LA Auto Show. History.
The Frankfurt Auto Fair (IAA) in September 2019 was disrupted and drew a variety of protests. www.iaa-demo.de presents the vision of the organizers. A few important political partners were supporting the agenda. Some of the activism was in the style of XR = Extinction Rebellion. Googeling “IAA Protest” and using the “translate into English” function will give you an idea of what was going on. A key term of the German protests is the term Verkehrswende. Literally traffic-turn, the term rhymes with Energie-Wende, that is the decision of the German government to phase out nuclear energy because of environmental concerns. Verkehrswende would support transit, active and healthy modes (aka = cycling), and make driving and the use of carbon fuels more expensive (Carbon tax) . It would put the entire transport domain onto a path of sustainability and health. It is a strategic political agenda on the highest level. #Aussteigen means stepping out (of the car), also “give up car transport”, again the same term was used when talking about getting out of nuclear energy. Based on what your research finds, and based on what you know about the LA Auto show, I want to hear from you how you think a group of Bruins could get involved with this event and address its symbolic power in the neighborhood of Hollywood. Be realistic, be real, draw on your own resources and resources you or the class could draw upon. Outline a best case scenario, consider worse outcomes, draw on your own history of protest or opposition. Because drive less we must. Don’t write that LA is different. Don’t write LA will never change. It may feel like set in stone or cement, but we know it is changing all the time, and we know it has changed in the past. And never doubt that a small group of thoughtful and committed citizens can change the world… https://lasocialscience.ucla.edu/: Engaging LA – Changing the World