Today we marched through the streets of downtown Detroit towards the Cobo convention center where the North American International Auto Show launched into the first day of glitz, glam, and greenwash. More than sixty students from a half-dozen campuses around Michigan carpooled (for lack of another option) to Detroit to send a clear message to the auto industry: “We refuse to drive cars that are driving global warming.”
This rally concluded a three day training organized by the Freedom from Oil Campaign. The Transportation Challenge Weekend Getaway invited students from campuses across Michigan to Detroit for skills-building, networking and this historic auto show action.
It was a high-energy affair with drumming, dancing and chanting. Clad in mechanic coveralls and green hard hats, the students demanded a shift to green manufacturing to revitalize Michigan and cut global warming pollution.
Despite the students’ pure intentions, the police would not allow the group to get within two blocks of the convention center, demonstrating the automakers’ unchecked influence in…well…Motor City. And although they opted to protect the automakers’ greenwash instead of young people’s voices for green jobs and green cars (even allowed cattle to run free in the street but not us – not a joke), it didn’t prevent us from getting out our message.
Check out some more pics.
Then we saw about 100 green balloons floating above the convention center…an ominous sign since two students had taken a different approach to get inside. Equipped with a banner that read “Toyota: Pull Up Your Pruis, Your Tundra is Showing,” they tried to release the message attached to the balloons inside the lobby of the auto show, so it would float up for all to see. Not surprisingly, they were restrained and detained, but luckily not arrested.
This kind of intimidation and restraint is becoming a predictable pattern at these auto shows. Capitulation to the auto companies by police is more and more explicit at each event, and the limitation of our freedom of speech upon the pretense of petty ordinances and permitting was hardly surprising, albeit equally disturbing.
Despite the obstacles, it was an incredible weekend. The students inspired us and each other with their creativity, commitment and smooth dance moves! The number of organizations that helped us make it a success – SDS, Energy Action, the MSSC, Coop America, Global Exchange – is a testament to the incredibly collaborative spirit of this exploding youth climate change movement.
Vows have already been made to return in bigger numbers next year if we have to. Take note, Brian Albright of the Michigan State Police.
Twitter Updates
Great article Jodie! I was at the rally, and really enjoyed it! I will definitely be there next year
read & heed kiddies:
http://www.climateaudit.org/
http://antigreen.blogspot.com/
http://icecap.us/index.php
http://www.climate-resistance.org/
http://www.climate-skeptic.com/2008/01/isnt-gavin-schm.html
http://tomnelson.blogspot.com/
Ah. Thanks for informing us that climate change is a hoax. Maybe you should let the IPCC know, too.
Don’t I wish this quote from their website was true as climate-resistance.org claims: “Environmental concerns are serving to provide direction for directionless politics.”
That’s a great mantra. In a lot of ways, that’s a good summary of exactly what I want to see in this world.
It’s funny, climate-resistance.org is a URL that could really go either way.
HOORAAAHHHHHHHH
haha, Really enjoyed it, hopefully we won’t have to do it again next year but if we do I’ll be there and ready to rock!!
I had the time of my life and it was for the most important cause I’ve ever stood for. I will NO DOUBT be back next year, and I will bring 20 Jimmy John’s pickle buckets instead of the 2 I brought this year, mark my word. They WILL hear us. haha! Thank you so much Jodie and RAN and every group that took part, we couldn’t have done this without the support, funding, experience and supplies that you graciously gave.
http://www.archive.org/details/FreedomFromOil_DetroitJanuary2008
Your youthful idealism is great, but once you decide to start a family and realize that you can’t live in the city where you can ride the bus or your bike to work, you’ll be driving a car to work every day. Why not live in the city? Because you won’t want your kids attending that school system.
Don’t get me wrong… I (and practically every person in the US, auto execs included) want vehicles that get better gas mileage. The market is already demanding it, and the automakers are doing their best to push new technology forward — my next vehicle purchase will be a hybrid.
BTW, ever check into the fossil fuels consumed in the process to manufacture the hybrid batteries? Now THAT’S retarded. Why a company wouldn’t build a stand-alone plant to process the raw materials into a finished product is beyond me.
Students and others should be permitted to attend the Detroit Auto Show. And any other events they care about. It is their right , duty and privileddge.
The student body and any other people and their , plants or pets can attend anything they want if they are peaceful, decent and cooperative.
discovered your blog from a google search. Added to my favs now.
discovered your blog from a google search. Added to my favs now.