Ecowarriors go into battle against 4x4s - with cycle pumps
From Charles Bremner and Marie Tourres in Paris

DRIVERS who park gasguzzling 4x4s overnight in Paris are receiving an unpleasant surprise in the morning: flat tyres. A gang of young activists are deflating the tyres of what they regard as anti-social urban tanks which clog the narrow streets of the Left Bank.

Full article:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-1778863,00.html

I'm against this, but not nearly as much as I am against SUVs, so whatever.

I don't like SUVs but I really hate when people do things like this because it makes the rest of us look like radicals.

I think the flattening of these peoples' wallets do to high gas prices is more effective in reducing the demand for SUV's :D

:yes: In my area there's lots of SUVs for sale on the side of the road and nobody buys them.

I don't like SUVs but I really hate when people do things like this because it makes the rest of us look like radicals.

The thing is, some of us are "radicals". (and if not, sympathizers)

I think that this sort of action tends to be one which I support 100%.

Please understand that SUVs in Europe are a relatively new phenomenon. Like Starbucks.

People are NOT amused. If the government is not going to tax these SUVs double like they should, then the people will intervene.

SUVs suck.

I wish those eco-warriorrs all the best in their endeavours. And if I see any in action, I will applaud them.

And hopefully,this phenomenon will not grow even further as this kind of political activism will make people TALK about these things instead of just ignoring them.

SUVs suck. (Yes, I know I'm repeating myself.)

edited to add: I see there's a group of these Dégonflés in Geneva. Cool!!!!! That's not far from where I live. I hope they come and visit my town soon.

I love my SUV--bought it this summer. I love that my dogs have space to walk around, and that I can safely transport four or five dogs in one trip. That's the only reason I bought it really.

I am pretty certain that the majority of the SUV drivers in Paris do not use their SUVs to transport their dogs.

They could use them for a lot of things.

I love my SUV too.. even though it's a little one.

Hmmm, I believe these cars are nicknamed ASOcars in the netherlands, aso standing short for a-social:) Don't know what SUV stands for though

I don't much care for SUVS, since they're ugly looking, but how are they anti social vehicles? Here in the united states, the majority of people who drive them are women. And let me tell you, some of these women are the most damn social people you can get.

Unless you're not speaking literally, in which case what do you mean when you say they're anti social?

The thing is, some of us are "radicals". (and if not, sympathizers)

I think that this sort of action tends to be one which I support 100%.

What is your definition of radical? I meant someone who beyond having strong convictions feels that they should force other people to have those convictions and condemn those who don't. Sort of like the people who hand out those were will you go when you die pamphlets at grocery stores. I don't think that vandalism solves the problem. People will just repair their SUVs and talk about what jerks these green people are. I don't think it will actually deter anyone from buying them.

People will just repair their SUVsdid you read the article? there's no property damage, just inconvenience.

with streets like they are in old european cities, they should get rid of cars and go for rickshaws or something, of course who could pay a rickshaw driver what their france's socialist economy demands? in fact they should all flee to the countryside and be farmers living off the gov't cheese, leave the city to the poodles.

I think that this sort of action tends to be one which I support 100%. You're kidding me right?

As someone who in a thread about teen pregnancy complained about "moralizing", I find it fascinating to find that your moralizing would bring you to support vandalism.

Has it ever even occured to you that some people (admittedly fewer than most) actually have need for the 'U' part of 'SUV'?

I wonder if you have ever complained about the "plight of the poor" (who, since they are usually involved in professions involving manual labor, need SUVs), or have condemned "generalizing" and "stereotyping".

Since you'd have to not oppose either to support indiscriminate damage of people's property.

And to those who clearly don't have a clue, YES it is property damage. The rims of wheels are not made to support the weight of cars, and certainly not trucks. They are designed to keep the tires from flying from each side when turning.

So, when the weight of a car goes on the rim, it may very well damage, or crack, the rim, and cost MONEY. Even cracking the paint costs money to repair, quite possibly a lot. To get a wheel re-chromed (as would have to be done) well costs a fortune.

If I saw one of these idiots doing this to my car, I'd slam them in the torso with a steel bar from my trunk.

I don't like fooling around with other people's things, so this is an act I would not participate in.

Has it ever even occured to you that some people (admittedly fewer than most) actually have need for the 'U' part of 'SUV'?
Not for nothin' - I very much doubt people are going to labor/construction sites and flattening flatbed truck tires...

Ummm, i'm afraid of going to prison so I'll say, Naw i'm not doin' that". :D


Monika

I agree with Krista. Vandalism and messing with other peoples' property isn't the way to go.

I don't like fooling around with other people's things, so this is an act I would not participate in.
Ditto.

Not for nothin' - I very much doubt people are going to labor/construction sites and flattening flatbed truck tires... My landlord is a carpenter, and he own an SUV because he needs one.

He also has to buy food (grocery store parking lots), buy clothes (mall parking lots), etc.

*Surprise*, not eveyone has the means to have two vehicles.

Like I said, you're got to take this in its cultural context. Most of these SUVs that are being targeted in Paris belong to stupid bourgeois nouveau-riche, or people with inferiority complexes. Paris is already completely air-polluted - many times they go over the red mark for pollution and it's practically all due to cars. And SUVs damage the roads more.

Until these people pay lots more taxes for the damage they are doing, they will be targeted. Take a bit of wind out of their tires may take a bit of air out of their swollen heads as well.

Whatever you people use SUVs for in the States, they just don't fit in with Paris. The streets there are narrow, some are still paved. The Dégonflés are right to target them.

Please understand that SUVs in Europe are a relatively new phenomenon. Like Starbucks.

People are NOT amused. If the government is not going to tax these SUVs double like they should, then the people will intervene.


Due to their low gas milage, the SUV owners are already paying more then double the gasoline tax of a lightweight, fuel efficient car. It probably covers their fair share of road damage due to the heavier weight of the vehicle.

So why should SUV owners pay double tax?

I don't really see anything wrong with SUV's. there are certain models which I have contempt for, since they are, quite simply penis extensions. For instance, the BMW X3 and X5 are giant cars, which look absolutely ugly. It's a penis extension, plain and simple.

I like to say that the punishment for playing with fire is getting burned, so now that it's a quid a litre, they will be paying the price of having a car that drinks petrol like george best drinks vodka.

When they slash tires, is it with knowledge of who the SUV belongs to?

Elena: Where did you read that they slash tires?