News / Tyre Extinguishers

Activists slammed as ‘faceless bunch of eco-warriors’

By Betty Woolerton  Friday Jan 5, 2024

A resident has hit out at guerrilla climate activists calling them a “faceless bunch of eco-warriors” after his car was sabotaged three times.

Mark Moran, chief executive of a company which sells hands-free drinking systems, called the Tyre Extinguishers “smug” and “self-important” and their tactics of deflating the tyres of SUVs “forcing their will upon people”.

The activists are part of the “leaderless movement” which believes SUVs are “unnecessary ‘luxury emissions’, flaunted by the wealthy” and should be banned in urban areas.

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The Tyre Extinguishers have visited Clifton, as well as wealthy neighbourhoods in cities across the globe, numerous times to deflate tyres, supposedly using lentils, and leave setting out their message.

https://twitter.com/T_Extinguishers/status/1742465732938510681

Speaking about why he believes the action is counter-productive, Moran said: “Once again Clifton has been hit by the smug eco-warriors who think that letting tyres down, slashing tyres and painting cars is a great way to get people to support their cause.

“There is no debate about doing the best we can to improve the environment, reduce waste, reduce pollution etc but these idiots do not seem to understand that most people who have cars NEED them and the cost to the environment of replacing tyres that do NOT need replacing but have to be due to the damage caused, is far in excess of any saving here smugness will make.”

He added: “They are simply a faceless bunch of eco-warriors who want to force their will upon people with zero rational debate.”

Their group’s site provides print-at-home information leaflets for saboteurs to leave on vehicles to explain why they have been targeted – photo: Mark Moran

On a leaflet left on Moran’s vehicle, the Tyre Extinguishers said they demand that the government improve cycling infrastructure, provide free public transport and insulate homes.

“We have deflated one or more of your tyres because driving around in your SUV vehicle has huge SUVs are the second-largest cause of the rise in CO2 emissions over the last decade, more than the aviation industry,” the note reads.

“SUVs cause more air pollution in our neighbourhood than smaller cars SUVs are more likely to kill people in collisions.”

The International Energy Agency found the average SUV consumes about 20 per cent more fuel than the average medium-sized car does to drive the same number of miles.

Main photo: Tyre Extinguishers

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