Environmentalists tell Twitter Followers to Slash Tires of SUVs in ‘Wealthy Areas’

So-called climate activists are using social media to rally “ground warriors” to go around slashing SUV tires. In a string of tweets, @Adbusters posted “Time to do something about SUVs. They’re the 2nd-largest contributor to the increase in global CO2 emissions since 2010, more than aviation.”

Alongside a black and white photograph of a tire and SUVs, the post added, “this is a gentle escalation of methods to drive the urgency of this climate crisis home and engender a systemic aversion to SUVs.”

So here's what we do: Wedge gravel in the tire valves, leaflet the SUV to let them know the tires are flat and why it was done, and walk away.

It's that simple. If we organize, we can hit enough SUVs in particular neighborhoods to spark reporting and spread the metameme.

— Adbusters (@Adbusters) April 6, 2022

The graphic is a three-step guidance titled “The SUV flat tire challenge.” Step 1 is “wedge a piece of gravel in the tire valve.” Step 2 is “slap a leaflet on the dash to let them know” ad finally, “3rd step: walk away.”

A second tweet gave further explanation: “So here’s what we do: wedge gravel in the tire valves, leaflet the SUV to let them know the tires are flat and why I was done, and walk away. It’s that simple. If we organize, we can hit enough SUVs in particular neighborhoods to spark reporting and spread the metameme.”

Further details in the thread of tweets include stating “climate change is the biggest crisis we’ve faced as a species, and we are failing the test at every step” and “a flat tire is non-violent. There is no property damage. But it is a huge pain in the ass.”

They also claim this method has been successful in Sweden and the UK, and that it’s “time to go global.” The group suggests its followers “start by targeting wealthy areas – our goal isn’t to disrupt workers – and avoid targeting vehicles with disabled stickers or hangers.”

“Targeting SUVs is a good way to hit the automotive industry where it hurts. SU sales are playing a massive role in the expansion of the auto industry, both as a percentage of global market share and in total numbers” the tweets continue.