Stay grounded protests across many countries, on 6th November, during COP26
There were numerous protests, timed to be during the Glasgow COP talks, on Saturday 6th November. The aim was to highlight the need to reduce the demand for flying, and the number of flights being taken, globally. Also to point out the deceptive, misleading “greenwash” being peddled by the aviation industry, and enthusiastically taken up by governments, especially the UK government. The industry is placing its hopes in novel techno-fixes (electric planes, hydrogen, new fuels made from wastes or from supposedly excess renewably generated electricity, in future). None of those can be scaled up to anything even faintly the scale of demand, especially as the industry is planning continued rapid growth, for several more decades. The greenwash is dangerous, as it gives people a false, unjustifiable, sense that they can fly “without guilt” as the sector has brilliant solutions to carbon emissions, just around the corner. The greenwash is intended to permit more “business as usual” flying, with no reduction. Details here of many of the protests, organised through the Stay Grounded network.
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UK Report for Stay Grounded Global Days of Action – “Stop Greenwashing – Reduce Air Traffic Now!”
On the 5th and 6th of November 2021, aviation protest actions across the globe coordinated by Stay Grounded, called for an end to aviation’s greenwashing and an effective reduction of air traffic. The diverse protests were part of a Global Day of Action called by the https://cop26coalition.org/
Aviation is the most climate-damaging form of transport and one of the worst examples of climate injustice, so nobody should be fooled by attempts to greenwash aviation. New technologies and so-called ‘sustainable’ fuels will take decades to be used on commercial, long haul flights – and it is these flights that cause the vast majority of aviation’s climate wrecking emissions. (Check out 5 new Factsheets here:- https://stay-grounded.org/
GENERAL UK NATIONAL coverage
Reporting before the Day of Action
Glasgow Wednesday 3rd Nov.
The Stay Grounded crew toured Glasgow on the Greenwash March for some photo ops and “The illusion of green flying” was highlighted by activist pilots and BAAN (Bristol Airport Action Network) people dressed up as ‘greenwash busters’ to bring their message about Bristol Airport’s endless greenwash to COP26. A BAAN spokesperson said: ‘The dream of low carbon commercial flight through electric, hydrogen, and sustainable fuels is going to remain a dream for many years. It’s total Greenwash to say that we can continue to fly and pretend we’re not trashing the planet’. Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/164860673@N04/51657809822/in/ album-72157720108629249/ . Video: https://twitter.com/Infante_ Fran/status/ 1456987519061565441 . Glasgow Thurs. 4th Nov.BAAN had a jaunt to the COP26 green zone for photo shenanigans dressed in UK traditionally emblazoned “Stop Airport Expansion” red t-shirts, including at Rolls Royce’s Transition to Jet Zero Carbon stand. Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/164860673@N04/51658203976/in/ album-72157720108629249/ . Other Stay Grounded members took part in several COP events. Glasgow Friday 5th Nov.Subvertising: People from Stay Grounded and Brandalism networks hacked over 50 bus stop ad spaces around Glasgow with spoof EasyJet posters depicting artwork of extreme weather events from summer 2021 with captions reading “Flooded landscapes from €14.99” and “Raging wildfires from €22.99”. The original ‘Destination Zero Emissions’ EasyJet adverts stated, “We are championing a future of Zero Emissions flights.” misleading the public by using unfounded promises about future aviation technology to sell flights. Photo’s & Report https://ecohustler.com/
technology/easyjet-faces- investigation-over-greenwash- adverts-during-cop26 . The subverts were later found by the BAAN crew:- Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ 164860673@N04/51660789722/in/ album-72157720108629249/ .
Glasgow Saturday 6th Nov.
Now infamous BAAN Greenwashbusters roamed the streets of Glasgow on the main COP26 DoA March along with the rest of the COP Stay Grounded crew. Halfway down here:- https://www.desmog.com/2021/11/06/tens-of-thousands- throng-streets-of-glasgow- demanding-climate-justice/? utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss& utm_campaign=tens-of- thousands-throng-streets-of- glasgow-demanding-climate- justice & video here:- https://twitter.com/infante_ fran/status/ 1456987519061565441?s=24
Stay-Grounded 11 UK Airports DoA
Glasgow Airport event from Stay Grounded campaigners and members at the airport highlighted its planned expansion and greenwashing with a banner protest. Photo that went via Alba Pics to all UK picture desks:- https://www.flickr.com/photos/164860673@N04/51658471353/in/ album-72157720108629249/
Bristol Airport event with XR Landing Crew & BAAN. A Photo op reported on Bristol Live before joining the Bristol march. Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/164860673@N04/51659639889/in/ album-72157720108629249/
Doncaster-Sheffield Airport event. STEAP (Stop The Expansion of the AirPort) took placards and leafleted outside their MP Dan Jarvis’s office then marched across to Doncaster town hall where their council sits and followed that by joining the COP26 march from Devonshire Green for the rally outside Sheffield City Hall where any final say will be had on the expansion plan. Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/
164860673@N04/51659417650/in/ album-72157720108629249/ Leeds-Bradford Airport event. GALBA (Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport) protest/photo op outside the terminal building with a banner. Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/164860673@N04/51659228014/in/ album-72157720108629249/ . https://www.galba.uk/post/ press-release-galba-joins- campaigners-to-call-for- immediate-halt-on-all-airport- expansions . Featured on local BBC news. Very good piece here detailing the UK DoA, which mentions Doncaster protest with GALBA quotes:- https://www. yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/ news/politics/campaigners- call-for-immediate-end-to- leeds-bradford-airport- expansion-as-they-join- national-climate-protest- 3448309 . They then joined the Leeds march https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk- england-leeds-59192316.amp? fbclid=IwAR0c7DY5a_ ftSNKETAGUoIPOcrDdxrqMzJfHFkp7 QAVFi6V6F7rNzPA7wmA Manchester Airport event. An anti-airport expansion banner was dropped in central Manchester and covered by Quay News TV. Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/
164860673@N04/51658449598/in/ album-72157720108629249/ .
Liverpool Airport event. Photo op banner protest at airport before joining the Liverpool march. https://www.flickr.com/photos/
164860673@N04/51658356941/in/ album-72157720108629249/ Southampton Airport event. Southampton Airport eXpansion Opposition (AXO). Protest on the airport side of Southampton Airport Parkway station with Samba band, banners and props. A group of about 40 people from AXO and others who oppose the airport’s expansion plans, gathered with their flying pigs and a banner saying “Green Aviation=Flight of Fantasy”, protesting against suggestions that ‘planes will soon be eco-friendly and that now is the time to expand our airports. “It’s all green-washing and impossible, like flying pigs!”They then cycled or trained it into town for a picnic on the steps of Guildhall before the Southampton march. Their spokesperson continued “With UK aviation carbon emission set to grow in the next few years, the idea that we can bring them back down using “green” technologies that are unproven at scale is a dangerous delusion.” ITV Meridian local news https://we.tl/t-6S5IhrIEHH covered it all along with South Coast Greatest Hits Radio. Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/
164860673@N04/51657730017/in/ album-72157720108629249/
London City Airport event. HACAN-East at 11am launched an online video/webpage “SO HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT PRIVATE JETS? “to mark the Climate Summit in Glasgow – COP 26 – HACAN East has issued a quiz about private jets which many of the official delegates to the Summit are using. It has released the quiz today to coincide with aviation climate-related events from campaign groups from around the world, being coordinated by Stay Grounded.” Their Coordinator John Stewart stated, “Our fun quiz has a serious side. It is intended to show just how bad for the climate private jets are. And, of course, London City is one of the main private jet airports in the UK.” Quiz: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/ 56507de4e4b018da2a5ce870/t/ 617c01be95084877b4befc85/ 1635516863246/Private+Jets+ Quiz.pdf . Video: https://youtu.be/EljaHeKmrSc Luton Airport event. A Coalition of Groups including Stop Luton Airport Expansion (SLAE), St Albans Quiet Skies (STaQS) & LADACAN mobilised around 60 people to attend a rally against airport expansion/climate change at Wigmore Valley Park to the east of the airport site, that their council want to destroy for airport expansion. Its a 70 hectare wild country park, a public space owned by Luton Borough Council (but licenced to their airport company, London Luton Airport Ltd) who are spending £millions of public money in the process pursuing expansion plans. A green lung would disappear to be replaced by more pollution with aircraft, noise and light disturbance doubling over time; all in the pursuit of commercial income for the airports owners. As with several UK Local Authorities for some insane reason, the town’s climate emergency declaration does not include the airport! Covered by BBC Look East TV Saturday and BBC Three Counties Radio on Monday. Front page story in Luton News previous Wednesday mentioning all DoA airports https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/
news/environment/luton- airport-campaigners-plan-day- of-protest-over-expansion- plans-3441976 . Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ 164860673@N04/51665231965/in/ album-72157720108629249/ .
Gatwick Airport events.
CAGNE (Communities against Gatwick’s Noise and Emissions) had 40 people online live at 11am for photo of protest vote on – Do you support Gatwick Airport expansion plans? Whereby everyone held up a sign saying “NO!”. Gatwick plans to bring its emergency runway into daily use, turning it into a second one. “One of the biggest instant reductions in carbon, greenhouse gases and air particles could be made by our government leading the way at COP 26, by stopping all airport expansion until aviation can be truly green. Even then aviation would still be a polluter, as we all are. It is unlikely governments will agree to curb aviation, so it is down to the consumer to fly less to save the planet” said their Chairperson. Greatest Hits Radio Sussex broadcast an interview. Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/
164860673@N04/51661637380/in/ album-72157720108629249/ . GACC (Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign) mobilised concerned residents to stage a peaceful gathering near the airport to protest against “greenwashing” by the aviation industry and call for a halt to Gatwick’s expansion plans. They met outside the Half Moon pub, Charlwood and walked to nearby Glebe Field to protest by the noise monitor. Peter Barclay their Chairman said: “If Gatwick is allowed a second runway, its carbon emissions will increase dramatically.” Their Press Release here: https://www.gacc.org.uk/
resources/GACC%20press% 20release%205%20Nov%202021%20- %20Greenwash%20protest.pdf . ITV Meridian (who also included the Southampton protest) https://www.itv.com/news/
meridian/2021-11-06/ campaigners-protect-over- gatwick-airport-plans and BBC TV South and South East’s newscast can be seen via Back Off Horse Hill Fracking site’s feed here: https://twitter.com/BackoffHH/ status/1457303183412416512 Also the airport put out this! (Not included in list version)
Stansted Airport events. Stansted Airport Watch (SAW) had banner drops on 30th Oct. launching its “Fly Less” campaign at the road entrance and exits at the airport:- https://stanstedairportwatch.com/press-releases/fly-less/ & on Saturday ‘Dig for Victory’ – a tree planting initiative aimed at involving their members and families on the site of the proposed 2nd runway – see https://stanstedairportwatch. com/press-releases/dig-for- victory/ . Pre-recorded radio interview for Heart on 4th Nov. with clips used Sat. 6th and a live interview for LBC Radio. BBC TV Look East also covered with Luton event. Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ 164860673@N04/51659242649/in/ album-72157720108629249/ . Tues 9th Nov.
Heathrow Airport event. HACAN (Heathrow Against Congestion and Noise) were joined a cross-party group of MPs and Peers outside the UK Parliament to call for an end of greenwashing for the aviation industry. Press release: https://hacan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/ 091121-PR-COP26-2.pdf .Paul Beckford Coordinator for HACAN said “The aviation industry does not fully pay its environmental costs in terms of noise and emissions. The reliance on future technological solutions and offsetting is simply greenwashing. There are plenty of policy initiatives, such as a frequent flyer levy, that could be delivered now to help reduce the impact of aircraft noise and emissions. Overflown communities and our climate deserve better.” Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ 164860673@N04/51674650079/in/ album-72157720108629249/ .
They then cycled or trained it into town for a picnic on the steps of Guildhall before the Southampton march. Their spokesperson continued “With UK aviation carbon emission set to grow in the next few years, the idea that we can bring them back down using “green” technologies that are unproven at scale is a dangerous delusion.” ITV Meridian local news