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IN THIS ISSUE |
Member Alert
AAA Watch
Top Story
In The News
Washington Watch
Member Specials
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Member Alert |
Better World Club Members Often "Asked" to Leave Town.
We Don't Need the Details, Just New Contact Info
Updating Kicking Asphalt Info Not Enough (Unless You Care About KA More Than Your Roadside Assistance--Makes Sense to Us)
So many of BWC members appear to be on the lam, that we thought we should refresh a couple of rules about updating your personal information.
You can now update your own contact information. It's easy. First, go out and buy a computer. Now go to
BetterWorldClub.com and make it your home page.* Next, click on the
"Member Only" section. Enter your Membership Number and Your Email address. (Need an address? We have thousands that we can sell you.) Be sure that you are entering the same email address that you provided the Club when signing
up.
That's it. You're in! Go ahead and update all of your personal information. Take your spouse off your membership. You're too good for him/her anyway. You've moved and you don't want the law to know? Don't worry. It's highly unlikely that
we would give the authorities your email address. We would have to be in very, very big trouble....at which point, well, we knew you'd understand.
*Consumer Disclosure: It is not really necessary to make Better World Club your Internet Home Page to use the "Members Only" site.
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AAA Watch |
What Do the Service Providers Think of AAA?
Bet You Don't Know.
A Better World Club member who blogs under the name "Twist of Fait Accomplis" at Laze.net
(here) describes a less than wonderful weekend. After the Better World Club service provider picks him up: "The ride back with the tow truck guy was actually the highlight of the day. We discussed the accident that held up traffic and
killed my car--a woman in a Chevy Blazer rode up onto the grass, overcompensated, and flipped the vehicle over ... We discussed why AAA sucks for tow companies (companies make very little money from AAA tows) and why the Better World Club
treats tow drivers much better..."
We're alerting you to this because you should know: AAA is disliked by service providers because they pay less than the other networks. Kicking Asphalt hasn't reported this earlier because we thought you might not find our word alone
credible.
The fact is, service providers aren't that busy. But many have told us, in a snowstorm in New England, they pick the AAA people up last. Not first, last.
Now you know. Apparently, it was Fait..
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Top Story |
BETTER WORLD CLUB NOMINATED FOR GREEN BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Better World Asks Ohio Secretary Of State To Count Its Votes
Who Nominated Halliburton?
Better World Club is one of 70 companies (that's probably all that Co-op America, the sponsor, could fit on a webpage) that have been nominated for the People's Choice Award for Green Business of the Year.
As the name of the award indicates, the winner will be chosen by a vote of the general public. All are welcome to cast their vote for their favorite nominee at:
www.coopamerica.org/peopleschoice.
Co-op America says that green businesses operate in ways that solve, rather than cause, both environmental and social problems. These businesses adopt principles, policies, and practices that improve the quality of life for their
customers, their employees, communities, and the environment. (Yes, we know you're thinking "Better World Club".)
Funny, Co-op America doesn't mention anything about a prize. Just what does Better World Club win if we're selected?
Complete Story
Of course, your support would be appreciated. Voting ends October 24th.
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In The News |
IdealBite.com Throws a Couple of Apples at Better World
No, It's a Good Thing. Apples Are Like Stars in Ideal Bite's Fantasy World.
Check out
IdealBite.com. They'll send you a green tip each weekday. They also write with a lot of attitude (although it's possible that it isn't attitude, it's alcohol.) We at Kicking Asphalt are in no position to be judgmental. This
newsletter is produced by a staff that is in a Zen dream state, blissed out by the greatest working conditions in the world! (Can I get paid now?)
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Is "Sustainable Travel" an Oxymoron?
The Bite
Air and auto travel are big contributors to climate change. However, by using "carbon offsets," you can travel in good conscience.
The Benefits
Carbon offsetting is a way to neutralize the carbon emissions you emit when you drive or fly. You can buy a certain amount of "offset units" equivalent to the carbon the activity creates, and hence become "carbon neutral."
Offsetting is performed by organizations that channel funds directly to carbon-reducing projects, such as:
- installing solar panels in African villages
- Investing in wind power on Native American reservations
- Simply planting trees.
You can keep your SUV.
Personally Speaking
First, we promise that we will never recommend "biking to work." Second, we drive small cars (when we drive at all) and feel pretty good about that. However, we do fly a lot, and each flight contributes a ton (really, an actual ton) of
carbon dioxide pollution on average per person. ...
Wanna Try?
The
Better World Club offers free carbon offsets on two domestic and (sic: should be "or") one international flight each year to members who book plane tickets through its in-house travel agency. (Nonmembers worldwide can purchase
offsets -- $11 for a domestic flight and $22 for an international flight). ...
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Washington Watch |
Better World Club Agrees With Karl Rove: Hurricane Katrina Was Sierra Club's Fault
The Bush Administration has put out feelers, hoping to determine whether its failure to reenforce the New Orleans levees could be blamed on environmental groups. The Administration is also seeking evidence that
environmentalists caused 9/11, the Social Security deficit, and Brad to leave Jennifer. If you have evidence of any of these--and if anyone does, we would expect it to be a Kicking Asphalt reader--email this guy who keeps bothering us:
krove@whitehouse.gov.
In fact, the Sierra Club did ask for an environmental impact statement when the levees were up for renovation in 1997. They did so to assure that the dirt for the levees was not generated by destroying Louisiana wetlands. The Club was not
trying to block levee reconstruction in any way shape or form. For more, click
here.
As Kicking Asphalt believes in accountability, we'll do our part: We did see Sierra Club President Carl Pope hanging out with Janet Jackson prior to the 2004 Super Bowl. You be the judge.
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Member Specials |
Better World Club Members Get a Better Deal to Compare Cars
Too much burden is placed on the consumer to gather the information necessary to optimize marketplace decisions.
That's what "Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is" (below) is all about. Better World is working to make it easier to obtain the information on the social costs of products. Such information can influence both buyer decisions and
manufacturers' technology and product innovations.
To provide such information, Better World and the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) have teamed up. ACEEE, publishes the Green Book®: The Environmental Guide to Cars and Trucks annually.
Better World has a deal for our members. One month (normally $9.95) and one year (normally $19.95) online subscriptions will be available to Better World members at 50% off starting October 15th. At that time, you will find the code that
enables Better World Club members to obtain the discount in our Members Only section. For a sneak preview,
click here now to see ACEEE's ratings of the Best of 2005 cars. You will find the link in the discount section after you have logged in.
The Green Book enables members to compare cars, vans, pickups, and SUVs by their environmental impacts on air pollution and global warming, and learn which vehicles are the "Best of 2005," including the "greenest" and the "meanest."
Additional features include:
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how to buy the cleanest and most efficient vehicle;
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listings for electric and other alternative fuel vehicles in addition to gas and diesel
We asked ACEEE to lend Better World members the money to buy the cars, but they demurred. They then started lecturing us that they are about providing wisdom, not possessions. For more details on the soundness of this philosophy, contact
them.
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Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is: