The protestors also are urging the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to begin crash-test studies of Hummers, and they are demanding that Congress "close the outrageous tax loophole" that allows U.S. businesses to deduct up to $100,000-worth of the cost of Hummers and other large SUVs from their federal taxes.

The Chesapeake Climate Action Network said it is protesting Hummers under the banner of "Citizens for Vehicle Responsibility."

'Social responsibility'

On its website, General Motors offers the following defense of Hummers:

"Hummer, as a company and a community of owners, cares about the world around them. GM and Hummer do whatever possible to build as environmentally safe trucks as possible, and to build them in environmentally friendly plants.

"In addition, Hummer partners with Tread Lightly! to promote social responsibility of off-roading...Hummer owners take social responsibility seriously," the GM website says.

"Owners across the country are using their vehicles for rescue efforts and in environmental efforts like helping the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection through stream restoration."

Hummer aficionados say many Hummers are diesel-powered, and moreover, they are produced in limited numbers. Fans note they get better mileage than large vans and recreational vehicles.

According to The Hummer Network, an Internet Community of Hummer owners and enthusiasts, "A Honda gets better fuel economy than a Hummer, but if there are tens of thousands of Hondas on the road for every Hummer, which brand uses more oil and produces more pollutants?"

Hummer fans also argue that more fuel is wasted in daily traffic jams than is burned by all the Hummers in existence. They say it is ludicrous for protestors to blame Hummers for problems that stem from many other sources.

 

[Beck_isright]

"An environmental activist group, equating the health hazards of Hummers with those of cigarettes, is organizing what it calls a "National Protest Day Against Hummers."

When can we set up a National Protest Day to drive our SUV's over the whiney commie libs?

[muggs]

I'll check back later to read the article, don't have time now. Just from the title, it ought to get some interesting comments though.

[expatguy]

This is most likely true.

Good thing I don't go through 20 hummers a day.

[giznort]

These flakes need a hobby. If I had the money, I'd like a Humvee. If I had that much money, though, I'd probably buy the biggest Mercedes Benz diesel I could get my hands on.

[HiTech RedNeck]

On Saturday, Nov. 15, protestors say they will "spend hours" demonstrating against Hummer dealerships in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Fort Lauderdale, New York, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, and ten other cities.

alright. rednecks start your engines.

[goldstategop]

How about a "I Love My Hummer Day?" Arnold could be the celebrity spokesman with a "I'll Hummer Anywhere I Want To Go" theme.

[Ispy4u]

I got an email containing a CNN article that says "hummers" cure breast cancer.

[G.Mason]

"On Saturday, Nov. 15, protestors say they will "spend hours" demonstrating against Hummer dealerships in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Fort Lauderdale, New York, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, and ten other cities."

The "plan" seems to be working.

Keep 'em busy!

[goldstategop]

The enviros wackos can't stand a real man's SUV!

[G.Mason]

"This is most likely true."

" Good thing I don't go through 20 hummers a day."

There I was, minding my own business, when suddenly, and for no apparent reason, my mind began to think of ....... LOL

[goldstategop]

How many people can put 20 $50,000 Hummers in their garage?

[freeangel]

The next step will be to ban hummers in bars and restaurants.

[G.Mason]

"The enviros wackos can't stand a real man's SUV!"

"If I were a rich man,
Daidle deedle daidle
Daidle daidle deedle daidle dum
All day long I'd drive my "Hummer" biddy-biddy-bum
If I were a wealthy man.

[PokeyJoe]

The H1 is a Diesel for jimminy chrimstmas sake.

Thanks for posting. These Enviroazi's are about as intelligent as democrats. wait.... could they be related?

[goldstategop]

The H2 is based on the Chevy Tahoe platform. For Chrissakes, why not ban pickup trucks?? The enviro wackos make no sense in going after the Hummer when there are a lot of bigger behemoths on the American road.

[AFreeBird]

Yup, this Hummer is as harmful as cigs.

[rwr8084]

As "champions of 'freedom of speech' and 'freedom of choice'", these leftists are showing blatant hypocrisy by demanding a ban on Hummer advertising and limiting a choice of what automoblie one can purchase. Glad Al Gore didn't get elected, as these eco-radicals would have us all riding bikes to work and eating tofu for lunch.

[PokeyJoe]

What do these people against Monica? She's the victim!

*sorry, had to do it with the thread turning into jokes*

[Oztrich Boy]

No. Bill was the victim. Monicas was the stalker. And Hillary knew nothing