ACTRESSES ARRESTED IN GM PROTEST.Byline: Alex Dobuzinskis Staff Writer BURBANK - Two actresses were arrested Monday in a protest at General Motors plant after they tried to block a shipment of recalled electric vehicles heading for the crusher. Alexandra Paul, whose credits include TV's ``Baywatch'' and ``Melrose Place'' and Colette Divine were among more than a dozen electric-vehicle fans who took part in the protest. The two were arrested after Paul drove an electric compact SUV Compact SUV is a class of small sport utility vehicles with a length roughly between 4.25 and 4.60 m (170-185 in). This class should not be confused with mini SUV, which refers to smaller vehicles. onto the driveway of the GM Training Center and parked there with Divine for more than an hour, blocking two semis loaded with recalled EV1 cars. A total of 28 EV1s eventually were sent on their way to Arizona, where they will be crushed. ``We're not saying everyone should have to drive EVs. We want the choice to be able to,'' Chelsea Sexton Chelsea Sexton (born August 14, 1975) is a marketing expert and advocate of alternative fuel vehicles. Sexton entered the automotive industry at the age of 17 after buying her first Saturn. , 29, a former EV1 specialist, marketer and customer-service rep for General Motors, said during the standoff stand·off n. 1. A tie or draw, as in a contest. 2. A situation in which one force neutralizes or counterbalances the other. 3. A standoff insulator. adj. Standoffish. . Protesters said the EV1s, which GM produced for California and Arizona from 1996 until 2002, are good on the environment and that the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. would be less dependent on Middle East oil if more people drove electric vehicles. But a company spokesman said GM spent more than $1 billion on the program and leased 800 of the EV1s to customers, but ultimately determined there was not enough demand for the torpedo-shape car. ``We think it's a far better thing to pursue technology that we can sell in extraordinarily large numbers,'' said Dave Barthmuss of GM, adding that the company is working to develop hybrid vehicles This is a list of hybrid vehicles in chronological order of production: Early designs
Many of the protesters, who were in their 27th day of a rotating vigil vigil (vĭj`əl) [Lat.,=watch], in Christian calendars, eve of a feast, a day of penitential preparation. In ancient times worshipers gathered for vespers before a great feast and then waited outside the church until dawn for the liturgy (Mass). at the GM Training Center in Burbank, own electric vehicles from Toyota or had leased an EV1 in the past. During the standoff, a couple of protesters pleaded with the truck drivers to pull back into the parking lot, while others chanted, held signs and stood in front of police officers. ``Alternative energy is the way of the future and, the thing is, the future already exists today,'' Divine, of Laurel Canyon Laurel Canyon can refer to several things:
But while protesters said they want to be able to buy the recalled EV1s, Barthmuss said that is not an option because the parts needed to maintain the vehicles are no longer available. Paul and Divine were arrested for interfering with a police officer, then released on a promise to appear in court, said Burbank police Lt. William Berry William Berry was the name of four people of historical import, one living person of questionable Notability, and a common misspelling of a Jack the Ripper suspect.
Alex Dobuzinskis, (818) 546-3304 alex.dobuzinskis(at)dailynews.com |
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