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Dia Sin Auto en Chile
By Keith R | September 27, 2007
Topics: Air Quality, Climate Change, Environmental Protection, Sustainable Transport | No Comments »
Last weekend (22 Sept.) it was World Carfree Day, celebrated mainly in Latin America in Brazil, Quito, Ecuador and San Luis Potosí, Mexico. By all accounts it was a success in Brazil — for details in Portuguese (including some nice photos) on what happened in the various cities there, check with the Rua Viva blog. For a brief video report (in Spanish) on the event in San Luis Potosí, check this video from YouTube. As for Quito, no report yet on how it went.
Tomorrow, Friday 28 September, is supposed to be Chile’s turn. Event organizers are asking workers, students, etc. to leave their cars at home and either walk, ride bikes or take public transport to their destinations. The idea is that the quieter streets, lack of traffic congestion and cleaner air will cause people to reflect on the air pollution, sound pollution, stress levels, safety hazards and greenhouse gas emissions that come with the proliferation of cars in urban areas.
Organizers are a little puzzled and concerned because they have not received a formal response from the national and Santiago governments on their request to have a procession down major streets and plazas of the capital. In the past public officials have openly supported the event.
Vamos a ver lo que sucederá.
Tags: air pollution, automobiles, bicycling, Brasil, Brazil, Carfree Day, carro, cars, Chile, contaminación atmosférica, Dia Sem Carro, Dia Sin Auto, Ecuador, gases de efecto invernadero, greenhouse gases, Mexico, Quito, San Luis Potosí, Santiago, sound pollution, stress, vehicle emissions