Tuesday, June 05, 2007
MOTORING MOONBAT
Holy George Monbiot hits the road:
George Monbiot, the environmental campaigner, scourge of the automobile industry and champion of not owning cars, has finally bought himself … a car.
Notwithstanding pledges to live a green lifestyle and be a model to others, he has given in to temptation and acquired a secondhand Renault.
Gaia weeps.
He bought [the Renault Clio] from a friend for an undisclosed amount. As zealots will be quick to remind him, it emits 115g/km of CO2, 10% higher than a Toyota Prius, the petrol-electric hybrid beloved of the green movement.
Gaia not weep now. Gaia angry!
Jeremy Clarkson, Monbiot’s long-standing antagonist, said: “I’m glad he hasn’t gone for a Prius – that would have marked him out as an idiot. I just hope the bonnet doesn’t fly up [Renault Clios have been criticised for faulty bonnet catches] because he’ll be killed – then where would the world be?”
Imagine Germaine Greer’s obit: “The vehicle world has finally taken its revenge on Monbiot.” George explains his heresy:
His move from Oxford to rural Wales with his family in January meant a change of lifestyle, and he discovered he needed personal transport.
“I had cars from 1982 to 1989, then I didn’t have a car until about six weeks ago,” he says. “I’ve had to break a long-time commitment, but the only way to get by, we decided, was to have the occasional use of a car” …
Monbiot admits he is open to charges of hypocrisy but says people he has so far confessed to have been understanding. “I still feel pretty awful about it,” he admits. “The rule is, if it’s at all possible to travel by any other means, then that’s what we do. The car is a last resort and I haven’t even used a tank of petrol yet.”
And it never will. As the article points out, George’s hatchback from Hades is actually a diesel model.
Monbiot knows the acquisition will be seen as capitulation but blames shortcomings in the public transport system.
The guy moves to rural Wales then complains about a lack of public transport. What did he expect?
(Via Peter R.)