I was watching a local Los Angeles news channel and heard the anchor going on about a certain celebrity, who will only drive his new hybrid vehicle, because this celebrity is now doing his part to help save the environment. However, upon further prodding by the anchor as to the previous vehicle this actor had been driving, his answer was a Hummer H2, but it was a gas hog according to him.

Hmmmm. Let's see, since all of a sudden the new buzz phrase around the country is
"Let's go green," I wonder, why haven't we been going green in years past? Why now, in 2007, is everyone suddenly talking about conservation, looking at alternative fuel sources, making their homes run more energy efficient, or better yet-solar powered? It certainly can't be for the lack of media coverage or the lack of politicking that goes on in Washington about alternative fuel or energy conservation.  

Personally, from my perspective, the "Go green" phenomena is the new drug of choice for celebrity causes. Very few of them probably actually practice what they preach, but it sure sounds cool to their other Hollywood friends to tell them they drive hybrid vehicles, when perhaps the other car they have in their garage is a gas guzzling-but albeit Hollywood chic-vehicle of the moment, such as a Mercedes-Benz S 550 Sedan.  So, does that make these people green, or is it simply a novelty?

Besides, these Hollywood people probably have no idea of the technology behind a
hybrid vehicle, an alternative fuel vehicle, an LPG-powered vehicle, or an electric vehicle; green is the new buzz word for America. I pick on Hollywood, because, to the rest of the world, it typifies what most Americans think, when most Americans think and act nowhere near this perspective. So, what does the go green move­ment actually have to do with Truckin'?

Well, even us staff members think green in many ways. From the road test evaluations, which we conduct on a semi-monthly basis, to our large Truck of the Year contest, which you will read about next month. We, too, like to take into consideration the environment and all of its surroundings. However, this is also not a new task to us.  

We have been thinking about energy conservation for years, not just the last couple under the new "Go green" initiatives. We have tested hybrid trucks almost since their inception. Some of us older staff mem­bers, who came from previous car-based titles, actually participated in early testing of the Chevrolet EV-1 electric cars, which have subsequently met their demise.  

So, do we always think green? No, not exactly. I'm sure most of you out there do your part to recycle trash, act responsibly towards the en­vironment, and run diesel trucks or cars, and be good human beings.  

That is what we should be preaching, instead of "Let's go green." How about the new slogan, "Be good humans"? Wouldn't that message carry more weight both
environmentally and socially, as well? Let's see, act and treat people like you would want to be treated and see what socially responsible human beings we would all become. "Go green" at that point would just simply be normal or part of everyone's daily thought processes.  

Do you see my point? Be good humans. Forget about going green, it becomes the
byproduct of being a good human. All right, slogan and preaching done. See you next month.