Comments on: RAN Stumps Toyota: Why Not?

By: Greenest Blog » Blog Archive » Video Blog Makes Being Green Fun

Greenest Blog » Blog Archive » Video Blog Makes Being Green Fun — Wed, 20 May 2009 23:20:04 +0000

[...] hands. Brent Olson, the camera person and interviewer is with the environmental group the Rainforest Action Network. It was reported that after the incident he was led away by two police officers. Toyota needs to be [...]

By: John Rowell

John Rowell — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:08:18 +0000

Sounds like a sensitive topic for Toyota. They’re trying to portray this green image, but when it comes down to their bottom line they’ll participate in a suit to stop CO2 reductions. You can see the red flag come up in Mr. Carter’s expression, such a simple question but he can’t answer it.

By: Tony B

Tony B — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:52:26 +0000

Well the problem also is the governments red tape. Why do they put this “get better gas mileage” bill reality years away from now….if they wanted it to happen now it would …..they can make cars get better gas mileage just about overnight with all the engineers the car manufacturers hire, but the government makes so much tax money off gas and oil I’m sure that they are in no hurry at all to make any effort in a “better gas mileage” for any vehicle…..
I’ve got a feeling the car companies get some kind of kick back for not making a very fuel efficient auto.
If a car company went totally green wonder what would happen to all the tax incentives and so on from the government for that company ? I would see that as not being friendly to the government…the people would like it but not the Feds….they’d be losing so much tax money….. its all about the gas tax.

By: Sean

Sean — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:23:31 +0000

“On the CA debate, I suppose those that support the CA proposal can afford the extra $3k-$10k/vehicle it will take to make them more efficient.”

How ’bout we get rid of the leather seats, CD changers, GPS, wireless IPOD sync-ups, voice command, Air-conditioning, power-everything-and-then-some, and just boost mpg and probably pay less than we do now.

By: Jean Hamon

Jean Hamon — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 04:03:01 +0000

I guess car manufacturers are right we must be happy with their products because they are selling. Clear message to the public. Starting january 1st 2008 don’t buy any new cars until we get 100+ miles to the gallon hybride or all electric cars period. We will see how long they can go on with ZERO sales. Lets see if they continue to ignore what we demand because its possible. How many car manufacturers will still be in business in three months or six months. The car racketiers will be at the mercy of the clients sooner or later. The clock is ticking…. … What are you going to do with obsolete inventory and no money to build what we want. hahahahahahahaha

By: Gabe

Gabe — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 01:39:32 +0000

Nice work Brent – speaks volumes for where the real motives lie. You know the Toyota PR guys have something to hide when they totally blank on the answer to a simple question. It’s fantastic to expose that sort of thing, amazing. Couple other thoughts – 3k-10k a car increase is for hybrids – a simple MPG increase can happen overnight without hybrid technology. It’s a matter of having the will to do so. Toyota clearly doesn’t have that will, so yes, new regulations need to be put in place. The federal government, under the leadership of W and Rep. Dingell (Democrat) of Detroit, has dragged their heels on increasing CAFE standards for YEARS. If California wants to dictate a higher mpg standard in order to allow companies to compete in their massive market, they should be allowed to do so. There’s nothing liberal or conservative about it.

By: Harrison Mccauley-Hill

Harrison Mccauley-Hill — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 06:00:51 +0000

Good job! Keep up the good work. At least the US doesn’t have to wage war or even violate anyone’s rights to get biodiesel (with oil they do)

By: The Understory » GM Uses RAN’s Blog to Call Toyota Nazis

The Understory » GM Uses RAN’s Blog to Call Toyota Nazis — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 00:19:45 +0000

[...] Brant blogged about his run in with Toyota executive Bob Carter at the LA Auto Show and included a nice video of the [...]

By: fugazi48

fugazi48 — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 17:42:19 +0000

Toyota is a money grubbing company. Buy a car from them is like supporting the third reich as they try to overtake Europe. Toyota only makes the Prius for the money.

On the CA debate, I suppose those that support the CA proposal can afford the extra $3k-$10k/vehicle it will take to make them more efficient. I, for one, am worried about what all the Li, NmH, etc will be doing to our planet. You there will be hillbillies just dumping their dead batteries into ravines and rivers.

By: matt

matt — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 02:12:26 +0000

Unreal…doubletalk by facets.
Kudos for pissing off corporate-speak moral neophytes. The correct answer by Toyota would have been to discuss it later. Not some punk brash emotional reaction, which only makes him look guilty of something. And perhaps he is.
What’s worse is that this comments page is peppered with seasoned messaging folks. THE QUESTION IS NOT, “IS THIS LOGICAL?” and “DOES THIS ACCOMPLISH THE MISSION?”
THE QUESTION IS ABOUT DOING THE RIGHT THING. It is very simple what that is.
The greater moral imperative here is action. Not waiting for federal, or anyone else. Not suing over a law which cuts into your profit margins. Politics is about who gets what when where and how.
Toyota is not the red cross either. Toyota wants to make money. Do they see the suit as harmful to that objective? Yes. But they are, to date, one of the only car companies really pushing hybrid technology. So what does that say about the industry itself? Not too unlike the stereotype of a car salesman from the looks of it. I applaud RAN – if anything this is a form of real journalism – which should arouse issues, debate and expose nefarious pretenses. You need this kind of extremism to continue to bring the message into the mainstream. To do better. To improve. To bring to light. Good luck PR guys. Freedom is the right to be wrong, not to do wrong. So who is doing wrong here on a greater level?

By: Katherine

Katherine — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 21:10:49 +0000

Jeff: . . . and anti-environmentalists are always illogical – there! And so what was accomplished by this kind of thinking? The action and thinking here on this blog is about quickly and efficiently reducing vehicle emissions – stay focused on the message!

By: RAN Stumps Toyota: Why Not? « It’s Getting Hot In Here

RAN Stumps Toyota: Why Not? « It’s Getting Hot In Here — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 21:09:54 +0000

[...] RAN Stumps Toyota: Why Not? Published by lizveazey, November 15th, 2007 Business , Clean Cars , Corporate Responsibility , Direct Action , Interviews , News and Media , Oil , Video this is great! cross-posted from Rainforest Action Network’s Understory Blog: [...]

By: jeff

jeff — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 20:34:08 +0000

No… environmentalists are always logical.

By: Luke

Luke — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 20:01:38 +0000

Jeff: Reducing emissions is a good idea. If California does it, that’s good. If other states follow suit, even better.

Is there a problem with that logic?

By: jeff

jeff — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 19:55:25 +0000

Hmmm… doing something because California thinks it’s a good idea… that doesn’t sound like a very good plan.

By: Luke

Luke — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 17:21:20 +0000

Advocating a federal approach means a advocating a delay and probably looser restrictions; Toyota is well aware of this. Eleven states follow California’s standards, and more often than not, CA proves the viability of better policy for federal adoption.

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 17:08:12 +0000

Well it says on the article that Toyota supports a more comprehensive federal level regulations instead of having these kinds of decisions being taken at the state level. I think this makes sense given the global nature of the company. Just wandering if the RAN people took that into consideration before raising up the noise

By: Luke

Luke — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 15:06:35 +0000

Bravo, Brant.