Eye opener Summary of Reading #33: GM and Ford Pressed to Cut Greenhouse Gases

Summary:
"Facing losses in their profits and reputations, U.S. automakers are being pressured by shareholders to cut their vehicles' greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. has failed to sign on to the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, a move which shareholders fear could become a future liability in the global automotive market (Lobe, 2002)." That statement there pretty much sums up what the whole article is all about. The article talks about how General Motors and Ford have still not signed on like the other motor companies have. It goes into saying that greenhouse gas emissions from trucks, van, and cars currently make up about 20 percent of total U.S. emissions, which contributes 25 percent of annual emissions worldwide. Now those are huge numbers we are talking about and why would they not do anything about it?!? The article kinda blames President George W. Bush for refusing to sign on because substantial reductions in greenhouse would harm the U.S. economy. Well take a good look at our economy it really is not that good right now...so was this the right decisions or was it the wrong decision? The article goes further into talking about that by not signing on the car makers are falling further and further behind competitors that have decided to make a change like the Japanese manufactures that have developed new energy efficient automobile technology. The article also went on saying that is was not the first time that Ford and GM faced this problem either. What does that tell you about the two companies...not looking so good anymore in my eyes at least!

What I have learned:
After reading this article I feel really ashamed to be a owner of a Ford. The two companies are well aware of the problem but yet they still do nothing about it and refuse it as well! They even tried to debunk the claims that greenhouse emissions were contributing to global warming! What a disappoint they really are to me and to the rest of the U.S.! Instead of fighting against they should have been the bold ones that first used the new energy efficient technology, instead they are stuck in their old ways which basically have left them in the dust! All I have to say after reading this is that my next will NOT be a Ford or a GM because of this!

A question for you:

Which car is really better for the environment now Ford or GM?

Other sites on this topic:
Here is a good site to go and visit and see what changes the New President is doing, which happens to be a 180 from President George W. Bush: 

Obama set stage for national standard to cut auto greenhouse gas emissions

Here is some more good sites to also go and visit to see what Ford is doing now which seem to be in the right direction now:

 
This is news: Good PR for Ford

Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility



"It's not easy to be Green."-Kermit