‘ROLLIN’ COAL’ — TALK ABOUT YOUR SECOND-HAND SMOKE

NEW FAD SHOVES ANTI-ENVIRONMENTAL AGENDA DOWN PEOPLE’S LUNGS

In reaction to EPA’s increasingly rigid environmental regulations and Obama’s squeeze on carbon emissions, diesel truck drivers are using a technique that originated in truck-pull competitions to deliberately emit clouds of black soot onto individuals and, their favorite target, Prius drivers.

The technique is known as: rolling coal.

So, how do Rollers get huge puffs of grimy smoke to billow out of their exhaust? By modifying their vehicle to dump excess fuel into the motor, which originally served the purpose of allowing truck-pull drivers to carry a weighted sled farther and faster. It’s highly inefficient to say the least, as the black smoke is essentially fuel that hasn’t been burned. The whole arrangement doesn’t come cheap either. Modifying one’s vehicle to roll coal can cost anywhere from $500 to $5,000.

To top that off, it could get you a hefty ticket.

The modification itself violates EPA regulations — making the whole thing quite illegal:

“It is a violation of the [Clean Air Act] to manufacture, sell, or install a part for a motor vehicle that bypasses, defeats, or renders inoperative any emission control device.”(Source)

And that’s exactly what one does to “roll coal.”

But does any of this really matter to coal rollers? Probably not. And since this is supposedly an anti-environmental “protest” the fact that diesel exhaust is one of the nation’s most pervasive sources of toxic air pollution, and black carbon, a component of diesel pollution, is one of the largest drivers of climate change…well, that probably doesn’t matter to them either.

How about the fact that, much like second-hand cigarette smoke, diesel exhaust is carcinogenic? Maybe then they should stop sticking their heads down their smokestacks.

Unlike second-hand cigarette smoke, however, the victims of coal rolling aren’t innocent by-standers. No, they are the targets of this abuse that not only hurts the environment, but makes people sick.

Scientific studies link pollutants in diesel exhaust to a myriad of public health effects, including asthma attacks, heart attacks, stroke, cancer, and premature death.

Also, inhaling diesel fumes is a great way to kill brain cells. (Hmmm…perhaps that’s the explanation.)

Recently, those who subscribe to this subculture have been getting bold by using social media to promote and parade these ignorant stunts.

Watch one of their many YouTube videos here :Diesels Rolling Coal on PEOPLE 2014 Compilation

What to do — besides roll up your windows and turn off your vents:

• If you’re a member of Better World Club you’re already doing something: BWC is currently configuring a carbon offset plan specifically designed to combat coal rolling.
• Join the Diesel Clean-up Campaign!Clean Air Task Forceand state-based partners launched the national Diesel Clean-up Campaign. To learn more, and to take action in support of this campaign, please visit theDiesel Clean-up Campaign.
• SIGN THE PETITION!!! TELL THE EPA AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO CRACK DOWN ON COAL ROLLERS!!

READ MORE:
Slate.com
Huffington Post
Fox News

(Almost) TOTAL RECALL: Did Arnold Schwarzenegger Run GM?

RATED NO STARS FOR RECKLESS INACTION

General Motors’ ignition switch scandal is definitely the stuff that movies are made of: deception, moral conundrums, tragic outcomes, a protagonist attempting to overcome a past mistake. The real tragedy, however, is that this isn’t a movie…

The true story, if you recall (OK, we’ll stop with all the homonyms), is that the scandal involved employees who had learned that ignition switches used in Chevrolet Cobalts, Saturn Ions and other GM vehicles were defective but delayed (ahem, failed) to issue recalls for the defect for more than a decade — a delay which sparked U.S. government investigation.

The malfeasance proved simply too great to be swept under the floor mat: the switches — which can be inadvertently shut off when jarred, cutting power to the engine and deactivating air bags — have been linked to at least 13 deaths.

To date, GM has recalled almost 28.5 million cars world wide, an all-time annual record. Remember, this doesn’t mean GM has recalled 28.5 million cars, since some were recalled more than once — but regardless of how you cut it…that’s a lot of cars!

“Few companies in history have ever sold more cars, and few companies have ever demanded as many of them back,” commented John Oliver— Last Week Tonight.

Despite the huge outreach efforts, Forbes reports that, as of June 4, there are approximately 2 million unrepaired cars still tooling around U.S. roads.

The Society of Automotive Engineers found that industry-wide, about 70 percent of recalled cars get repaired. GM’s record is better than most: spokesman Kevin Kelly said an average of 80 percent of recalled cars are fixed within the first year; 85 percent by the second year. In a case like this, where lives are at stake, that just doesn’t seem good enough.

In response to the scandal several bills have been introduced to prevent future misconduct. Hide No Harm Act is one such bill. The bill would make it a crime for corporate officers to knowingly conceal a product defect or corporate action that “poses a danger of death or serious physical injury to consumers and workers.” Executives who do so would face up to five years in prison and potential fines.

In her testimony, GM CEO Mary Barra reiterates that the company’s employees won’t forget the lessons of the recall, and they’re working hard to address the underlying issues.

However, many may have lost faith in GM to police itself. The Hide No Harm Act would work as a safety net, act as remuneration, and represent a reminder in and of itself.

Actions speak loader than words:

• Learn more about Hide No Harm Act 2014: watch video of Sen. Blumenthal and Sen. Casey Introduce Hide No Harm Act
• Write your senator and tell them to support Hide No Harm Act: Senators’ Contact Info.
• Stay Informed by visiting GM’s Ignition Safety Information page or by Reading Related Articles
• Need to Find a Dealer for Service? Go to Cars.com Service & Repair to find your local dealer.