| |
||||
|
||||
|
Environmental group wants more earth-friendly Ford Mike Klesta
Fuel efficient vehicles are making their way on the streets, and a student environmental group wants Ford to do the same. Members of Students Eliminating Environmental Destruction stood quietly in front of Klaben Ford, 1085 W. Main St., Saturday afternoon. They held up signs calling for Ford Motor Co. to begin manufacturing more fuel-efficient vehicles. “We’re not protesting cars. We had to drive here,” said Tim Mayer, a representative for SEED. Richard Klaben, vice president of Klaben Ford, said he and his company recognize the protesters aren’t against this particular Ford dealer. He said they instead are using the individual franchise to make a point to the Ford corporation. “We respect their right to protest, and we probably agree with their goal,” Klaben said, with the goal being more fuel efficient vehicles. Mayer said he appreciated Klaben’s response to the protest. “The guy who owns this dealership, Rich Klaben, is really cordial with us being out here today,” Mayer said. Cars were moved for the protest, Klaben said, and he wanted the protesters to know his dealership is being proactive about the demonstration. But, he said, he wanted them to know he has a job to do as well. “I wanted to make sure they respected our obligations to sell,” Klaben said. One protester’s sign showed a 1923 Ford Model-T with 25 miles-per-gallon fuel efficiency. Next to it was a 2003 Ford Expedition getting 12 mpg. Mayer said Toyota Motor Corp. has made a conscientious effort to raise fuel efficiency with the Prius, a hybrid vehicle that uses both gas and electricity. He said SEED targeted Ford because the company produces some of the least fuel-efficient SUVs. “We’re just going to do continual agitation,” Mayer said, explaining the group might go to a supermarket one day and put “tickets” on SUVs, letting them know their vehicles use a lot of gas. Cars, trucks and SUVs drove by the protest, and some slowed down to see what the demonstration was about. One person beeped the horn. “I love stopping traffic,” Mayer said. “There’s no better feeling.” E-mail: mklesta@kent.edu {\rtf1\mac\ansicpg10000\cocoartf102 {\fonttbl} {\colortbl;\red255\green255\blue255;} \margl1440\margr1440\vieww9000\viewh7500\viewkind0 } | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
