Brain washed with oil

We must hold our hands up. If you think hypermobility and individual transport systems are the future, you've been conned, tricked and ridiculed. Your intelligence has been insulted, assaulted even.

Out-of-town monster shopping malls and big business parks make you dependent on transport. With public transport in disarray and active travel (cycling and walking) totally misunderstood, you turn to the car.

But it's exactly our car addiction that we must tackle.

Why? Here's why.

Loopy loopes inspired by Lynn Sloman's Car Sick

Carbon

Private car use makes up a staggering 16% of UK's carbon emissions. Ouch. We must reduce our dependence on oil, reduce pollution and pay some respect to this planet and its resources. It's our habitat, after all. Our only habitat, as far as my eyes can see.

Cars are run on oil. Oil's running out. They might tell you that cars will be run on electricity in the future. But there's a snag in that logic, our energy's generated with carbon-heavy methods. I hear you say, let's go green then! I have to disappoint you again: a green electricy supply is not really what the current government is planning for. Even with putting the politics aside, it'll take decades to switch to sustainable means (don't get me wrong, it's something worth campaigning for). Then there is nuclear. I would not count nuclear power as exactly sustainable, although the current government does and without addressing nuclear's dirty disposal legacy.

Reducing your car use is sensible. Every mile not driven pumps money into the local economy. And it's the local economy you should support if you are serious about your street, community and neighboorhood, city, town or village.

Business as usual is not an option anymore

Fairness

A lot is being said about equality and fairness in our society: education and health getting more and more privatised and sold off to profit-seeking companies and uncaring shareholders. Individual car ownership is totally privatised (albeit heavily subsidised), and it sure has you in its tight grip. It gives you freedom? It's actually enslaving and brainwashing you. Not only is driving a highly polluting form of transport, it takes away the pressure from government to do something about public transport, walking and cycling.

A fairer system would be providing better transport choice at better prices. But since you have a car, all is well - the politicians think and the car and oil industry rubs their hands - and the conclusion is: there simply is no need for change.

As a car user you've been silenced into submission. Our by-standing support is binding us in a Faustian pact that's compromising the nation's transport choice. Maybe an equality assessment could be carried out.

Future

It's clear that we've run into a dead end. Future solutions are decentralised, local and community-based. Supported by people who support their neighboorhood, their high street, their local shopping centre, village greens and work places as these are the facilities that supply us with necessary goods and jobs, to work, live and play.

Wake up! We've been lulled into a mental state of security for far too long.

Politicians won't sort it.

Supermarkets won't sort it.

Big businesses won't sort it.

Apart from the little bit of green (brain)wash talk, they don't touch these things. It's a vote-losing bargepole in the life of a short-thinking election-chasing ministers. Don't bank on leadership. Don't think that corporate and social responsibility actually acts corporately and socially responsible.

Small sticking plaster is still used to attempt patching up a gaping wound.

But listen carefully to what 'leaders' say. They tell you that they respond to what constituents, electorate, citizens, employees and consumers tell them. That's you. People power. Honestly folks, it's time to stand up.

It's gotta come from the bottom up.

So get your bottoms up!

Don't just stand by.

Stand up and be counted.

Join campaigns for better public transport, better walking and cycling conditions. As before long, we'll run out of that black stuff and green energy won't be there. We are the generation that is at the crossroads. What will future generations think of us?

Stick to sticking plaster or turn over a new leaf and ask for change.