MOLE HUNT: More Austin Powers than James Bond

By Richard on 07/04/2008
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Mole hunt - Toby close-up

Since late summer 2007, an employee of a corporate espionage agency has been trying to infiltrate Plane Stupid. Toby Kendall, who works for C2i International, a "special risk management" firm, thought he was undercover in our London group, gathering information on what we're up to. Instead we've been feeding the 'revenge movie' obssesed mole false information, which he's been reporting to the aviation industry for months.

After last year's Camp for Climate Action new activists began turning up to London Plane Stupid meetings. Most were perfectly normal people angry at the expansion of Heathrow airport. But one newbie didn't fit in with the rest - Ken Tobias, an Oxford graduate who claimed to have just got back from China. Something about him just wasn't right.

Check out our mole hunt gallery for more photos.

MOLE HUNT: Two words: "wrong team"

By Anonymous on 07/04/2008
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Toby holds the banner (don't tell the spooks!)

London Plane Stupid was infiltrated. Can you guess who it was? We could. Sorry Toby - from the beginning your red Palestinian scarf and baseball cap was doing little to cover up an all-year tan that stank of short breaks in the sun and a relentless hunger to hear about the hardcore action - with a cautious refusal to take any yourself.

What a toe-rag! To take advantage of our unwillingness to exclude new activists, and all because you'd watched one too many spy flicks and think that spying against greenies is what the good guys do. Two words for you Toby: wrong team. We gave you the opportunity to be one of the good guys but you made it clear that your idea of a good time was breaking into trusting affinity groups and betraying the friendship that defines activism.

More commotion in the House of Commons

By Richard on 07/04/2008
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Adding Capacity at Heathrow

Has the Minister bitten off more than he can chew? Beleagured Jim Fitzpatrick, already under fire for letting BA and BAA cock up the opening of Terminal 5, was attacked by MPs during a Commons debate on the third runway.

The debate has many classic moments, but can you top this for Parliamentary panto:

Jim Fitzpatrick: ...despite the criticisms of some, I am firmly of the view that this consultation — albeit on a subject that many feel passionately about — has been conducted in an exemplary manner.

Carlisle expansion: developer stand off

By Richard on 07/04/2008
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Stand off!

Someone save us from the macho world of regional airport development, where self-important men throw their weight around. We've already delighted our readers with tales from the North, where BMI has been blackmailing local businesses into using their overpriced flights (or risk losing them forever!). Now Stobart Air, a haulage and freight company, say they will leave Carlisle airport if they can't have their cake and eat it too.

Stobart Air boss Andrew Tinkler wants to build new haulage facilities and threw in a new runway and other goodies to sweeten the deal. Although the expansion was unpopular with many locals, the Council was interested but wanted the new runway built first, to stop Stobart going back on its word. They also placed restrictions on traffic, noise, wildlife habitats and the number of flight allowed per day - a total of 63 restrictions.

All this was too much for Tinkler, who stormed out of a meeting with the Council last week, declaring that if he couldn't have expansion his way, he'd up and move to Widnes instead! This shock announcement led bored hacks at the local paper to commence fretting about all the jobs that would be lost - just as Tinkler revealed that he was going back to the negotiating table. The saga continues - who will blink first?

Tories are for turning

By Richard on 03/04/2008
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Laughing stock

Breaking news from the boys in blue: the Tory leadership have edged closer to a sensible policy on airport expansion, declaring yesterday that the economic and environmental case had not been made for the third runway at Heathrow.

Shadow aviation secretary Theresa Villiers told the Evening Standard that "The Government is set on building a third runway regardless of whether key economic and environmental questions are answered. However, they have failed to make the case."

Fossil Fools Day - international action round-up

By Richard on 02/04/2008
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Fossil Fools Day 1

Hats of the the Fossil Fools Day crowd - they sure know how to pull off a day of action. Across the UK, Australia and North America protestors took direct action against the root causes of climate change:our addiction to fossil fuels.

Protests shut down Citibank and the Bank of America for funding dirty energy, as well as a new coal plant in North Carolina. In the UK, direct action saw a gas terminal in Norfolk closed for business, E-on's HQ in Nottingham and an open-face coal mine in Wales. An Esso station in Plymouth got occupied, while Rising Tide occupied Land Rover's advertising agency.

On the South Bank, subvertisers launched a fake product from E-on: carbon capture and storage water (you have to watch their film!). There were also loads of marches and assorted fluffiness. All in all, too much to describe here: check out www.fossilfoolsday.org.uk for loads more stuff!