Publicity & Politics News
Below are links to stories on protests, publicity events and other aviation stories that have hit the news.
Climate 9: Expert witnesses to give evidence on climate change on Wednesday
Expert witnesses Dr Alice Bows, top climate scientist from the Tyndall Centre, and Dr Geoff Meaden, Geographer and key witness for the Kingsnorth6 case will be testifying to the urgent need for climate action on the 8th day of the Climate9 court case. The prosecution has now finished and the defence case began this Monday. Further expert witnesses will be called for the rest of the week and the case is currently expected to be closed on Friday.
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Climate 9: Criminal damage charges dropped against 2 of the 9
On Day 6 of the trail in Aberdeen, the Crown Prosecution came to a close. The Procurator Fiscal dropped the charges of Criminal Damage for the two protesters on the roof of Aberdeen airport. The defence case is scheduled to begin on Wednesday. The protestors made the link between Donald Trump's proposed golf course, and expansion of the airport to encourage golf players to fly in.
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Climate9 trial in Aberdeen: Officer tells of fears for airport
John Irvine, of Grampian Police, told the trial yesterday that he warned the group members that if they did not leave then there was a possibility they could be arrested. He said "We just can’t have people running about the airport who could cause damage to any aircraft or equipment." He said he felt the charge of breach of the peace was more appropriate than just breaching a bylaw. The trail continues next week.
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Climate9: Day 4 of the trial in Aberdeen
On Thursday, the court saw an hour-long video of the runway invasion, that was recorded by police at the time. The protestors reiterate clearly that their aim was to close the airport for as long as possible; to stop airport expansion; to end short haul flights; to get people in high-emission industry into green jobs. It also shows they were willing to leave immediately if it was established they were preventing the take off of the air ambulance.
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Climate9 trial: Ambulance worker witness tells court that protestors did not delay ambulance flight
The trial of the Climate 9 protesters in Aberdeen heard on Wednesday from an air ambulance witness that the protesters were not responsible for delaying an air ambulance, as had previously been suggested during yesterday's evidence for the prosecution. He said: "Our flight was scheduled to take off at 8.00am this morning, but in fact took off about 8.35am, but this was due to our operational delay by the medics and not the protestors". The trial continues.
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Climate9 trial: Plane Stupid protest “delayed take-off for air ambulance” at Aberdeen airport
On the 2nd day of the Climate9 trial in Aberdeen, the airport's duty manager told the court that emergency helicopter flight was unable to leave because the airport had been shut down. However, the defence advocate established that there was no physical reason why the helicopter could not take off, as the activists only occupied a very small part of the runway. The airport says the helicopters could not take off as the airport was technically closed for safety.
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Aberdeen Climate 9 trial – for invasion of runway in 2009 – hope to set precedent
The trial of the 9 activists who invaded the runway at Aberdeen in March 2009 has started in Aberdeen. Their action was designed to stop carbon emissions from aviation and to highlight the links between Donald Trump’s planned hotel and golf course complex and the expansion of Aberdeen airport. The Climate 9 are arguing the defence of necessity. They argue that their actions were justified because they were trying to prevent runaway climate change.
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Aberdeen Climate9 trial starts on 14th June
The Climate9's trial starts in Aberdeen on 14th June. The 9 are charged with vandalism and breach of the peace. Their defence, at the most important climate change trial ever in Scotland, will be that they committed a smaller crime, in order to prevent a larger one. That was the defence that won the case for the Kingsnorth Six in ~September 2008. You can send the Climate9 a message of support, or read the dozens from around the world.
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Protest by the German Robin Wood group against Frankfurt airport expansion
Germany: "Save the Climate: Stop Airport Expansion": a 130 cubic meter banner with this demand was unfurled from the arm of a building crane on the construction site for the expansion of the Rhein-Main-Airport near Frankfurt by ROBIN WOOD activists this morning. The activists publicly criticize the UN climate talks which are currently taking place in Bonn. Their message: "Don't wait for governments to save the climate. Become active yourself".
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Climate protest by Plane Stupid briefly closes Manchester Airport
Six protesters from Manchester Plane Stupic have cut through a perimeter fence at Manchester Airport and chained themselves to the wheels of a plane. They are demonstrating against the expansion of the World Freight Centre. The activists cut a hole in the fence and flights were suspended for 20 minutes following the security breach. Police are currently working on removing the protesters, who started their demonstration at about 0700 BST. A further 10 environmental activists are currently at the road entrance to the terminal. (BBC)