Noah (OkDork) kicked started a new initiative in hopes that the blogosphere will lead the way in what he has dubbed “No Gas Day”.
Online writers also known as bloggers make very little social impact outside of the small community who reads them. I was hoping we could change that now. Remember those emails you get saying ride your bike on that day, this is the same thing except we want the blog world to kick this off. I am hoping to help America use their bikes, do a little walking or even a little jump-roping to work/school.
We want eveyone to try to use as little or no gas as possible on May 22nd to let the gas companies know how we feel. So what can you do?
As per his request, I’ve whipped up some simple 120 x 45 pixel banners to throw on to your blogs, websites, forums, etc. Feel free to download the zipped package [16KB right-click "Save as..."] which contains three variants: blue, gray, and green.
Show you care and trackback to this as well as the original No Gas Day post to spread the word [official tag: nogasday].
Noah will be collecting a list of supporters so drop him an email if you’re planning on participating in “No Gas Day”.
You can be sure that I’ll be doing my part as I already use good ol’ Joe Metro to get around the greater Seattle area.
In Ireland we have Car Free Day… though it doesn’t make much difference.
22nd of May is too close to get the sort of mobilisation that would really make an impact. Plus which there needs to be more info on the reasons behind the action. Action needs information.
Check Noah’s original post for a little more information. I think the bottom line is a day to stand against high gas prices.
I agree with the cause and ultimate goal of such a movement however I don’t understand where he pulled the date May 22nd. Was it an arbitrary dart at the calendar?
The reason I ask is because it seems pretty absurd to expect anyone let alone enough people to make a difference to stop using gas on ONE OF THE BUSIEST AND MOST TRAVELED HOLIDAYS.
Good luck.
Action needs information? We went to Iraq didn’t we? We all put flags on our cars after 9/11. Action needs emotion and sometimes information will provide it, other times it gets in the way.
[...] Noah approached me with an interesting idea: No Gas Day. [...]
the downloadlink doesn´t work actually, a syntax error is the reason
i agree with andrewe, this date is too close, in this few days its nearly impossible to get a good reaction to this project. but anyway its a nice idea and certainly something politically. the war, irak, the prices, i hope he knows what he does – but one men alone against “the world” its cute and courageously, and with our help and support ( banners, tags, … ) it could not be completely offering no prospects.
only a small proclamation but a sign that that must be set!
@Devin
I never went to Iraq, I’ve never owned a flag, especially not after 9/11, and I am not ‘we’.
Social/political change at a grass roots level requires planning, organisation, daily toil and yes, also emotion, but unless you quote me extreme examples, I would say most action takes a great deal of time and dedication to make even the smallest headway.
Essentially I agree with the cause of a ‘No Gas Day’, but if people don’t know why they are doing it, or just do it for the sake of it, or for the sake of taking a ‘pot-shot’ at the governemnt, the effects are most likely to dissolve within days.
I’m all for causes like this, if you live in the UK you have to be ($3.40 a gallon is only a dream price)
But like the other comments it is a bit short notice, the other point is that the blogoshpere is not just one country and the cause has got to be clear.
Is this one American consumer against the price of gas or is this a world wide effort to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels?
I for one will be taking part
May 22nd is a holiday? On my calendar Memorial Day is the 29th. *confused*
I support the cause, but honestly, I don’t think these “No Gas Day”s work. People can just simply fill up the day before or the day after. In order for this effort to work it’s gotta stem over a week, at least.
The main idea is not to make an immediate global impact. I would like to think movements like this focus on long term results. Our dependence on automobiles in general is sickening. Short trips to the grocery store around the corner in Excursions for a few yogurts and milk is maddening and unnecessary pollution. I’m hesitant in stereotyping these types of individuals as being lazy or insensitive to the severity of our current oil situation.
Awareness is what we strive for, not immediate results. As short notice as it is, spreading the word via blogs will reach those few extra eyes to question whether that next jaunt into town requires the car outside… or if public transportation / physical exercise will suffice.