How about serious energy conservation beginning today? We almost never hear professional ecologists or activist organizations (e.g. Union of Concerned Scientists) proposing immediately lifestyle sacrifices to set an example for the rest of society. Very simple, low tech sacrifices. What would it take, for example, to get todays ecologists and activists out of there 3,300 pound, 25 miles per gallon Subaru Forester SUV's and back into the 2,500 pound, 34 miles per gallon Toyota Tercel Station Wagon type vehicles they drove 20 years ago?
I frankly don't think todays ecologists and activists are willing to drive a Tercel like vehicle anymore because: 1) They don't want to drive a car that doesn't have 300 lbs worth of air bags and structural reinforcements to aid crashworthiness. 2) They don't want to drive a car that has fuel economy optimizing narrow wheels and tires like the Tercel did. 3) They don't want to drive a car that has a fuel economy optimizing 70 horsepower engine that takes 15 seconds to accelerate to 60 MPH like the Tercel did. 4) They don't want to drive a a car that has a 5-speed manual transmission like the Tercel did. 5). They don't even want to see the national 55 miles per hour speed limit reinstated. Likewise, I don't think todays professional ecologists (in the USA) and activists are willing to live in 900-1,400 square foot homes like they did 20 years ago. Instead, it's typical nowadays to see them purchasing 1,600 - 2,200 square foot homes just like other people in society that have household incomes in the $60,000 - $120,000 per year range. Paul Cherubini El Dorado, Calif.
