European Day of Action on Aviation - Saturday 16th June
Short haul flights is the suggested theme which most groups are using, though one or two have chosen to highlight other issues in their action. Below is information about the day:
United Kingdom
London Heathrow: Big Ben to the Eiffel Tower - a race: train or plane? Which is quickest?
Campaigners will race from Big Ben to the Eiffel Tower, two by Eurostar and two
by plane from Heathrow. Fellow campaigners will wave them off in a colourful
ceremony on College Green (opposite the House of Lords) when Big Ben strikes 11
o’clock. There will be a good chance for a photo-opportunity (from 10.30 onwards)
as about a dozen well-wishers will gather in bright t-shirts, with French and
English flags. They will be joined by French campaigners from Charles de Gaulle
Airport who will already have raced from the Eiffel Tower to Big Ben. English
tea and cake will be served. There will be opportunities for filming at Waterloo
and on the Eurostar train. The French media will meet the ‘racers’ at the Eiffel
Tower.
Contact John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650
Gatwick (on Monday 11th): Climate Change Study launched
The local campaign group at Britain’s second busiest airport publishes an important
new study into the climate change damage caused by flights from Gatwick Airport.
Based on official government statistics, the study shows that UK citizens on return
flights from Gatwick each year are responsible for emissions equivalent to over
20 million tonnes of CO2. That is more than the total CO2 emissions from all
activities in all Surrey and West Sussex.
Contact Brendon Sewill on 01293 863 369
Stop Bristol Airport Expansion will be joining many other groups around the UK and across Europe in protesting against airport expansion, with particular emphasis on short-haul flights. We will be focusing on a theme of 'trains not planes' with a bike ride from Bristol Temple Meads to Bristol International Airport. So we're calling on experienced cyclists to join us in making our point. We have planned a route that will take you through Ashton to Long Ashton and then to the A38 via Barrow Gurney. Because the route is partially down the A38 we have decided to restrict the ride to experienced cyclists over the age of 18 only. We will have cycling stewards at the front and back of the group of cyclists, and ask that you wear helmets and high visibility clothing. There will be a photo opportunity for the press at each end: at Temple Meads we will be emphasising the point that Government is focusing on airport expansion and largely ignoring the rail network - yet Temple Meads urgently needs new signalling to improve its capacity (we may be joined by some rail campaigners); at the BIA end we will be arranging a visual illustration of the theme - to be revealed on the day! After that we hope to picnic on Felton Common close to the airport. A free lunch will be provided for all cyclists and we hope non-cycling SBAE supporters will join us with a picnic. Felton Village Hall, which is next to the Common and has bathroom facilities, will be available in case of bad weather.
Southampton: Colourful demonstration near Southampton Airport
Contact Chris Bluemel Email: chrisbluemel@yahoo.co.uk. Mobile: 07985 982288
Contact Alan Fleming Email: aberdeen_climatechange@yahoo.co.uk Tel: 01224-324797
Edinburgh: City Centre Stall
Stall in city centre staffed by local World Development Movement group
Contact John Blair-Fish, Tel 0131 445 7703 or 0131 650 4928 jabf@staffmail.ed.ac.uk
Schiphol Airport: Launch call for air ‘ticket tax’ on Thalys train
The Dutch campaigners will be holding a press conference on a Thalys-train running between Schiphol and Brussels to launch their 'Antwerp Declaration'. This will call for a ‘ticket’, similar to the Air Passenger Duty (APD) imposed in the UK, to be levied by all European countries. The Declaration has been signed by MEPs and MPs from several different countries.
Contact Evert Hassink
Paris – Charles de Gaulle : Eiffel Tower to Big Ben Air/Rail Race
See under London Heathrow
Toulouse (Friday 15th June) Press Conference, with drinks (18h to 21h) to be held under
the flight path to Toulouse Airport
The idea is to get coverage in the press on the Saturday of the noise situation
of more than 70,000 people living under the flight path
In France there will also be activity at Pontoise, Strasbourg, Saint Cyr l'Ecole, Toussus le Noble airports
For details of the French activities: Alain Lebrun
Zurich (Friday 15th) Colourful action with balloons and train tickets
There will be an action on short-distance flights with balloons and "tickets for travelling by train"
to cities not more than 500 km away with information to benefits for people and environment on the back.
Contact Vreni Püntener, SSF- Switzerland
Brussels: Stunt with banners and polar bears
Place banners "closed because of climate change" near airport access in the morning. During the afternoon, distribute folders (looking like airline tickets) dressed like white bears. The folders will develop two aspects: climate change and low cost-short flights.
Contact: Pierre Courbe
Chargé de mission Mobilité
Inter-Environnement Wallonie
Boulevard du Nord, 6
5000 NAMUR
Tél.: 081/25.52.80 - Fax: 081/22.63.09
Web: www.iewonline.be
To contact one of the organisers, whose details are not given above, please email sarah@airportwatch.org.uk for the information.
(8th February 2007)
Copyright AirportWatch, 2004