Greenpeace Motor Show Blog

Despite my fears of being blugeoned to death by furious Top Gear fans with the mocking, satanic laughter of JC (he's not the messiah...) ringing in my ears and various carbon oxides burning in my nostrils, it would appear that the motor show is survivable, with the correct guide. So, as a mark of my gratitude I've decided to let the remaining twenty six mistakes in their token 'green' page remain uncorrected.

OK, I've finished my yoga session, there's a whale pod on my I-pod and the valium's kicking in nicely. I think I may be ready to have another look at the Motor Show Survival Guide's take on 'Going Green'.

Today I picked up a free copy of the British International Motor Show Survival Guide. How to survive the motor show. Many of you may be thinking this is typical macho petrolhead bullshit, but the motor show is a pretty hostile environment. It's extraordinarily hot, for a start, and it's not exactly a vegetarian's paradise. The stench of burning entrails (burgers to you) is everywhere, mingling with the contrails from City Airport and the exhaust fumes from a dozen SUVs and some Mazdas. Plus the whole place has that weird new-car-interior smell, which just has to be at least mildly toxic.

Firstly, I'd like to respond to some of my critics. I really wanted to respond to John, who posted a comment on Day Two claiming that 'the total amount of contibution of greehouse gas emisions for the entire transport sector is about 2%', but some chap called Vincent got there before me. (Thanks, Vince old mate, but I hope you realise you're taking the bread from the mouths of my children.)

After a sustained period of whinging, It's time to have a look at some of the good things on display at the motor show. Whilst most car journeys really ought to be by foot, cycle or public transport, there will be a place for private motor vehicles for quite a while yet, and if you look hard enough, the show has some useful ideas for how we can keep driving in a non-Kamikaze fashion.