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Backseat Driver: Bravo Al Gore!

Bravo Al Gore!

By awarding the 2007 Noble Peace Prize to former US vice president Al Gore for his work on bringing the word on climate change to the average person's attention, the Noble Foundation itself serves to focus attention on this serious problem.

Gore shares the prize with the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a top scientific authority on global warming and its impact made up of some 3,000 atmospheric scientists, oceanographers, ice specialists, economists and other experts.

Needless to say, troglodytes from the Far Right denounced the award, partly one supposes due to aversion to Gore himself and the Democratic Party, and partly because many of them remain firmly convinced that the changes in the global climate currently underway are due to natural causes.

At least they are now admitting that changes are underway!

Happily most thinking people have come to terms with our own role in the changes and our responsibility to do something about it. Certainly, billions of dollars are now being spent worldwide on research into the problem, most especially all the work on alternative fuels in the transportation industry. And we are all changing our lifestyles in one way or another.

To be sure, the issues are incredibly complex, but that is why Gore's film "An Inconvenient Truth," which was essentially a celluloid version of a lecture he has been giving for years, caught the public's attention with its clear presentation of the facts.

The call is now out for Gore to enter the race for President. Indeed, a full-page ad in the New York Times earlier this week urged him to enter the Democratic race. But it remains to be seen whether he is interested.

The irony is that whether he runs or not, history may vindicate his controversial loss to President George Bush in 2000. For while Gore now has an Academy Award and a Noble Peace Prize under his belt, Bush is heading for the distinction of going down as one of the worst presidents ever.

- Peter C.T. Elsworth

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 12:49 PM to Environment , commentary | Permalink | Comments 1

Japanese automakers get cute for Tokyo auto show

TOKYO — Cute, communicative and cubic seem to be the fashion statement as far as offerings from Japan's "Big Three" automakers Toyota, Honda and Nissan, debuting at the Tokyo auto show later this month, according to USA Today.

Sporting whimsical names — Rin, Puyo and Pivo 2 — the toylike "concept," or show, cars appear to be inspired more by the iPod, futuristic space capsules and Japane0se manga animation than what we are used to associating with vehicles.

Check out this rendering of the Rin:

In this artist rendering released by Toyota Motor ahead of Tokyo Motor Show, a "concept" car called Rin is shown. The green-and-beige model has a transparent floor, huge windows and doors that slide open like Japanese "shoji" screens.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:47 AM to Design | Permalink | Comments 0

Midsize SUVs get mixed grades in crash tests

WASHINGTON — Some sport-utility vehicles don't provide the protection in a side crash that one might expect from such large vehicles, according to tests released Thursday by the insurance industry, according to USA Today.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave marginal scores in side-impact tests of 2008 versions of the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, Jeep Grand Cherokee and two SUVs built by Nissan - the Pathfinder and Xterra without optional side air bags.

In similar side testing, the Toyota 4Runner and Pathfinder and Xterra models equipped with side air bags received top marks of good in the side testing. The Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer received the second-highest rating of acceptable

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:44 AM to Safety | Permalink | Comments 0

Chrysler Workers Wary of New Contract

DETROIT -- As they assembled cars Thursday, workers at Chrysler's Sterling Heights assembly plant were talking about their new labor contract, wondering if Wednesday's six-hour strike was enough to get a good deal from the company, according to the Associated Press.

Even as they waited to hear the details, industry analysts were predicting crosstown rival Ford will try to get more concessions than Chrysler.

Some workers were skeptical about job security promises, one worker said.

UAW leaders have yet to brief the rank-and-file on the tentative deal, which abbreviated the strike when it was reached late Wednesday afternoon.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:38 AM to Chrysler , Unions | Permalink | Comments 0