Publicity & Politics News
Below are links to stories on protests, publicity events and other aviation stories that have hit the news.
Manchester Airport protest trial: Day 1
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Manchester activists in Court for runway closure – Monday 6th December
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Nellie (the elephant in the room) drops in on Manchester City Council’s climate change conference
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“End Domestic Flights” demos at London City and Manchester Airports
On 4th September, campaigners from Manchester and London held a joint demonstration calling for an end to domestic flights. There are currently around 38 flights per day between Manchester and the London hubs. The day began with a rally in the morning at London City Airport, with speakers including Murad Qureshi and Darren Johnson from the Greater London Authority. They then went by train to Manchester for a similar protest. (Fight the Flights and SEMA)
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Climate activism: is the trial more important than the protest?
The Ecologist's analysis of the Climate 9 trial suggests that the courtroom manoeuvres form a crucial part of the package. The Aberdeen airport defendants were given only modest fines. It seems activists may only be more highly motivated by stiffer sentences. Modern, savvy campaigners know the trial is a significant part of the whole protest. Campaigning around the trial enabled the group to make links to a wide range of organisations, even including the Church
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Yes, we broke the law as climate change activists. And this is why. Dan Glass
Dan Glass, one of the Climate9, writing in the Guardian, says the group are not "terrorists" but people who believe delivering their message on climate change is worth being charged and fined. The Climate9 are ordinary people, but part of a growing movement of concerned citizens prepared to put their bodies in the way of dangerous high-carbon developments - and know this is justified, proportionate and necessary in the face of catastrophic climate change.
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Aberdeen Climate 9 remain defiant after Court sentence of only small fines
The 9 Plane Stupid protesters who shut down Aberdeen airport on March 3rd 2009 appeared in court today to finally receive their sentences, from the earlier verdict of guilty to charges of Breach of the Peace. The judge and court took the protesters' urgent message on climate change seriously and gave out very modest fines ranging from £300 to £700 each adding up to a total cost of around £4000 - £5000. Work continues on raising awareness of the climate theat.
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Climate 9: Found guilty of breach of the peace at Aberdeen Airport
The Climate 9 have been found guilty of breach of the peace. More serious charges of vandalism were dropped. The charges were significantly reduced over the course of the 2 week trial. Sentence was deferred until August. The protesters were campaigning against any expansion of the airport, claiming it would lead to more harmful carbon emissions. The 9 are celebrating their victory in showing that peaceful protest is a necessary and legitimate way to take the action needed on climate change.
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Climate9: Day 9. Reflections on the Trial – Last day tomorrow
On the penultimate day of the Climate9 trial, the defendants reflect on the roller coaster ride of the trial, why they invaded the runway at Aberdeen airport. The biggest win came from the legal discussions around the relevance of the Climate9's witnesses. They won the right to have their climate defence experts heard as their defence. This is the 1st time in Scotland that a jury has been allowed to hear a climate defence. Great photo outside court too.
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Climate9 trial: UK emission cuts ‘not radical enough’, airport protest trial told
Government plans to cut UK carbon emissions by 80% over the next 40 years are not radical enough to prevent "dangerous" climate change, a trial of nine climate protesters heard today. The climate scientist Dr Alice Bows, a specialist from the Tyndall centre for climate change research, also told a jury that the growth in aviation was a "big issue" because its emissions caused particular harm at higher altitude. (Guardian)