Hot on the heels of Eon announcing delays on Kingsnorth, climate activists gained another major victory this week as BAA bowed to anti-aviation opposition of a third runway at Heathrow Airport. Following a seven year campaign, with a series of direct actions including mass action at Climate Camp 2007, the airport authority has said it will not yet be submitting a planning application to expand Heathrow.
In an unusal twist, BAA stated thay would not apply for the third runway before the general election, due to the possibility of the Conservative Party forming the next government (who claim to oppose the expansion). In which case they said they would give up the fight.
A spokesperson from NoTRAG said: “For over seven years, residents have pulled together, come together and campaigned together to stop a third runway. This may be our moment and a victory for future generations… If BAA can swiftly drop their plans following the party conference season then this clearly shows there has never been a compelling case for a third runway.”
Emma Jackson, a spokesperson for the Climate Camp, stated: “E.ON and BAA know that the days of committing new climate crimes are over. Now we have to start shutting down existing coal-fired power stations, and that’s why we’re going to Ratcliffe-on-Soar next week.” Climate Camp is calling for renewable energy to replace coal fired stations.
Links: NoTRAG | Plane Stupid | HACAN Clear Skies | Climate Camp | The Great Climate Swoop
The role that the, long predicted, impact of peak oil on aviation played in this decision isn’t known, but last year Virgin Atlantic boss Richard Branson acknowledged peak oil. Now that airport expansion is dead, for now, it’s also time for an end to road expension.
Previous features: Aviation expansion grounded | Resistance escalates with Airport ‘Green’ Light | Direct action cuts CO2 emissions | Heathrow to Kingsnorth Climate Caravan 2008 | Heathrow Protesters Uncover Spy Plot | Manchester Climate Change Activists Blockade Domestic Flights | Heathrow 3rd Runway: Flying in the face of public opinion | Climate activists glued to doors at East Midlands Airport | Court rejects ASBOS for airport activists | Plane Stupid’s Day of Action | Protesters occupy runway at East Midlands Airport
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I’ve added the following above, if people think it’s should be in the body rather than the abstract then please move it, the following version has working links:
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I added in a link to, and statement from the climate camp press release. Emma Jackson, a spokesperson for the Climate Camp, stated: “E.ON and BAA know that the days of committing new climate crimes are over. Now we have to start shutting down existing coal-fired power stations, and that’s why we’re going to Ratcliffe-on-Soar next week.” Climate Camp is calling for renewable energy to replace coal fired stations |
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Moved a paragraph and previous features links to the main body, changed “that airport expansion is dead” to include “for now” – hope this is ok with you Chris. If anyone has a better picture than by all means change it. I think this picture is very symbolic (from CC07) but doesn’t clearly represent the issue. Thanks for helping with the feature :) |
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