Unlimited Speed Isn't Green In Germany

Earth-Friendly Proposal Threatens Cherished Freedom From Speed Limits On The Autobahn

(AP)  Members of one of Germany's governing parties on Saturday backed a proposal to introduce a speed limit on highways, a measure that would revoke a cherished freedom in this rule-bound country and was likely to be met with resistance.

A majority of delegates at a conference of the center-left Social Democrat party backed a resolution stating that "a fast and unbureaucratic path to climate protection is the introduction of a general speed limit of 130 kilometers per hour," or 80 mph.

Many stretches of German autobahn have no speed limits. However, the current surge in concern over carbon dioxide emissions has put that tradition under renewed scrutiny.

Earlier this year, EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas suggested introducing a speed limit, drawing a cool response from Berlin.

Saturday's decision has no binding effect on government policy, and the party's conservative coalition partners, including Chancellor Angela Merkel, have regularly rejected calls for an overall speed limit.

Leading Social Democrats - including Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel and Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee - also have questioned the logic of speed limits. Gabriel has argued that they would reduce incentives for manufacturers to produce more environment-friendly engines.

Deputy party leader Andrea Nahles said in an interview with the Welt am Sonntag newspaper that she regretted the decision, arguing that what is needed are "new technologies, new (car) fleets and alternative fuels - not new rules."

[ziparmux]

Oh dear no more 180mph jaunts down the autobahns, sad :(

To put automobiles emmisions into perspective, do read the following.

No, the main culprit is out there in the fields, chewing her cud. It turns out that livestock %u2013 predominantly cattle %u2013 are responsible for an astonishing proportion of global warming gases - 18 per cent of the total, to be precise.

That%u2019s right, almost a fifth of all emissions which is more greenhouse gas emissions than all the transport on earth %u2013 planes, trains, cars, skidoos the lot.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/2007/02/meet_daisy_the_cow_global_climates_enemy_number_on.html

[ziparmux]

Why does this comment system screw up copy and paste into ^)(()&&% and the like !!!

[ziparmux]

Why don''''t you tell is how the Amazon Rain Forest produced more greenhouse gas than ALL of the automobiles and trucks... as it burns.

Regards,

Posted by Nancy_Naive at 08:13 AM : Oct 28, 2007

Yes of course, I''m not being naive, I just thought to put a littlee slant on this issue as if cows/cattle are responsible for emitting one fifth, of all global warming gases, it''s not something to dismiss as not worth putting into the equation of things, actually quite the reverse, stop eating cows and let us alone to drive as fast as we can on the autobahns. To the Germam people it''s kinda sacrosanct to them lol

[ziparmux]

There is naught to be done because the world''''s greed and ignorance quotient is HUGE.

Enjoy that steak now. Freeze some for later.

Regards,


Posted by Nancy_Naive at 08:28 AM : Oct 28, 2007

I am of course concerned about the condition of our planet, I was trying to be a little light hearted in my comments, as we can all get very serious sometimes about these most important of issues. I subscribe to the Gaia hypothesis, and consequently feel that the earths is self regulating and will itself remove billions of humans from the system to restore Earths natural equilibrium. As I''ve already pointed out by the comment above, mankind will pay heavily for the abuse and folly waged against our home.

[ziparmux]

5 years and my carbon footprint will be less than 100 gallons (imperial if you''''d like) of diesel per month -- probably less with wind and solar generating the majority of our needs.

...or 1 bad day, whichever comes first.

Regards,

Posted by Nancy_Naive at 08:47 AM : Oct 28, 2007

Capitalism has enslaved all of us nearly, and we are stuck in a system, sometimes without the ability to make the right choices, even if we WISH we could. You mentioned 100 gallons of Diesel in one month, I have put that into my vehicle alone in one month in the past, did I have a choice at the time, no I did not, as the public transport system here is not very good, prohibitively expensive and doesn''t even go where you have to be sometimes ! Blair was asked if he would curtail his family jaunts to ''x'' parts of the world on holidays, he smirked and replied it i''ll be all alright in the end !!! Some example and leadership eh !

[fibonacci_]

Looooool.

I have lived in Germany for about 5 years and it is funny to see them now worried about this. Most times Germans think that they are so extremely environmentally friendly as a people but the reality is they produce millions of gas guzzling cars every year that support their economy. What a joke - the people are hypocrites.

[myidoncbs]

Why does this comment system screw up copy and paste into ^)(()&&% and the like !!!

Ziparmux, if you''re asking about why things like "%u2013" are showing up... it''s because they can''t display whatever character you actually typed in, so they display it''s numerical unicode value. I think that Unicode 2013 is the endash. Try using a hyphen instead of an endash and you won''t have this problem.

[rudy654-2009]

the people are hypocrites.
Posted by fibonacci_ at 01:37 PM

Wie bitte??????

[ziparmux]

Why does this comment system screw up copy and paste into ^)(()&&% and the like !!!

Ziparmux, if you''''re asking about why things like "%u2013" are showing up... it''''s because they can''''t display whatever character you actually typed in, so they display it''''s numerical unicode value. I think that Unicode 2013 is the endash. Try using a hyphen instead of an endash and you won''''t have this problem.


Posted by MyIDonCBS at 02:05 PM : Oct 28, 2007

Thank you, I copied and pasted from a webpage (English UK), would it be better that I copied it into notepad/wordpad first perhaps before pasting into this webpage do you think ? Thanks in advance (if you repy of course lol)

[fibonacci_]

Ich glaube es ist dir schon klar, was ich da geschrieben habe. Ihr seid scheinheilig ohne Zweifel.

[ziparmux]

Looooool.

I have lived in Germany for about 5 years and it is funny to see them now worried about this. Most times Germans think that they are so extremely environmentally friendly as a people but the reality is they produce millions of gas guzzling cars every year that support their economy. What a joke - the people are hypocrites.

Posted by fibonacci_ at 01:37 PM : Oct 28, 2007

Gosh, to be honest I drive a 2 ton 4 wheel drive that thinks gas is free ........and @ 10 dollars a gallon here now, costs me 5 dollars just to start it up lol

[thebomb475]

zoom zoom zoom

[usaprophet]

I want to report a major fire, friends. CBS isn''t reporting it. Our Constitution is on fire. And it''s currently being burned in Congress. See H.R. 1955, a.k.a., Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007. I couldn''t believe it. Apparently, activists with Web sites are really begining to anger the elite insofar as they are publically holding officials accountable for their evil. The bill passed the house on Oct 23, in spite of Congressman, Ron Paul''s opposition. The right to free speech on the Internet is gone, my friends. Look it up for yourself, and weep for your country as I have that our rights have eroded this far. Here''s a short excerpt from the bill''s DEFINITIONS statement: "The development and implementation of methods and processes that can be utilized to prevent violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence in the United States is critical to combating domestic terrorism." Here''s another excerpt from the bill''s FINDINGS statement: "The Internet has aided in facilitating violent radicalization, ideologically based violence, and the homegrown terrorism process in the United States by providing access to broad and constant streams of terrorist-related propaganda to United States citizens." And guess who get''s to decide what is "terrorist-related propaganda?" You got it! The Department of Homeland Insecurity, an agency that''s answerable ONLY to The President. If Ron Paul isn''t elected, our country is doomed!

[fibonacci_]

Oh no, the Ron Paul stuff here too?

[ziparmux]

Oh no, the Ron Paul stuff here too?

Posted by fibonacci_ at 10:34 PM : Oct 28, 2007

Ja lol

[mikevilkin]

In California speed limit is imposed by mexicans.
They drive 50 m/hr in the fast line, where maximum speed is 65 mhr.

[ziparmux]

In California speed limit is imposed by mexicans.
They drive 50 m/hr in the fast line, where maximum speed is 65 mhr.

Posted by mikevilkin at 01:38 PM : Oct 29, 2007

Perhaps they should feed their donkeys better food lol