SUV and Terrorism

[Thai]

New TV ads link SUVs, terror
Commercials link gas-guzzling light trucks to terrorists' revenue sources

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A group hoping to lessen U.S. reliance on foreign oil debuted two television ads today that link gasoline-guzzling sport utility vehicles to terrorist funding.
The ads mimic spots that link drug money to terrorism.

One commercial features a child's voice-over and shows a man filling his gas tank and footage of terrorist training. The closing statement: "Oil money supports some terrible things. What kind of mileage does your SUV get?"

The other ad shows people talking about their SUVs. One says, "My kids think it's cool." Another says, "I helped blow up a nightclub."

The 30-second ads were created for The Detroit Project, a non-profit organization launched by syndicated columnist Arianna Huffington. They will begin airing Sunday in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Washington and Detroit.

"This campaign is not designed to demonize SUV owners," Huffington said. "We want to encourage customers to connect the dots and make socially responsible consumer choices."

The ads were written and directed by Scott Burns, who was part of the creative team responsible for "Got Milk." They are intended as parodies, Burns said.

The ads were turned down by several TV stations - WABC in New York, KABC and KCBS in Los Angeles and WDIV in Detroit, according to campaign publicists Fenton Communications. Huffington said the stations found them "controversial."

The ads will air on Face the Nation and Meet the Press on Sunday.

The Detroit Project was created by Americans for Fuel Efficient Cars, a group co-founded by Huffington, film producer Lawrence Bender, environmental activist Laurie David, and movie and TV agent Ari Emanuel.

The ads - which cost $50,000 US to make and $175,000 for air time - were paid for through donations.

Sam Kazman, general counsel of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, criticized the ads as "elitist nonsense." The institute is a business lobby that favours a non-government approach to regulatory issues.

 

[peter78]

Dang

I know of should of bought a Lincoln Town Car.

Actually I think she sucks. When I bought my 4Runner, I had a Acura Integra and a Honda Accord Wagon. We camp a lot and needed more to carry. I also looked at a small pop up camper. That is when I found out my Honda can't tow squat. Yes I get worse mileage, but my needs changed and I would of bought a large car, mini-van or a SUV.

By the way, I get 19.5 MPG in the 4Runner and 22.8 MPG in my 92 Honda Accord Wagon . Not exactly a big jump from a 4 cylinder wagon to a V6 SUV.



http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/08/b...n=4c65574ab6ffe612&ei=5006&partner=ALTAVISTA1

 

[peter78]

Try doing this with a Honda Insight

 

[Swaro]

It's so ridiculous because a more important question would be, how many miles/year do you drive your SUV? To single out an SUV driver that only drives 6000 miles/year is absurd. Now it's obvious they are assuming an average of 15K/year, and with the increasing popularity of SUV's our oil consumption will go up. But maybe we should say salesman support terrorists because they drive 30-50K per year! We could start blaming all kinds of people.
So what the cowards should really say is, we're communists and the entire way of life in America is wrong. Truly, we really don't have a clue, but part of our agenda is to attack the capitalistic/free enterprise system in place in the US.

 

[jharris2]

Actually, I find it interesting that some of the vehicles used by the UN weapons inspectors are, well, 4Runners.

So could you say that it is also an anti-terrorism vehicle?

 

[Diablo3305]

I think its so stupid, because not all SUV's get crappy gas mileage...sure 16 mpg may seem bad to those who drive a 30 mpg honda, but there are larger SUV's that get even less, not to mention high end sports cars that get less than 10. Also higher end mercedes and lexus cars don't get more than 17-19 mpg at times, and less with a heavy foot... Its another example of stupidity in this world...

 

[Neech]

Easy Target

It's a matter of going after the big, easy target. That's where any first strike stakes place.

From reading that, it sounds like they're going after the mass market who buy SUVs for status and not utility. These are the people who should be in the more economical sedan. I can't say I disagree but my stance is environmental not to stop the funding of terrorism. Terrorist are already well funded and we're all still buying gas no matter what we drive.

If it was such a concern, the government, car companies and every one else involved in R/D for alternative fuels would be working full boar on getting technology like hydrogen fuel main stream. Oil is big business so unless it all runs dry it won't go away soon no matter what you drive.

These ads might affect a few people and maybe those people don't need and SUV but the ad should have pointed the finger at the current speed for developing alternative fuels and why it's a back burner project.

 

[peter78]

chuckle (maybe)

My sister drives a Honda Insight, so I guess she has a right to say something about oil and terrorism. Here is a sign she put on the back of her Insight. Being a artist, she did it herself.

 

[S424Runner]

This is the only reason I am buying an SUV, I want to burn as much fuel as possible. Don't these people have anything better to do, I guess they ride a bike or walk everywhere and I guess they don't use any plastic products since they are made from oil also.