CBS broadcast journalist and environmental activist Betsy Rosenberg spoke Tuesday night in 180 Science Hall about consumer responsibility and the effects of Sports Utility Vehicles on the environment, which are pertinent topics to student groups like the Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group and Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow.
Rosenberg, who does a CBS radio show in San Francisco, is also co-founder of the group \Don't be Fueled-Mothers For Clean and Safe Vehicles."" She has used her show to give recycling tips and raise awareness on environmental issues.
One major point she stressed was that more Americans should look into buying hybrid cars-those that run on both gasoline and electricity and can get up to 50 miles per gallon. She bemoaned the scarce options available to shoppers looking for a hybrid car.
""Why are only the Japanese companies giving us hybrid options?"" she asked rhetorically.
Three major aims of her group are to petition Detroit car companies to build hybrid and better mileage cars, to urge Congress to pass legislation bent on improving the overall fuel economy of American companies' cars and to urge consumers to keep the environment in mind as they make purchasing and lifestyle choices.
Peter McCabe, CFACT regional chair of the Upper Midwest, said while he agrees with some of Rosenberg's points, CFACT feels companies will start to build more hybrid cars when the demand for such cars makes it profitable to do so.
While building demand for more eco-friendly cars is one of Rosenberg's group's goals, CFACT disagrees that the government should regulate the industry.
""As well intentioned as they are, pushing government to solve all our problem is not the way to go, especially when people are perfectly capable of doing it themselves,"" McCabe said.
According to WisPIRG Representative Ross Mudrick, though the group currently works with companies to urge self-regulation, it also works for some government regulation.
""Sometimes you have to combat it from the demand side and sometimes you do have to come at it from a legislative side,"" he said. ""We would support legislation for fuel efficiency standards, absolutely.""
Currently, WisPIRG is working against the energy bill, now in committee, because it does not include fuel efficiency standards.
WisPIRG, Rosenberg and CFACT agreed the individual citizen has the power to make a difference through such acts as recycling.
