A copy/paste from an email I just sent out. For background, the content of the letter was urging the cab companies to use more fuel-efficient vehicles.
On Monday night after my failed meeting with two people in my neighborhood to discuss global warming and what we can do about it (they didn’t show up), I decided to take action anyway. Over a couple of hours, I sent letters to Newsom, Supervisor Peskin, and Green Cab. I also started sending letters to all of the cab companies in the city (there are a total of 30-some). I got to eight of them before I ran out of envelopes.
I included my phone number on these letters, and I actually got a phone call today from one of the cab companies, Bay Cab. The guy seemed a little bit confused but we had a several minute phone conversation about global warming, what is being done about it, and why he should feel a moral responsibility to do something about it.
There definitely wasn’t much progress made in the conversation — I think we would need a couple hours of conversation to make progress — but it was something. He was under the impression that George Bush was doing something about global warming, and hopefully I at least placed some doubt in his mind.
Being new at this activism thing…I learned today that the smallest bit of success can be very motivating.
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2 responses to “Instant Feedback”
I’m kind of surprised that they got back to you at all – I imagine most companies bin the unsolicited letters they get on issues that aren’t directly affecting their profits. If I’m ever in the Bay Area and need a cab, I’ll probably use Bay Cab just because of that.
And hey, at least you’re trying, which is more than most people do. A bunch more letters like that, and maybe they’ll actually get off their duff and do something.
Because of their reply, I also hold Bay Cab in high(er) regard. But I’d recommend Green Cab above them, seeing as how Green Cab actually uses two hybrids (and nothing else) and will hopefully use more.