- No vehicle in the United States provokes greater controversy
than the sport utility vehicle (SUV), the bulky four-wheel drive that has
sold in record numbers. Now it has become the target of acid-like chemical
attacks by environmentalists.
-
- More than 30 SUVs in the Richmond, Virginia, area have
been attacked with chemicals and hatchets over the past few weeks and had
their tyres slashed. The initials ELF (Earth Liberation Front) were found
after some of the attacks.
-
- In a statement posted on its website, the ELF said that
although it had "not received a communique from the cell operating
in the area, graffiti and notes left at targets are legitimate claims of
responsibility and indicate the Earth Liberation Front is involved in these
actions. ELF actions are a reminder to SUV owners of how their personal
choices affect the society and environment in which they live".
-
- The ELF said that the SUVs were targets because their
drivers "contribute to the degradation of the environment at a much
greater rate than those who drive smaller vehicles - or don't drive at
all".
-
- A total of 3.8 million SUVs were sold in 2001, up from
2.8 million in 1998. There are now 20 million on American roads.
-
- Environmentalists claim that they pollute the atmosphere
at a rate five times higher than that of ordinary cars, use 33% more petrol
than smaller cars and are anti-social because it is harder for other motorists
to see past them on the road.
-
- They are also three times more likely to cause fatal
injuries in road accidents because they are so heavy.
-
- http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,850321,00.html
|
