Street Theater: Pollution Tickets / Environmental Summons
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Environmental Summons
In most urban areas motor vehicles are one of the major contributors of toxins in the air. Polluted air can be lethal. If one kills oneself with polluted air it is a suicide. So, if one kills someone else with polluted air is it a homicide?
Well, the government has not yet started charging drivers with murder or even ticketing them for their toxic contributions, but citizens have started drawing the connection. In Edmonton, Toronto, Washington, Seattle and a growing list of cities coalitions of group concerned with the health of the environment have started issuing their own "Environmental Infraction Notices." While not charging anybody with a crime, the summons points out that motor vehicles are linked to global warming, smog, super tankers and oil spills, tire dumps and tire fires, toxic surface water runoff and more. The ticket urges motorists to consider using a less-polluting means of getting around town, particularly the bicycle.
In Seattle, the "Green Squad" (dressed in dapper, stately white toxic spill cleanup outfits), also issued "Environmental Commendations" to people using bicycles, mass transit or walking. These certificates thanked the recipients for their thoughtful behavior towards the quality of life in the city. One of the recipients was a City Council Member who had bicycle commuted to city hall.
Life Imitates Art: Pollution Tickets In London
A few years ago a number of bicycle activists did street theater across North America, handing-out "Environmental Summons" to motorists. The text pointed out the role of motor vehicles in a range of environmental problems and urged the motorists to consider using less-polluting means of transport. These "artists" were shunned by most of the bicycle community for being too confrontational. It turns out that now even the ever-radical London councils are considering "pollution tickets" for smoky vehicles responsible for increasing inner-city air pollution. The proposal includes giving traffic wardens the power to ticket and fine drivers for leaving engines running at the curbside. For an update contact: London Cycling Campaign, 3 Stamford St., London SE1 9NT UK. Fax: 44-71-928-2318. Tel: 44-71-928-7220.
Earth on Empty
As a part of Massachusetts Bike Week, May 2001, three Somerville artists got together and created the SUV ticket, recruited an army of cyclists, pedestrians and greens to ticket ALL SUVs! For more information go to www.earthonempty.com/ or email suvticket@earthonempty.com .
SUV Ticket Project
What can we do about the SUVs on the road today? Give them a ticket! Let them know about the choice they have made. Education is the key to any change. The SUV ticket is a PDF file that you can print out and distribute at your pleasure. It is full of facts, information and humor to help our not- so-globally-thinking brothers and sisters make better choices, and to help us all live a more sustainable, healthier, and longer life on this wonderful planet. For more information go to http://www.baaction.org/SUVticket/ .
If your policy makers are not as "progressive" as London's and you would like information and materials on doing a citizen "Environmental Summons" program contact IBF. We suggest a donation of at least $5 for the cost of assembling and posting the materials and to continue our programs.
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The International Bicycle Fund is an independent, non-profit organization. Its primary purpose is to promote bicycle transportation. Most IBF projects and activities fall into one of four categories: planning and engineering, safety education, economic development assistance and promoting international understanding. IBF's objective is to create a sustainable, people-friendly environment by creating opportunities of the highest practicable quality for bicycle transportation. IBF is funded by private donation. Contributions are always welcome and are U.S. tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
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