Burnt.
According to the local corporate rag, "firefighters dealt with about 300 vehicle fires last year in Oxford, compared to 241 in 2003. The increase is despite fewer reports received by Oxford City Council of abandoned vehicles. There were 2,199 in 2004, a drop of 492 on the previous year."
Why are people more willing to burn cars now?
Just vandalism? Boredom?
I think there's more to it than that. The traffic in Oxford and London is getting unbearable, and according to a recent study the pollution in Oxford is so bad that standing on a street corner in the city centre is the equivalent of smoking three packets of fags:
http://www.lpg-vehicles.co.uk/lpg_news/oxford_tops_uk_air_pollution_list.htm
People who are willing to lash out at the daily assault are more likely to lash out at something that's hurt them first.
I say good on them. The damage done to the atmosphere by a few burning cars can be offset long-term by fewer cars being bought, and public transport use going up.
I got rid of my car, and life's more difficult for me now in some ways: it meant changing jobs, and changing a lot of how I live my life. But at least I'm not attacking anyone now with toxic gas.
If someone drives a car and doesn't really need to, they're assaulting you and the people you love, and both have a right to self-defense.
Why are people more willing to burn cars now?
Just vandalism? Boredom?
I think there's more to it than that. The traffic in Oxford and London is getting unbearable, and according to a recent study the pollution in Oxford is so bad that standing on a street corner in the city centre is the equivalent of smoking three packets of fags:
http://www.lpg-vehicles.co.uk/lpg_news/oxford_tops_uk_air_pollution_list.htm People who are willing to lash out at the daily assault are more likely to lash out at something that's hurt them first.
I say good on them. The damage done to the atmosphere by a few burning cars can be offset long-term by fewer cars being bought, and public transport use going up.
I got rid of my car, and life's more difficult for me now in some ways: it meant changing jobs, and changing a lot of how I live my life. But at least I'm not attacking anyone now with toxic gas.
If someone drives a car and doesn't really need to, they're assaulting you and the people you love, and both have a right to self-defense.
Comments
Hide the following 5 comments
Nasty emissions.
03.02.2005 22:03
Green Troll
Cars must not be destroyed
04.02.2005 09:19
That's why you must never do any of the ideas suggested in these links:
(Note: sugar doesn't really dissolve in petrol, it turns to a sugary petrol jelly.)
Bypassing car locks:
Even just throwing eggs on the paintwork of an entire showroom full of 4 by 4s would destroy the paintwork on them, as raw egg eats the paint off. It's not vegan to eat eggs, but it's most vegan to throw them. But using cars for target practice with eggs past their sell-by date is entirely illegal.
Every 4 by 4 someone destroys puts their insurance up a bit higher. You might think that the worst polluters should be paying the most for their crime, but that's up to parliament to sort out, and not direct action by individuals.
So please don't ruin cars in this way. Thank you.
RTS
Sugary Petrol Jelly
04.02.2005 16:39
And remember, every vote counts.
Your Leader
clarification
07.02.2005 17:04
of nitrous oxide inhaled by the average adult standing (at whatever location
in Oxford they measured it at) for 24hours would be the same as if they had smoked
61 cigarettes.
It's worth noting that most people living in Oxford don't breath traffic fumes
24 hours a day, and that nitrous oxides are not the only dangerous components
in cigarrettes. So living in oxford is not equivalent to smoking 61 cigarettes/day.
Having said all that the figures are still worrying...
.
Correction
12.02.2005 21:51
If you live in some leafy village nearby, then you might not.
Even if you're only inhaling one pack worth of nitrous oxides a day, or one ciggie worth a day, you're still being attacked with poison gas. So I agree with the poster above who says trash them without burning them.
Danny