A number of sports utility vehicle (SUV) owners on the same street in south Dublin have had the tyres in their vehicles deflated by people claiming to be environment activists. The group, which left a pamphlet on the vehicles explain their actions, said they had targeted SUVs because of the damage they cause to the environment.
They warned the drivers they must switch to smaller vehicles or stop using cars for transport and opt for cycling instead, as well as walking or public transport or be targeted. The unusual incident - with the tyres deflated rather than slashed - occurred in Churchtown and reports locally suggest multiple SUVs were targeted overnight into this morning, Wednesday.
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The group on their pamphlet referred to themselves as 'Tyre Extinguishers', which is an international climate direct action group that deflates the tyres on SUVs and has been active internationally.
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Minister of State Neale Richmond TD, the Fine Gael representative for Dublin Rathdown constituency, revealed details of the incident on Twitter, sharing a photo of a deflated tyre and an image of the pamphlet left by those who deflated the tyres.
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"I’ve had calls from constituents who last night had their tyres slashed in Churchtown by a supposed climate action group," he said. "It’s now with the local gardaí. This thuggery is unacceptable, I’m hopeful the investigation can put a stop to this carry on but be vigilant."
The pamphlet is addressed to the vehicle owners and says: "We had deflated one or more of your tyres. You'll be angry, but don't take it personally. It's not you, it's your car. "We did this because driving around urban areas in your massive vehicle has huge consequences for others.
It added car companies tried to convince motorists to drive SUVs and 4X4s, but they "are a disaster for our climate" and the "second largest cause of the global rise in carbon dioxide emissions over the past decade, more than the entire aviation industry".
The pamphlet said the world is "facing a climate emergency" and their choice of car was cause adverse weather and related events from which "millions of people are already dying". Closer to home the drivers were told, the SUVs were damaging the local environment while crashes with SUVs were more likely to kill others, even though the vehicles were "unnecessary and pure vanity".
"That's why we have taken this action," the pamphlet adds. "You will have no difficulty getting around without your gas guzzler, with walking cycling or public transport."
