Climate change protestors in Edinburgh targeted SUVs in the city with graffiti accusing owners of them of being to blame for the floods in Spain.
More than 200 people have died in floods that have hit the country, mainly in Valencia. Flash floods hit the area and swept away cars and destroyed train lines in the most devastating floods to hit the European mainland since more than 500 died in Portugal in the 1960s.
Now, in a bid to “highlight SUV’s disproportionate role in causing catastrophic weather”, protestors targeted SUVs and their owners throughout Edinburgh’s New Town on Sunday night.
As part of the protests, a group called The Tyre Extinguishers placed images of victim of the Valencian floods 28-year-old José Castillejo as well as Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau, who were killed when an out-of-control Land Rover hit their London primary school.
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND: SUVS TARGETED IN SOLIDARITY WITH VALENCIA CLIMATE VICTIMS
— The Tyre Extinguishers (@T_Extinguishers) November 4, 2024
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. pic.twitter.com/wnEZAUfX3W
Graffiti included messages which read “these cars kill Valencians” and “these cars kill kids” while tyres were also flattened.
A statement from the group said: “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.
“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 (IEA).
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“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.
“They’re also a major factor in the ‘plague of potholes’ afflicting Edinburgh and much of the UK. Edinburgh City Council ignores this problem.
“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.”
Police Scotland have been contacted for comment.
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