Ecowarriors go into battle against 4x4s – with cycle pumps (Paris)

[struggle4progress]

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. <snip>

To the amazement of furious owners, the police say that it is not a crime because property is not damaged. “We have had complaints, but it is not clear that any offence is being committed,” said an officer at the sixth arrondissement.

Owners may bring a civil action against the activists, who call themselves les Dégonflés, the deflated ones, or in slang, the chickens or scaredycats. Thanks, in part, to their internet site ( http://degonfle.blogg.org ), which shows pictures of deflating raids, they say that they have spawned other groups in Lyon, Rouen, Geneva and even Australia. <snip>

“Perhaps it’s cowardly that we prefer to be anonymous, but we have received death threats,” Joker added. “That’s perfectly in keeping with the mentality of the 4x4 people who want to crush everything in their path.” <snip>

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

[benburch]

1. I prefer to put a spud in the exhaust pipe.

If you shove it in a ways, it can take them hours to figure out what is making the car stall out!

[Wilms]

7. Pondered that one just a few hours ago. n/t

[RaleighNCDUer]

2. This is good!

Problem is, in these parts it would get you shot.

[struggle4progress]

3. Ya might could have a right good point there, brother evilDUer. eom

[Schema Thing]

4. The funny thing is

I rented a 4x4 Nissan when I was in Paris (for a drive into the country, I'm not brave enough to try and drive in Paris proper), and it was equipped with great diesel engine that I'm sure gave it at least 30 mpg.

I so wish Nissan would sell that model here. I'm convinced it would be a run away best seller.

The rental agency asked if I wanted a "kat-kat". That turns out to be their term for 4x4's. I can only imagine the Imperialist etymology of "kat kat".

[BeFree]

5. I've done that

I call it letting the air be free.

Did it once to a neighbor of mine who used to make an awful roar with his truck. He quit doing that. He got the message and I just smiled at it all. No harm, no foul.

[NNadir]

6. "Ecowarriors?" Isn't that a strong word for pranksters?

That would depend on whether you understand the a single concept about the use of language, language being a reflection of thinking.

Here is how I would describe an "ecowarrior." Someone who does something meaningful about global climate change, for instance. Someone, on the other hand, who spouts platitudes and formulaic dreamland responses while falling over themselves to elevate the status of petty pranks, is probably just full of shit and wholly unmerited self congratulation.

It's not like these guys are working on reforestation projects or working to understand complex energy technologies. They're letting air out of tires, probably while on drunken binges. Big fucking deal. I doubt any of them are over 19, not that I mean to demean 19 year olds by comparison, since the majority of the young people I know at DU are fine human beings.

Twit cute "Look At Me! Look At Me!" middle class spoiled brats hardly qualify as "ecowarriors."

[Kolesar]

8. "Ecowarriors" is a name Dave Foreman chose for himself

I read it a decade ago. It inspired me--not to monkeywrench, but to become an activist.
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