It's about time...

[RandyLandy]

I think it's about time the government stopped these so called "Peace protesters" the following is an extract from a website whilst looking for "Nottinghamshire 4x4 response network"

My trip to a 4x4 dealer's to put gas-guzzlers out of action, and leave a statement of solidarity with the planet and against petrol-wastage.

Last night, inspired by Greenpeace’s big parking ticket campaign for 4x4 gas-guzzlers, I decided to put some of these monsters out of action at source, in this case the Toyota showroom on Leeds Road, Huddersfield.
Armed only with 2 tins of spraypaint and a pointed rock I did £2,400 worth of damage to 4 4x4 beasts in the forecourt (3 Rav4s and 1 Land Cruiser), spraying and scratching slogans like “4x4 More Oil More War”, “Petrol is costing the Earth” and the simple, unauthorised “GREENPEACE”, in addition to putting a few dents in them.
Since my last visit to the Leeds Road dealership arcade in July, security had been brought in, and as I made a casual getaway I was apprehended by police in 5 squad cars, who were very nice throughout my arrest and overnight detention, remarking “It’s not your job to put the world to rights.” I wish it wasn’t, because I am most amateurish, attempting to disable the CCTV after I had tackled the 4x4s, during which I had forgotten to pull my bandanna up over my nose. But whose job is it, then? Theirs?
Actually I did think they were well cheeky to go and search my home while I was in the cells, before I'd even been charged. Apparently this is permitted under a Section 18, which covers anyone arrested? They said they were looking for more spraypaint, or for Greenpeace literature, and they didn't find any. I reckon they couldn't find the house.
To apply further hindsight to self-criticise my direct action:
I was on my own, I only had black spraypaint, which is ineffective against black vehicles, my slogans were a bit boring and obvious, I went over the top in being disarmingly honest in custody, owning up to a much bigger eco-terrorist spree earlier in the year, I should have started off at my main target - the Land Rover dealership which I never reached (Land Rover Discoveries do as little as 12 miles to the gallon in urban use whereas Toyota’s gas guzzlers are a bit less greedy), I should have taken photographs, I hadn’t considered who I would appoint as solicitor, I hadn’t checked with Greenpeace if I could use their name in my stunt, I hadn’t done enough planning to ensure my act of civil disobedience would reach a broader audience.
On the positive side I only attacked vehicles still belonging to their producer rather than to private individuals (not that I would condemn this outright), I thoroughly charmed the police, I hadn’t been drinking or on drugs or used smutty language, and I proper cleaned up in the interview room.
But mainly I did it, and it was fun.
I am bailed with a 9pm curfew and a clause not to enter any garage forecourts until my trial for criminal damage on Wednesday morning, 28th September at Huddersfield magistrate's court. Come along if you fancy a laugh.

It seems to me that all they want to do is cause trouble for everyone not just us 4 wheelers but for the general public, maybe it's time we bought back flogging!

for reference purposes here is the link Greenpeace protester's act of revenge

[Slimer]

What a sad bunch, the phrase 'Get A Life' springs to mind.
There are far more concerning things going on in this world that they could put their efforts into rather than automatically assuming any vehicle with 4 wheel drive is out to destroy the planet! Rav4s are 2 wheel drive 95% of the time anyway I seem to remember :roll:

Si

[RandyLandy]

If I was to air my true opinions on this forum about them I would surely be banned I'd like to know what they would say if for some reason they fell out of a tree breaking both legs on one of their demonstrations and the only way to get to them was via a 4x4...what would their opinions be then?

[datalas]

Later when I came home I found that my subscription to the Beano hadn't been delivered ontime, so I rang my newsagent and called him a ginormouse poopoo head.

I then sat in my room and cracked open a bottle of australian wine to wash down my new zealand lamb whilst watching television infront of my electrical fire before planning my next holiday to the united states.  Safe in the knowledge that I was causing no polution or carbon emmisions in doing so, unlike thost pesky 4x4s which produce tons of polution even when they're stood still, the Land Rover Discovery 3 apparently produces as little as 0 miles to the gallon when you put it on a rolling road and rev a lot.

Never once did it occur to me to think for myself or actually realise that I had an equal impact in every other choice of my lfe as everyone else in this country does, nor did I realise that the energy used to produce my spray paint, take me to the police station, repair the damage that I did etc was needlessly expended simply because I'm a nieve imbecile.

[jnoshea]

Later when I came home I found that my subscription to the Beano hadn't been delivered ontime, so I rang my newsagent and called him a ginormouse poopoo head.

I then sat in my room and cracked open a bottle of australian wine to wash down my new zealand lamb whilst watching television infront of my electrical fire before planning my next holiday to the united states.  Safe in the knowledge that I was causing no polution or carbon emmisions in doing so, unlike thost pesky 4x4s which produce tons of polution even when they're stood still, the Land Rover Discovery 3 apparently produces as little as 0 miles to the gallon when you put it on a rolling road and rev a lot.

Never once did it occur to me to think for myself or actually realise that I had an equal impact in every other choice of my lfe as everyone else in this country does, nor did I realise that the energy used to produce my spray paint, take me to the police station, repair the damage that I did etc was needlessly expended simply because I'm a nieve imbecile.

 =D>  =D>  =D>

[jnoshea]

I just wrote another letter to my MP with the following letter (write to your MP too but please don't cut and paste from mine as they ignore identical letters).

Thanks for the very nice reply that you sent to my last letter concerning the recent rise in anti 4x4 activity. I completely agree with you that a carbon quota or allowance is what is needed rather than demonstrations and agression. In fact, since our last correspondance my family and I have been able to reduce our carbon emissions even further through the installation of a condensing combi boiler to replace our ailing old one. On a more depressing note though, something really needs to be done about the groups of vandalising protestors out there that think they can save the world from climate change by destroying a 4x4 on the street or on a dealership forecourt. Incidents of carving with stones or spraypainting anti 4x4 slogans into vehicles are on the rise, as is slashing tyres. These actions merely increase polution due to the energy costs of the repairs and contribute to a climate of fear in our communities. Similarly, those groups calling for an increase in road fund tax for 4x4 vehicles are not seeing the wider context. If this were to happen, I would obviously need to absorb the additional cost somehow as my family of five and the driving I do requires it. Rather than spending money as we do now on fair-trade goods, local farm produce, green electricity and energy efficient products, this money would instead have to go towards the increased tax and we would be forced instead to buy the cheapest products rather than the most environmentally sound. Besides, an increase in tax would simply elevate the status of 4x4s amongst the very wealthy. There is also no justification for a ban on 4x4 vehicles in cities: why is it ok for millions of people to commute 50 miles every weekday in a 'normal' car, but not ok for me to go shopping on the weekend in my Land Rover (I walk to work usually)?

In my opinion educating the public is the key here. The government needs to present the facts and not let organisations like Greenpeace and the anti-4x4 alliance with their own narrow agendas misinform the public. The 30 mpg I get from my diesel Land Rover Discovery is about average for UK cars (of all ages), and it even runs on biodiesel whenever we pass the garage in Grantham that sells it. It's almost as if the public think their car produces no CO2 at all because they are not told the truth. I fully support environmental labelling on cars like the ones we see on fridges and our new boiler so that people can see that a new Mini Cooper is e.g. a category D just like a diesel Discovery. In time the government could bring in legislation in the future to prohibit the sale of new cars below a certain rating (as they do now with gas boilers). This would drive forward hybrid technology and greater efficiency in all vehicles. I have pleaded with Greenpeace for months now to steer their campaign towards education and away from protesting only about Land Rover (and no other cars it seems) which is encouraging mindless vandalism and even more damage to the climate (even though officially they don't endorse such action). Unfortunately, they are not listening and have vowed to persue the current hate campaign. I am a lecturer at the University of Nottingham with a substantial research programme in solar power and I've recently been featured in an institute of physics report on renewable energy. Many of my fellow 4x4 drivers are equally concerned about the environment and minimising their carbon footprint. Why should we have to shoulder the blame for climate change alone when we are doing all we can to stop it?

[TimM]

Later when I came home

So it was you!!!!!!!  :twisted:   :lol:

[DaveS]

These green peace w******s should be made to live in houses with no gas or electricity, made to go everywhere on foot or bilkes.They should also be made to do outdoor jobs where they won't be exposed to earth destroying central heating!!

See how long it takes them to get real!!!


Rant over!!

 :(biglaugh):

[littlepow]

Wouldn't he look stupid if aerosols were filled with nasty chemicals and gasses!

Pity he hasn't the brains to put his time and effort into a worth while altenative that meets the requirements of the market while improving the ecological foot print of such vehicles.

[Range Rover Red]

Why is it that these protesters think that their mindless criminal damage will make the people they are protesting against change their ways?  If I came back to my car and found it covered in spray paint, I wouldn't think 'Oh, I must walk 20 miles a day to work and back because I'm such an evil person', I'd be more likely to think 'If I catch the little a***hole that's trashed my car, I'll quite happily ram his spray can down his throat sideways and then drive over him!'  As someone earlier in the forum said, 'Get a life'


Other contributors have already explained very eloquently how I, and many of us, feel.  Don't get me started.

[Range Rover Blues]

B***y vandals I say. "you like trees? well heres a piece of four by two.........."

[barmiebrumie]

B***y vandals I say. "you like trees? well heres a piece of four by two.........."

I have a bat made from hickory, that sorts most ''protesters'' out ,




John.

[Tyke]

Land Rover Discoveries do as little as 12 miles to the gallon in urban use

Rather a sweeping statement and somewhat misinformed - I had a flyer through my door a few weeks back from the Greenpeace anti 4X4 idiots . . . . I just hope they never start when I'm down a lane in my truck . . . . I can feel one of those sudden brake failures coming on . . . .  :twisted:

[V8MoneyPit]

Heading slightly off topic.... Has anyone had one their leaflets anywhere outside towns? I suspect they don't get too far away from their natural habitat. If their arguments were carried through we would all be living in towns/cities in order to walk/cycle to work. So who would 'run the countryside' and where would their food come from?

Mind you, with nobody cultivating the countryside it would become forest again... exactly what we need to save the planet  :lol: But we would all be a bit hungry  :lol: