MoreFM and The War Against Stupidity

For those of you outside New Zealand, MoreFM is a nationwide network of radio stations owned by CanWest MediaWorks (who seem to Purchase Their Capital Letters By The BucketLoad. So 1998.) Like all radio stations, they go out and about in the community with their promotional vehicles, giving away sponsor’s products and embarrasing 20-somethings who still think listening to radio personalities on the morning commute is a pretty neat idea.

Good on them, I say. Live and let live.

Except when they drive a fleet of enormous petrol-powered SUVs as the promotional vehicles. Short of importing a specially-built Hummer, it’s pretty well impossible to buy a more environmentally destructive or socially obnoxious truck in New Zealand …. and these idiots have a collection of them.

The SUVs in question (according to the manufacturer’s stats) produce around 440 grams of CO2 per kilometre, and use 21 litres of petrol per 100km in urban running, which is where these things spend most of their time. They weigh around 2,400 kilos and have a full-time 4WD system, which must be fabulously useful for mounting the 10cm kerbs around Wellington. By any measure, they are 2-3 times more environmentally destructive than a standard stationwagon, which would be functionally equivalent.

So why do the Station Managers purchase these dinosaurs? Beats me. I wrote to them and asked, but as I wasn’t seeking the autograph of one of their “stars”, didn’t get a reply. What a surprise. They probably buy them because they’re big and shiny, and they’re very reassuring for ageing radio stars who might be feeling a bit challenged in the trouser department.

Hence MoreFM are the winners of The War Against Stupidity’s inaugural Moron Of The Month. Enjoy – you’ve really earned it, guys.