Publicity & Politics News
Below are links to stories on protests, publicity events and other aviation stories that have hit the news.
Eight admit trespass at Stansted
Eight protesters who caused hundreds of flights to be cancelled or delayed at Stansted Airport on 8th December have admitted aggravated trespass. The seven men and one woman, aged between 18 and 29, appeared before Harlow Magistrates' Court. The protest aimed to highlight the impact of aviation on the environment. They were released on bail and will be sentenced on 7 January. They are the first of 49 people to appear in court. (BBC)
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Meet the plane stoppers
There has been a great deal of coverage in the media about the Plane Stupid invasion of Stansted on Monday 8th. This is a small sample. The Sunday Times piece covers a workshop held recently in west London, where local residents -especially law abiding middle aged ladies - interested in learning how they could influence the future of Heathrow learned the basics of direct action techniques.
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Discussion on the Stansted airport invasion
The Plane Stupid airport invasion on Monday was the first direct action the group has taken that inconvenienced passengers. There has been much debate about whether this was the right thing to do. Some of the discussion is recorded. A big – and unexpected – message which came across was that it was only when passengers' lives were disrupted in this way that many were forced to think for the first time about the impact of their flying.
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Soap tycoon: Why I am funding airport demonstrations and paying protesters’ legal bills
The High Street tycoon - Mark Constantine, the multi-millionaire founder of Lush Cosmetics - who has been funding the eco-activists behind the storming of Stansted today vowed to pay for future direct action campaigns. He supports Plane Stupid. Lush has 600 shops in 44 countries. Mark has made a series of donations to Plane Stupid and other anti-aviation campaigns totalling around £20,000. He pledged to pay for their fines and legal bills. (Mail)
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Airport community groups applaud Plane Stupid action closing Stansted
Responding to news of the Plane Stupid action at Stansted, HACAN, SSE and GACC (community groups from Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick) have commented. Carol Barbone, Campaign Director of SSE said: "No-one can condemn this action without also condemning the recklessness of the Government’s policy on airport expansion and the major contribution which the resulting emissions would make to global warming. BAA’s [plans] must also be condemned." (Hacan, SSE and GACC)
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Stansted protest delays flights
Flights at Stansted have been delayed after more than 50 protesters from Plane Stupid occupied a secure area near the runway. The protest started at 0315 GMT by breaching security, cutting through a fence, while the runway was closed for maintenance. The runway was closed for about 2 hours from the time of the first scheduled flight at 0610 GMT, and reopened at 0810 GMT. The protesters say planned expansion at Stansted would damage the environment
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Fancy dress Heathrow protestors demand “Why don’t you listen, Gordon?”
Around 100 protesters opposing Heathrow expansion dressed up in Gordon Brown masks with big ears joined a rally in Lampton Park. They joined others from local and national groups, including politicians. Rally organiser, John Stewart said "All the Gordon Browns in the world - and there were lots of them here today - won't convince anybody that expansion is needed. It's bad for the environment and most people don't buy his line that it's needed for the health of the economy."
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Plane Stupid’s Commons Five get minimal fine for Heathrow protest
The 5 activists from Plane Stupid who went on to the roof of Parliament to protest against the alleged collusion between BAA and the DfT in drawing up plans to expand Heathrow were just given a minimal fine by the judge at Westminster Magistrates Court. The Plane Stupid 5 had argued they had gone onto the roof to highlight the alleged collusion between the DfT and BAA in drawing up plans to expand Heathrow. The court accepted that was their motive.
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Scottish airport expansion campaigners take to the streets on opening day of new Glasgow £32 million “skyhub”
Residents living under flight paths join forces with climate action group, AirportWatch and Plane Stupid Scotland to take part in street carnival as BAA open the ʽSkyhubʼ extension of Glasgow Airport. At of the opening of the biggest development at Glasgow airport since 1994, residents from the surrounding communities set off ʽclimate alarmsʼ attached to helium balloons, with "Give BAA an ASBO" written on them - in the streets of Paisley.
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Scotland – airport expansion activists target Scottish First Minister
At 4am today residents from Clydebank, Paisley, Kirkliston and Cramond peacefully set up a stereo and blasted aeroplane noise through the entrance of the First Minister's private residence. This protest 'dawn chorus' highlighted the experience of living in the shadow of a growing airport. It's aim was to stress that the First Minister can't ignore the effects of airport expansion. The noise was at 110 decibels - equivalent to a jumbo jet taking off.