Climate Activists in Edinburgh Take Drastic Steps Against SUVs Amid Spanish Flood Concerns

In an effort to show support for the victims of the Valencia floods, climate activists in Scotland have staged a number of protests against SUVs.

After members of the Tyre Extinguishers in Edinburgh painted the words “These cars kill Valencians” on the sides of targeted vehicles on Sunday night, the group has urged its supporters to take action against the SUVs in other communities.

Without knowing the precise locations of the targeted vehicles, Police Scotland was unable to provide any information regarding whether the events had been registered or whether an investigation was underway.

The vehicles were vandalised with water-soluble spray chalk.

This comes after an unexpected rainfall last week came with flooding that washed away bridges, cars and streetlights which resulted in at least 214 recorded deaths in Valencia and in the neighbouring districts.

An initial estimate by World Weather Attribution scientists found that the heavy rainfall was around 12% higher and twice as likely due to global warming.

The worst natural disaster ever recorded in Spanish history is described as this flooding.

The Tyre Extinguishers shared images of the Edinburgh acts on their X account writing, “SUVs targeted in solidarity with Valencia climate victims. Outraged Edinburgh residents took action last night highlighting SUV’s disproportionate role in causing catastrophic weather, like that which has killed over 200 in Spain.”

It added, “If SUVs were a country they’d be the 5th biggest world polluter. There were over 360m SUVs on world roads in 2023, producing 1bn tonnes of CO2, up 10% on 2022. As a result, global oil consumption rose by 600,000 barrels/day, more than a quarter of total oil demand growth.”

“Protestors defaced SUVs throughout Edinburgh’s New Town, and left windscreens with images of victims like José Castillejo, 28, who died in the Valencia floods, and Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau, who were killed last year when an out-of-control Land Rover hit their primary school.”

The post concluded, “We call on all TX groups to take solidarity actions on behalf of climate victims. We won’t stop until these death machines are off our roads.”

In Edinburgh the Tyre Extinguishers have been fighting SUVs for a long time. In February the secretive organisation had already targeted cars in the New Town.
The group vandalised over fifty SUVs with the saying, “In the New Town you can get the bus, tram or walk to the city centre. Why do you need a tank?”