Tire terror

Ingezonden door LVB op 2005-10-20 23:30

degonfles.jpg
Last weekend a gang that calls itself Les Flagadas, deflated the tires of some forty SUVs in Brussels. The Flagadas target four-wheel-drive vehicles because they want to make a political statement: “SUVs consume a lot of gas and pollute the environment,” says a Flagadas spokesperson who describes herself as an “eco-activist.” The Brussels Flagadas draw their inspiration from a French gang, Les Dégonflés, who have deflated the tires of dozens of four-wheel-drives in the streets of Paris since early September.

The “eco-guerrillas” maintain they are doing nothing wrong because they deflate tires without damaging the tyres, let alone the cars:
“It would be difficult to take us to court,” [the leader of the French groups says]. “We don’t slash tires, we deflate them. Air doesn’t cost anything. […] Our rules are to never run from the police. And always run from the owners.” […] The deflators are on the fringe of a movement that has considerable support in the [Paris] City Hall, which is governed by an alliance of the Socialist and Green parties.

This also seems to be the position of the Brussels authorities. The Brussels police flatly refused to register the complaints of 4x4 owners “because the cars have not been damaged.” Nevertheless, deflating people’s tires restricts their freedom. Moreover, the owner has to bear the cost and inconvenience of having the car towed away or having an air compressor brought over to inflate all the tires again. It does not matter that the owner is rich. Rich people have rights, too.


The attitude of the police in Brussels and Paris is a dangerous one. In a democracy no-one is allowed to restrict another’s movements except the democratically elected authorities. Never freewheeling political “activists.” Sadly, there is a growing tendency in Europe to condone all types of violent political activism so long as no-one gets killed or wounded.

In two instances in Belgium in 2003 company managers were taken hostage by trade union activists and kept locked up for several days while local authorities refused to intervene. Afterwards the Belgian authorities decided not to press charges against the hostage takers.

In France, Belgium, the Netherlands and other West European countries hamburger restaurants, mink farms and gas stations have been arsoned by eco-terrorists. Though in these cases there were prosecutions, some tend to sympathise with the arsonists “so long as no-one gets hurt.” In free societies, however, people also respect the property rights of others.

Are the European authorities still aware of this? Or does it all boil down to anti-Americanism again?
Christophe Delabre, the president of a French association of SUV owners, […] said: “You cannot stigmatize a category of the population with impunity under the pretext that they drive a particular type of vehicle. […] I do not understand how the police can arrest deflaters and let them go a few hours later.”

Although city leaders do not condone vandalism, officials have gone so far as to propose that Paris ban sports utility vehicles. Deputy Mayor Denis Baupin, who oversees transportation programs, has called the SUV “a caricature of a car.” […] “A SUV is totally useless for Paris,” Baupin said in his speech and blamed the recent devastating hurricanes in the U.S. on climate change caused by pollution…. “We all feel sorry for the dead in New Orleans. But now maybe the United States should start considering that their development pattern is not to be repeated worldwide and that it causes environmental problems.”

Reacties

#37078

Me, who else..

maandag, 19 maart, 2007 - 08:44

 

A little bit late, but:

It is not Anti-*something/whatever* to critisize the behaviour of *something/whatever*...

Please differenciate between criticizing and bashing. So I know this is difficult, especially if you are personally involved.

#17042

LVB

vrijdag, 13 januari, 2006 - 00:30

 

@Jefke: under the current law, they have that right, just like you and I have the right to do all kinds of "unnecessary" things. If you want to change the law, do it through democratic means, not through violence. And yes, what Les Flagadas do is a form of violence. Damage to property, limiting the freedom of movement, that is violence.

Oh, and when people evade taxes, that gives you the right to damage their property?

#17032

Jefke

donderdag, 12 januari, 2006 - 20:54

 

<i>It does not matter that the owner is rich. Rich people have rights, too.</i>
But do they have the right to endanger other peoples lives by unnecessarily bringing disproportional large cars on the road? And by disproportianilly polutting the environment?

And besides, a lot of people bought such cars to evade taxes by claiming this was "a van for business use". Which it clearly is not.

#15717

Gary

vrijdag, 11 november, 2005 - 15:15

 

Dexter, you scare me with "(the) owners have to pay for jeopardizing other people’s safety."

Why not try getting the legislature to change the laws?

#15485

dexter

dinsdag, 1 november, 2005 - 18:19

 

Have a look at the Urban Dictionary definitions of SUV, it's hilarious:

http://www.urbandictionary....

#15480

Joe

dinsdag, 1 november, 2005 - 17:14

 

The thing is, the more SUVs on the road, the more people buy it. Because it's "fashionable", because the neighbour has one, and because when you sit in a sedan your view is blocked by SUVs :-)
And soccer moms will always be soccer moms... they will always look for more safety to compensate their bad driving. In the US you already see them in a Hummer.

#15472

dexter

dinsdag, 1 november, 2005 - 15:47

 

I sincerely think that there are so many SUV's around Brussels now that it has become a real safety and health issue.

SUV's are a completely dumb fashion item for unresponsible wannabes. Just take a look at the drivers... We just got soccer mom's parking their X5 on the crosswalk to pick up their kids and so-called business men.

Not a single SUV owner can come up with a valid, rational argument to motivate his choice to drive a 4WD piece of junk... except "freedom". Then if it's their only idea of "freedom", I don't give a damn about it and I definitely feel like one can retaliate as their "freedom" threatens others life when they walk, cycle or drive a normal sized car in which the driver's head is right at SUV bumper height.

No, I ain't no pink commie, I'm more like a libertarianrchist-ecowarrior and I think SUV owners have to pay for jeopardizing other peoples safety

For many reasons, cars are evil so if you really need one, choose a vehicle that makes sense for christ sake!

#15459

dof

dinsdag, 1 november, 2005 - 09:33

 

Glenn Reynolds has one:

http://instapundit.com/arch...

#15433

Joe

zondag, 30 oktober, 2005 - 22:31

 

Highlander type? I don't like any Mel Gibson movie, sorry.

#15427

dof

zondag, 30 oktober, 2005 - 19:39

 

Joe-Norbert, I pictured you more as the Highlander type. Well, at least your wallet.

#15418

Joe

zondag, 30 oktober, 2005 - 10:42

 

If I'd have the Lexus RX400h, the fantastic luxury hybrid SUV that has a 3.3-litre V6 VVT-i petrol engine and two electric motors that work in harmony to deliver smooth, V8-style power and responsiveness, having low fuel consumption and very low emissions... would the Flagadas or the Dégonflés be so clever to leave my car alone?

http://www.lexus.co.uk/lexu...

#15224

Owain

maandag, 24 oktober, 2005 - 09:42

 

I'm waiting the time when the "deflated" SUV will be the one of a physician called for an emergency, or the husband of a pregnant woman who should be rushed to the hospital.

#15204

Cogito

zondag, 23 oktober, 2005 - 12:03

 

well, try demolishing SUV`s with a sledgehammer as your next project for civil improvement. You might not be punished harder.

#15200

Annick Tamère

zondag, 23 oktober, 2005 - 05:06

 

Three years in prison for deflating tyres ? Let me laugh ! :-D

#15194

Outlaw Mike

zaterdag, 22 oktober, 2005 - 22:35

 

Is "tire" US English for "tyre"? Didn't know that.

#15173

Mike Reys

zaterdag, 22 oktober, 2005 - 12:01

 

@dof: it will be a matter of incentivizing Luc to leverage articles in UK English. I was so tyred that I forgot to put the quotes around the word ;-)

#15166

LVB

zaterdag, 22 oktober, 2005 - 00:29

 

@dof: point taken, spelling changed to US English ;-)

#15164

dof

zaterdag, 22 oktober, 2005 - 00:18

 

Do these "Tyre terrorists" have any relation with Phoenicia?

#15154

Mike Reys

vrijdag, 21 oktober, 2005 - 18:10

 

The Brussels police did get the message. Tyre terrorists have been caught and risk 3 years in prison and up to 500 Euro fine.
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