Aviation is the fastest growing cause of climate change. Plane Stupid is the UK’s only national network of direct action groups targeting airport expansion and the growth in flights.
We gave Plane Stupid a grant in 2007 to help them in their campaign to end airport expansion and ban short haul flights and tax aviation.
Plane Stupid gave us this report on how our grant helped them with their campaigns:-
Climate Camp targets Heathrow: Plane Stupid injuncted
In 2007 the Camp for Climate Action decided to target Heathrow. BAA sought an injunction against Plane Stupid activists. Although the injunction was granted, pro-active media work enabled them to reposition themselves as the victims of corporate bullies trying to stifle free speech. They received supportive articles in almost every major newspaper, including those papers which otherwise supported expansion, and persuaded a number of journalists to change their minds on the merits of the third runway.
Plane Stupid targets private jets and techno-fixes
During the Camp Plane Stupid carried out a number of direct actions around the UK. They targeted the Airbus A380 – marketed as a green solution to aviation – to argue that technology will not be enough to tackle aviation greenhouse gas emissions, and joined forces with other grassroots groups for a simultaneous blockade of private airports. To counter negative media reports they embedded Newsnight on the action, and received a 10 minute supportive feature on the Camp and the successful action.
Heathrow’s consultation stitch-up
In Autumn the Government launched its consultation on Heathrow’s third runway. Plane Stupid worked closely with anti-expansion groups to jointly make the case that the consultation was rigged. Switching focus from BAA to the Government, they disrupted a Select Committee inquiry into the future of BAA and appeared at numerous talks across London arguing against expansion.
To celebrate the end of the consultation Plane Stupid returned to Parliament. Five campaigners hung banners from the roof, declaring the House of Commons to be ‘BAA HQ’, and threw paper darts made from documents showing the collusion between BAA and the Department for Transport. This became the biggest news item of the day, with front page articles reporting the action and allegations.
To find out more about Plane Stupid, visit their website: www.planestupid.com
