Obama Pitches in to "Code Green"

The article in the New York Times entitled New Stickers Will Go Beyond M.P.G. in Rating Cars explains that, on August 30, President Obama took a small step in the direction of a "greener" America by initiating an improvement on the stickers on new cars. These new car stickers, adopted around 30 years ago, presently describe the city/highway miles per gallon consumption of new cars, the features that come with the cars, and other bits of information which relate to the technical aspects of the car. Obama plans to choose one of two new forms of stickers that the safety agency and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) have put together recently. Jim Motavalli, the author of the article, states that

The Obama administration proposed on Monday two alternatives to the window stickers in new vehicles, including one that would assign letter grades for fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions...The second possible window sticker would also contain information about fuel economy and emissions, but would not assign a letter grade. Both stickers offer estimates of annual fuel costs.

In his book, Hot, Flat, and Crowded, Thomas Friedman calls for a "Code Green" in America, meaning that American leaders should begin to make the public fully aware of the harsh consequences that will come as a result of our mindless emission of greenhouse gases through industrial factories, cars, and other such things. "Code Green" is not only a goal that American leaders must strive to accomplish, but it significantly involves the American public. By beginning the process of installing these improved new car stickers, Obama has taken a step in making the public realize their own, personal contribution to global warming. In addition to this, by including the annual savings earned with the purchase of some cars, people will now realize the long-term effects and benefits of driving more fuel-efficient cars. This part of it is a monumental step because as humans, and especially as Americans, we tend to think in the short-term, without realizing what negative effects our seemingly harmless actions may cost.

Here is the link to the New York Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/31/business/31auto.html?_r=1&ref=politics