Posted on 04/11/2022 6:58:51 PM PDT by Subcutaneous Fishstick Blues
A left-wing environmental activist group proposed deflating the tires of sports utility vehicles as a radical act of protest against climate change.
Adbusters, an activist group that describes itself as a “collective of artists, designers, writers, musicians, poets, punks, philosophers and wild hearts has been smashing ads, fighting corruption and speaking truth to power,” and has been tied to the Occupy Wall Street protests in 2011, called for activists to deflate SUV tires in a Twitter thread on Wednesday.
“So here’s what we do: Wedge gravel in the tire valves, leaflet the SUV to let them know the tires are flat and why it was done, and walk away,” the organization wrote. “It’s that simple. If we organize, we can hit enough SUVs in particular neighborhoods to spark reporting and spread the metameme. We do this neighbourhood-at-a-time to make the biggest splash. Organize a crew (off of any traceable apps) and make leaflets that lay out the case for climate action. The mission is not to win individual converts at this point, but to engender a systemic aversion to SUVs. Climate change is the biggest crisis we’ve faced as a species, and we are failing the test at every step. It is time for us to carefully escalate our methods in a non-violent manner and convey the seriousness of this crisis in tangible ways.”
“A flat tire is non-violent,” Adbusters continued. “There is no property damage. But it is a huge pain in the a**. We’ve seen this method succeed in Sweden, and have initial success in the UK with [Tyre Extinguishers] (articles warning off SUV purchases at risk of being targeted). Time to go global. Targeting SUVs is good way to hit the automotive industry where it hurts. SUV sales are playing a massive role in the expansion of the auto industry, both as a percentage of global market share and in total numbers. And that increase is setting the climate back massively.”
The group recommended targeting wealthy areas, to begin with, saying that its goal “isn’t to disrupt workers,” and to avoid targeting vehicles that have disabled stickers or handicap hangers.
Adbusters also posted a sample leaflet for activists to place on the windshields of vehicles they target.
“Your tires are flat,” the leaflet reads. “It isn’t personal. SUVs are disproportionately fueling the climate crisis. They’re the 2nd-largest contributor to increasing CO2 emissions since 2010. And they’re totally unnecessary. The climate crisis is spiraling out of control, making drastic action necessary. So we deflated your tires. Walk, bike, take public transit if you have to. But it’s time to end our reliance on these gas-guzzling behemoths.”
Critics on Twitter blasted the group, noting that the idea is ineffective, criminal, and possibly dangerous.
“[I’m] sure ruining someone’s day is a great way to make them agree with you,” one user wrote.
“Most people don’t carry a tire pump. They’re going to call a tow truck to either tow them because they don’t know the tire is still good or to reinflate the tire. The tow truck is way less efficient, burning fuel and unnecessary. They’re now p***** off and way less sympathetic,” wrote another.
“Malicious vandalism comes with occupational hazards,” a user tweeted.
“Three days in and Twitter is like yeah, encouraging property damage is totes fine,” another critic wrote.
“@TwitterSafety, pretty sure this is illegal,” said another.
I do carry a tire inflator that runs off the 12v car electrics. So I’ll run the car’s engine at a high idle while re-inflating the tires. Others may call AAA, so there’ll be all the fuel burned by the AAA truck coming and going.
Yes, terrorism.
Is AOC bitchin’ again?
This can kill people. No difference than cutting brake lines.
Yes, tire inflator and 9mm.
Telling people to commit the crime of property destruction is a crime. Why no charges?
Bull. Having the weight of a vehicle PLUS THE WHEEL RIM sitting on that flat for a while can cause the belts to be severed. If the unaware driver fills the tire back up in his driveway, he could have a blowout later on driving down the freeway.
I propose deflating left-wing activists.
With an ice pick or hollow trocar to the chest, to let the air in a different way.
So a tow truck will come, pick up the SUV, a compressor will be fired up to air up the tires. The owner will catch a ride with a friend or taxi and then continue their trip. Looks like more than double the energy used to me.
And if the soy boy left-wing activist is caught in the act by the vehicle owner who happens to be 6’6” and 250lbs, what does the left-wing activist think is going to happen?
I’m not 6’6” and 250, but i will beat you with my hickory CaneMaster cane until my arm hurts, then I will change hands and beat you some more.
And when im about done with that, im going to need to pee, on your head as you lay there groaning.
Hundred percent likely.
As long as they don’t mind a pneumothorax.
I betcha, sometime in the near future, an Adbuster gets himself or herself dead, I betcha
“A flat tire is not violent”. I’ll show you what is violent if I catch you fuc#ing around with my tires.
““A flat tire is non-violent,” Adbusters continued. “There is no property damage.”
****
Try that one my pick-up..please.
A pit bull in the car with the window down is discouraging.
Hope they try this s#it in open carry states.
........ This expains my flat tires without leaks the past couple of weeks ....... B@stards .....
I can give them .357 reasons to reconsider
I have air tanks and compressors run by normal household AC...supplied by a mixture of coal, nuke, and hydro.
Why aren’t the “greenies” pro nuke?
And what do they have against firewood...that’s renewable?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
