Plane Stupid

Plane Stupid

Founded	2005, UK
Focus	Environmentalism
Area served	UK
Method	Nonviolence Direct Action
Website	www.planestupid.com

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Plane Stupid is a UK focused^[1] direct action group that want to see an end to airport expansion for what it sees as "unnecessary and unsustainable" flights. The organisation claims to have no formal structure. It is inspired by networks like Earth First! and the earlier peace camps and road protests. It is funded by donations^[2].

The group was founded in 2005 by Joss Garman, Richard George and Graham Thompson^[3] In January 2008 Joss Garman was named by the The Guardian as one of its "50 people who could save the planet" for his campaigning work around aviation.^[4]

The group of activists disrupted an international aviation conference held in a central London hotel. They released helium balloons with personal alarms up to the ceiling during the key note speech by a senior British Airways executive.^[5]

Plane Stupid blocked the runway at East Midlands Airport for four hours. Their spokesman Leo Murray said "The people of the past didn't know what the problem was. For the people of the future it's going to be too late. People in developing countries are powerless to do anything about it. If we don't do this, it's not going to get done."^[6] Managers from the airport said the protest as "irresponsible". Leicestershire police said that officers were on scene within minutes by that they did not find it necessary to deploy all the resources." ^[7]

In 2007 the Climate Camp, in its second year, chose to protest near Heathrow and on the last day of the week-long camp between 1000 and 1400 took part in a day of action.^[8] In the lead-up to the camp BAA applied for a wide-reaching an injunction which could have restricted the movement of over 5 million people near the airport and on approach routes to the airport. Ken Livingstone, the mayor of London, said that someone at BAA must be "out of their skull."^[9] In the end BAA won a very much more limited injunction covering Joss Garman and Leo Murray of Plane Stupid, John Stewart of AirportWatch, Geraldine Nicholson from No Third Runway Action Group and anyone who "aids, abbets or incites direct action against Heathrow in concert with Plane Stupid"^[10] and the camp went ahead amid considerable worldwide publicity.^[11] After the camp ended, Duncan Bonfield, BAA director of corporate affairs, and Mark Mann, BAA head of media relations, resigned without stating their reasons.^[12] During the camp Plane Stupid carried out protests at other aviation-related sites including Airbus,^[13] Farnborough and Biggin Hill.^[14]

Plane Stupid disrupted activities at Manchester Airport where they handcuffed themselves for three hours in Terminal Three which hopes to double its passenger capacity to 50 million by 2030.^[15] Their spokeman said "Tony Blair talks the talk about taking action on climate change while building more runways and allowing more planes at airports".^[16]

In November they disrupted the deliberations of a Transport Select Committee inquiry the future of UK airports operator BAA and attempted to hand out copies of a Tyndall Centre climate change report about the impacts of flying on global warming to MPs and members of the public.^[17]

In December, Plane Stupid activists shut down travel agents on route of a climate march. Their spokesman said: "These businesses continue, with full support from the government, to profit from wrecking our climate".^[18]

30 protests from Plane Stupid dressed as penguins took over the Natural History Museum's ice rink in protest at British Airways sponsorship of the museum's annual winter festivities saying that they were highlighting the irony of an airline creating an ice rink in central London, whilst its business activities are a major cause of global warming, which is melting the polar ice caps and causing dangerous climate change.^[19]

They were amongst 300 people who took part in an hour long 'flashmob protest' during the opening of Heathrow's new Terminal 5 again proposals to build a third runway for Heathrow Airport. Leila Dean, 29, from Plane Stupid, said: "We came here because we are supporting the 700 villagers who will lose their homes if the plans go ahead and environmental campaigners have said the building the 3rd runway would leave the government's legal commitment to cut carbon emissions by 80% by 2050 in tatters. Geoff Hoon said that tough measures would be put in place to limit noise and emissions. ^[20] A spokesman for the BAA spokesman stated that “This pressure group would do far better to engage with the aviation industry in proper debate on climate issues rather than in publicity stunts.” and Michelle Di Leo, from Flying Matters commented that “Plane Stupid are indulging in irresponsible gestures. ^[21]

Plane Stupid launched a five-person strong roof-top protest on the UK's Houses of Parliament.^[22] Two large banners were unfurled, after breaching security. The banners stated "BAA HQ" and the second stated the group's website and "No 3rd runway at Heathrow". They were up there for a total of around 2 hours then wound down their protest in police presence who escorted them down and arrested them. Gordon Brown told MPs decisions had to be made "in the chamber of this House and not on the roof of this House". A spokesman for the Society of British Aerospace Companies described the action as "tiresome" and that it would do "nothing more than peddle inaccurate propaganda". Sir Richard Mottram (a former Joint Intelligence Committee chairman) said had been surprised that the protesters had got onto the roof.^[23]

Plane Stupid activists protested at London Stansted Airport, breaching security whilst the runway was closed and preventing it from re-opening as planned at 05:00. 56 Ryanair flights were cancelled and 57 protestors were arrested.^[1]

The group has been accused of being selfish and ignoring disruption they cause to passengers, particularly following their 2008 protest at Stansted^[24]. 56,000 passengers were delayed by the protest. Ryanair is seeking £2.2 million in compensation for the disruption caused^[25]. When sentencing some of the protestors involved Judge John Perkins told the court "Substantial loss was caused to the authorities that were carrying out lawful activities. I accept there is an honourable tradition of peaceful protest in this country, and long may it continue. But that does not justify the sort of activity that you were involved in."^[26]

On their website Plane Stupid responded that they performed the protest "with heavy hearts, knowing it would disrupt passengers, because we knew the consequences of this action couldn't be worse than the consequences of inaction"^[27].

In April 2008, Plane Stupid claimed that their group was infiltrated by an international espionage agency.^[28][29] The Times reported that Toby Kendall, 24, an employee of C2i International, had gone undercover in the group going by the name of "Ken Tobias." Airport operator, BAA, who have often been a target of Plane Stupid's campaign, confirmed to The Times that they had been in contact with C2i International but denied ever hiring the company.^[30]

At the end of 2008, the group's website was taken offline temporarily by their web host, 1and1, following a libel accusation from BAA.^[31].

In early 2009 Plane Stupid claimed they are being targetted by the National Extremism Tactical Co-ordination Unit in a release claiming that they were dangerous terrorists^[32].

• AirportWatch
• Camp for Climate Action
• Environmental direct action in the United Kingdom
• Flying Matters
• Joss Garman

• Plane Stupid homepage
• Plane Stupid's Joss Garman on Newsnight