GLOBAL HARMONIZATION
Q: WHAT
IS GLOBAL HARMONIZATION?
A: THE STANDARDIZATION OF THE MANUFACTURE
OF MOTORCYCLES, AUTOMOBILES, AND THEIR PARTS WITH A 20-YEAR END-OF-LIFE
DECLARATION FOR DISPOSAL OF ALL VEHICLES.
Q: WHERE DID GLOBAL HARMONIZATION
ORIGINATE?
A: EUROPE. WHEN 15 EUROPEAN NATIONS
FORMED THE "EUROPEAN UNION" THEY WANTED TO MAKE TRADE, COMMERCE,
TRAVEL, ETC. EASIER BETWEEN THEIR COUNTRIES, SO THEY STANDARDIZED
THEIR MONEY, DRIVERS’ LICENSES, AND MANUFACTURING, MAKING EUROPEAN
TRADE EASIER. FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU LIVE IN FRANCE AND WANT TO TRAVEL
TO ITALY, UNDER THE NEW RULES YOU DON’T HAVE TO GET A NEW LICENSE
OR EVEN BOTHER TO EXCHANGE YOUR MONEY. THESE ITEMS ARE ACCEPTED THROUGHOUT
THE EUROPEAN UNION. CURRENTLY, THESE COUNTRIES EACH HAVE DIFFERENT
STANDARDS FOR MOTORCYCLES AND CARS WITH REGARDS TO THE VEHICLE’S
EMISSIONS, ENGINE SIZE, POLLUTION EQUIPMENT, ETC. THE VARIOUS EUROPEAN,
U.S., AND CALIFORNIA STANDARDS REQUIRE THAT MANUFACTURERS PRODUCE
MANY VARIATIONS OF THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE TO MEET THOSE STANDARDS.
Q: WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM GLOBAL
HARMONIZATION?
A: THE MANUFACTURERS.
CONSIDER – IF YOU ARE A PARTS MANUFACTURER, WOULDN’T IT
BE CHEAPER TO PRODUCE ONE CARBURETOR FOR THE NEW 2000 MODEL THAN FIVE?
FURTHER, WOULDN’T IT BE GREAT IF THAT ONE CARBURETOR COULD BE
SOLD ALL OVER EUROPE AND THE U.S.? YOU BET YOUR BOTTOM DOLLAR IT WOULD!
COMPANIES LIKE HARLEY-DAVIDSON AND HONDA COULD PRODUCE ONE MODEL OF
THE NEW "LOW RIDER" OR "GOLD WING" THAT COULD
BE SOLD WORLDWIDE, ELIMINATING THE NEED TO PRODUCE FIVE VERSIONS OF
THE SAME MODEL. ADDITIONALLY, TO GUARANTEE QUALITY AND COMPLIANCE
WITH THESE STANDARDS, ALL VEHICLES WOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-TAMPERING
DEVICES, SUCH AS SHEAR BOLTS FOR THE HEADS, EXHAUST AND INTAKE MANIFOLDS
TO PREVENT THE OWNER FROM MODIFYING THE VEHICLE IN ANY WAY.
Q: WHO WOULD LOSE?
A: AFTER-MARKET PARTS PRODUCERS SUCH
AS CUSTOM CHROME, V-TWIN, ETC., INDEPENDENT MOTORCYCLE AND CAR SHOPS,
AND OF COURSE YOU – THE CONSUMER.
Q: WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO ME?
A: THERE WILL BE NO CUSTOMIZING OF
YOUR BIKE OR CAR. FORGET PUTTING DRAG PIPES ON THAT OLD FAT BOY. ANTI-TAMPERING
PRECAUTIONS WOULD INCLUDE SUCH THINGS AS SHEAR BOLTS THAT WOULD BREAK
OFF IF TAMPERED WITH. YOUR VEHICLES WOULD BE REQUIRED TO HAVE ONLY
FACTORY PARTS INSTALLED BY FACTORY AUTHORIZED DEALERS. ANY CAR OR
BIKE OLDER THAN 20 YEARS WOULD HAVE TO BE MADE INOPERABLE OR BE DESTROYED.
AFTER THE "END-OF-LIFE DECREE", HIGHWAY USE OR LICENCING
IS PROHIBITED. YOU COULD KEEP THAT OLD ’58 PAN OR ’65
MUSTANG, BUT YOU COULDN’T DRIVE THEM ANYMORE….ALL IN THE
NAME OF THOSE WHO WOULD SAY: "THINK OF THE POLLUTION!!"
Q: IS ANYONE DOING ANYTHING TO STOP
GLOBAL HARMONIZATION?
A: YES!!! ABATE, THE MRF, AND THE
AMA ALL HAVE THEIR COLLECTIVE EYE ON THIS COMING STANDARDAZATION.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE REPRESENTATIVES WORKING WITH THE FEDERATION OF EUROPEAN
MOTORCYCLISTS ASSOCIATION (FEMA) TO HELP SHAPE THE LANGUAGE FOR ANY
STANDARDIZATION. THE MRF AND AMA HAVE APPLIED TO THE UNITED NATIONS
FOR CONSULTANTS STATUS TO THE GLOBAL HARMONIZATION CONFERENCES, AND
WILL HAVE THEIR ANSWER THIS SUMMER. "MEETING OF THE MINDS"
SEMINARS ARE BEING HELD YEARLY IN THIS COUNTRY WITH OUR EUROPEAN BROTHERS
& SISTERS TO LET THEM KNOW WHERE WE STAND (IT’S IN CHICAGO
THIS YEAR). OUR GOAL IS TO INSURE THAT THE INTERESTS OF AMERICAN BIKERS,
AND ANTIQUE/CLASSIC CAR ENTHUSIASTS ARE PROTECTED IN THE COMING CENTURY.
WHEN THE STANDARDS ARE APPLIED (AND THEY WILL BE), WE IN THE U.S.
WANT TO BE SURE THAT THE STANDARDS ARE OURS!!
Q: HOW CAN I HELP?
A: GET INVOLVED!!
JOIN ABATE OF OHIO, INC. OR A MOTORCYCLE RIGHTS ORGANIZATION IN YOUR
AREA. SUPPORT THEIR EFFORTS PERSONALLY AND FINANCIALLY. GET THE WORD
OUT. YOUR PERSONAL FREEDOM DEPENDS ON YOUR ACTIONS.
|
