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Plane Stupid

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by PeterIto (talk | contribs) at 08:49, 22 February 2009 (corrections and additions to various actions, and rolling cricism into main article for each action). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Plane Stupid
Founded2005, UK
FocusEnvironmentalism
Area served
UK
MethodNonviolence Direct Action
Websitewww.planestupid.com

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]

History

IEA Aviation Conference, September 2005

The group was formed when a group of activists decided to disrupt 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]

East Midlands Airport, September 2006

Plane Stupid blocked a taxiway 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]

The group protested on the roof of EasyGroup's headquarters in November 2006 at the same time as the UN Climate talks in Nairobi. About 20 Easygroup staff were delayed getting into the building by an hour and a half. John Stewart explained their actions saying: "Tony Blair talks the talk about taking action on climate change while building more runways and allowing more planes at airports". An Easyjet spokeswoman said the firm took its environmental responsibilities "very seriously" and its fleet of 122 aircraft were fuel efficient and used the latest technology.[8]

Camp for Climate Action, August 2007

Main article: Camp for Climate Action

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.[9] 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."[10] 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"[11] and the camp went ahead amid considerable worldwide publicity.[12] After the camp ended, Duncan Bonfield, BAA director of corporate affairs, and Mark Mann, BAA head of media relations, resigned without stating their reasons.[13] During the camp Plane Stupid carried out protests at other aviation-related sites including Airbus,[14] Farnborough and Biggin Hill.[15]

Manchester Airport, October 2007

Plane Stupid disrupted activities at Manchester Airport which hopes to double its passenger capacity to 50 million by 2030. They blockaded to entrance to the departure lounge themselves for three hours in Terminal Three. A spokesman for Manchester Airport said the campaigners had mistimed yesterday's demonstration. "Terminal Three is at its busiest from 5am to 7am," he said. "They arrived at 7.30am, so they missed the main peak". The Department for Transport insisted it took climate change "very seriously".[16]

They disrupted the deliberations of a Transport Select Committee inquiry into the future of UK airports operator BAA in November. As BAA chairman Sir Nigel Rudd and chief executive Stephen Nelson were preparing to give evidence on problems at the airport, protesters began chanting 'no third runway at Heathrow' and handed out copies of a Tyndall Centre climate change report about the impacts of flying on global warming to MPs and members of the public before being removed by the police. Gwyneth Dunwoody, the committee chairman, dismissed the protest as childish.[17]

During the 'Climate March' in London in December Plane Stupid activists shut down travel agents along the route. Their spokesman said: "These businesses continue, with full support from the government, to profit from wrecking our climate".[18]

Natural History Museum, January 2008

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]

Heathrow Terminal 5, March 2008

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]

Houses of Parliament, February 2008

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]

In April 2008, Plane Stupid claimed that their group was infiltrated by an international espionage agency.[24][25] 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.[26]

Stansted Airport, December 2008

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. BAA said protesters did not get on to the runway, but it was closed as a "precaution". 56 Ryanair flights were cancelled, 56,000 passengers were delayed by the protest. 57 protestors were arrested.[1] Plane Stupid said 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] however David Millward, Transport Editor for the The Telegraph suggested that they should be called 'Plane Selfish'.[28] and Judge John Perkins told the court when sentencing 22 protestors to between 50 and 90 hours of community services that "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."[29] Ryanair is seeking £2.2 million in compensation for the disruption caused and almost £500,000 for "reputational damage" from BAA[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].

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "57 arrested as Stansted protest grounds flights". The Independent. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
  2. ^ "About us". Plane Stupid. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  3. ^ "Back down to earth". The Observer. 2007-07-08. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ "50 people who could save the planet". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
  5. ^ "Climate activists disrupt international aviation conference - 29th September 2005". 2005. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ Alice O'Keeffe (2006-11-06). "Planet saved?: Why the green movement is taking to the streets". The New Statesman. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "Airport demo protesters arrested". BBC News. 2006-09-24. Retrieved 2009-02-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ "Anti-plane group targets Easyjet". BBC News. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
  9. ^ "Campaigners leave Heathrow camp". BBC News. 2008-08-20. Retrieved 2008-03-05.
  10. ^ Robbie Gillett (2007-08-13). "The mother of all injunctions". The New Statesman. Retrieved 2008-01-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ BBC NEWS | UK | BAA wins Heathrow protesters ban
  12. ^ BBC NEWS | UK | Heathrow protesters set up camp
  13. ^ Two top press officers resign from BAA | Business | Reuters
  14. ^ "Heathrow protesters target Airbus". BBC News. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
  15. ^ Plane Stupid. "Climate Campers shut down private jet airport". Retrieved 2008-01-13.
  16. ^ "Climate-change protesters block entrance to Manchester Airport". The Independent. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
  17. ^ "Plane Stupid Heathrow runway protest disrupts MP's BAA inquiry". UK Airport News. 2007-11-29. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ "Plane Stupid activists shut down travel agents on route of climate march". UK Airport News. 2007-12-08. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ "March of the penguins: climate activists protest at British Airways ice rink". Plane Stupid. 2008-01-12. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  20. ^ "Protest staged over third runway". BC News. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
  21. ^ "Activists plan to cause chaos when Terminal 5 at Heathrow is opened". The Times. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
  22. ^ "Anti-airport protesters scale Parliament's roof". The Independent. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
  23. ^ "Parliament rooftop protest ends". BBC News. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
  24. ^ "Industrial espionage agency targeted Heathrow protestors - 8th April 2008". Retrieved 2008-04-13.
  25. ^ "Plane Stupid and the spy who got thrown out into the cold". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
  26. ^ "Spy caught by anti-aviation group was 'more Austin Powers than 007'". The Times. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
  27. ^ "Why we shut Stansted Airport". Retrieved 2009-01-15.
  28. ^ "Plane stupid's antics at Stansted airport are plain selfish". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  29. ^ "Stansted protesters sentenced to community service amid threat of £2m damages claim". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  30. ^ "A flying start to the new year for anti-aviation campaigners". Retrieved 2009-01-15.
  31. ^ "Website shut down". WalesOnline. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  32. ^ "Observer and NETCU smear environmental activists as terrorists". Retrieved 2009-02-14.
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