marklynas.orgUK activists launch direct action campaign against airport expansion 06 April 06
Six activists were arrested earlier this week outside the offices of the British Airports Authority after they chained themselves to the front door, stopping staff from entering. Under the banner of the ‘Plane Stupid’ group, the protesters say the action was the first in a much larger campaign of direct action aimed at stopping the breakneck pace of aviation expansion in the UK – a campaign I wholeheartedly support. Aircraft are already the fastest-growing contributors to global warming, and with the government apparently set on opening the flood gates still further, determined citizen action is the only thing that stands in its way.
The action was timed to mark the 60th anniversary of Heathrow Airport’s opening, the beginning of a relentless expansion which has already flattened whole communities and buried fertile farmland under acres of tarmac. Hundreds more people will be evicted from their homes if BAA’s plans for a third runway come to fruition, and many of these local people turned out in support of the protesters.
“In 60 years, Heathrow has grown from being a small local airport into a climate change factory,” says Plane Stupid spokesperson Joss Garman. “BAA’s plan to expand the airport further puts them in the premier league of climate change criminals.” He pointed out that BAA has a history of lying about its true intentions: in 1995, whilst seeking permission for a fifth terminal (now under construction), it categorically denied that it would ever ask for a third runway at Heathrow.
As John Stewart, Chair of HACAN Clearskies, says: “The story of Heathrow is one of deception from day one. The only difference is that these days BAA does it with more style and spin. They constantly try to re-assure their ‘stakeholders’ that they have their best interests at heart whilst all the time plotting further expansion.”
Comments
Douglas Coker
April 6th, 2006 at 01:46 PM
The more campaigning and pressure there is against flying the better. I say this as someone who will react to the word “holiday” by more or less automatically responding “Greece”. A wonderful country, especially the islands of Crete and Skyros and I have wonderful memories … but I’ve taken the pledge and am going to the Isle of Wight in June … by train (and ferry!).
I think one of the most powerful arguments I can muster against flying is that the vast majority is discretionary. We must eat, clothe ourselves, house ourselves and have some mobility and (local) travel. These are essential activities and within these we can find comfort and fulfilment in, hopefully increasingly, low C02 output ways.
But flying for me and I’d argue most others is not essential, it is discretionary. I find myself increasingly asking friends how I could possibly justify getting on an aircraft given the state of knowledge we have on AGW/CC. By implication I’m asking them how they can justify flying. A lot of reasons/excuses they give relate to far flung family members and expectations of friends and loved ones. But we need to restructure our social networks and treat long distance travel as a once in a lifetime/decade treat/privilege.
My latest reading has included Mark’s piece in the NS which was very good. They did overdo the exhaust from the aircraft though – someone tell their graphics person CO2 is invisible!! The Indy has run a number of issues prompting readers to share their views on AGW/CC which was v good.
But most significant for me has been reading “The Heat is On” by Ross Gelbspan and “The Carbon War” by Jeremy Leggatt. Gelbspan from the US perspective and Leggatt from the view point of a geologist turned Greenpeace scientist/lobbyist and now CEO of Solar Century have lots to say on the malign influence of the “carbon club”, the role of the insurance industry and the excruciating way in which the Kyoto Protocol was put together.
However I’m kicking myself. Why? Gelbspan published in 1997, Leggatt in 1999. And Mark lists both these books in High Tide which I read in 2004.
All those years lost and all that damage done in the interim. We cannot say we were not warned!
Douglas Coker
Douglas Coker
April 7th, 2006 at 02:09 PM
Just been sent this link which shows a very interesting representation of GHGs, GDP, population etc on a country by country basis. Go to http://www-personal.umich.edu/%7Emejn/cartograms/
I’m off to buy a new atlas!
Douglas Coker
Dano
April 11th, 2006 at 08:33 PM
This was linked to, Doug, a few weeks ago from here. Check it out!
Best,
D
Peter Winters BHI
April 12th, 2006 at 05:44 PM
Off topic, but I don’t like the look of what is going on with new Conservative party in Canada …
http://www.grist.org/news/daily/2006/04/11/
Also at:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20060408.PARLKYOTO08/TPStory/National
Is Canada about to blow a hole in Kyoto?
Peter