Above Photo: A flat tyre. Bernd Dittrich / Creative Commons.
Glasgow, Scotland – Climate activists deflated the tires of 40 SUVs in a wealthy Glasgow neighborhoods today as part of an ongoing campaign to demand a ban on the “polluting” vehicles in cities.
The activists, who are members of new campaign group Tyre Extinguishers, targeted the North Kelvinside area in the city’s West End in the early hours of Friday.
The group placed fake parking tickets on the windscreens of SUVs targeted stating the “luxury lifestyle choice” of its owner had been “disarmed.”
The action is part of a growing Scotland-wide campaign against the vehicles which they say are “unnecessary” and “dangerous” in cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Earlier in the week another group, the Deflationists, targeted over 50 of the four-by-four vehicles in two areas in Glasgow.
Both groups are calling for a ban on SUVs in urban areas and cities.
Tyre Extinguishers member Nick Otto said: “Members of the Tyre Extinguishers have taken this action because we are in a climate emergency. We have a short and rapidly closing window of time to make changes that will protect the future for all life on Earth.
“If SUVs were a country, they would be the sixth largest emitter in the world.
“SUVs in cities are unnecessary, dangerous, and polluting. We want to see a cleaner and safer Glasgow. If our leaders won’t make the changes to protect us, then we must take matters into our own hands.”
Police Scotland’s Superintendent Ross Allan called the acts “reckless” and “potentially dangerous,” saying they could put drivers on the road at risk.
It comes after six climate activists were arrested on Thursday after throwing red paint at the UK government office building in Edinburgh.
The Just Stop Oil coalition members targeted the Queen Elizabeth building to call on the government to reverse its decision approving the Jackdaw oil and gas field in the North Sea.
The project, developed by oil giant Shell, was given the green light by Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng on Wednesday.
Lauren MacDonald, an activist with campaign group Stop Jackdaw, said: “Ministers need to explain to the British public how allowing Shell to open up a new gas field will solve the problems everyone is facing.
“It won’t make bills cheaper, it won’t deliver energy security. It just makes more money for Shell. We say ‘enough. Come up with some better ideas’.”