October 1st: Stay Grounded, Mass Action Against Aviation

Stay grounded!

Expansion plans at London City Airport have been announced and the government is expected to decide on where to build a new runway, probably at either Heathrow or Gatwick this October. These plans are devastating for local pollution, noise and for climate change.

In solidarity with local and international groups, and in defence of the climate and people all over the world, Reclaim the Power is calling for people to take safe and peaceful action against the aviation industry. Join us for a family-friendly flashmob and critical mass bike block at a London airport on Saturday 1st October.

The exact location is being kept secret, to keep the authorities on their toes – sign up now to receive more information.

Our mass action is just one part of a wave of international action planned to take place around the same time of year. In order for this action to be effective, *we need at least 400 people to take part*. We need to send a strong clear message that we cannot have any new runways in the UK if we are serious about tackling climate change.

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>> WILL YOU JOIN US IF HUNDREDS OF OTHERS PLEDGE TO COME?

GREAT! Here’s what to do next:

1) Add your email address to the pledge platform here: http://tinyurl.com/jxsxkyf, so that we know when we reach our target of 400, and so that we can let you know more info as it’s revealed. The more people who sign up, the more others will want to join, and the more effective we can be.

2) Get yourself along to one of the info-sharing / legal briefing / action training events, to ensure you are fully prepared to participate. Details of the events can be found here: https:// reclaimthepower.org.uk/ events/

3) Start thinking about who your affinity group is and what you’re going to bring and wear (see below for suggestions)

4) Join this Facebook event, and share it with all your friend.

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~ WHATS THE PLAN? ~

This will be a fun, colourful and safe event that everyone is invited to participate in. An action consensus has been agreed to set the safe parameters of this day of action. The health and safety of airport staff, passengers and ourselves are of paramount importance and a top priority, and just in case it is not clear we will not be going on to any runways!
https://reclaimthepower.org.uk/aviation-flashmob-critical-mass/aviation-action-consensus/

Visually and creatively we will focus on the polluting aviation industry, the affluent minority who are driving the so-called ‘need’ for aviation expansion, and the 300,000+ people who are already suffering from the effects climate change, and who are paying the price for this convenient luxury lifestyle, with their lives.

There will be three main ways that people can participate in the day of action, individually and as part of affinity groups that will have autonomy over how they operate.

(1) BLOCK A
will be family-friendly, in a publicly accessible *inside* area. Creative themes (for dressing up) will be:

* The "15%" – the minority of 'flash-the-cash', 'binge’ frequent flyers who we know are driving the so-called ‘need’ for airport expansion in the UK

* The tax man - and the heavy subsidisies to the aviation industry

* A die-in - representing the 300,000+ people who are already dying each year, all over the world, from climate change related causes

* Speech & thought bubbles - to convey the key messages in a creative and clever way

* Red lines – aviation expansion is crossing a red line for a just and liveable planet, and people are paying with their lives (wear red)

(2) BLOCK B

will consist of cyclists, and will be in a publicly accessible *outside* area. Creative themes (for dressing up) will be:

* Reimagining the alternatives – what could a future without aviation look like?

(3) Autonomous affinity groups are also invited to take creative action elsewhere, as part of the day of action, adhering to the same action consensus.

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~ WHY AVIATION? WHY NOW? ~

After years of delay, the controversial announcement of a new runway at Gatwick or Heathrow is expected this October. It comes just months after the green light was given to expansion at London City Airport, and makes a mockery of our own legally binding commitments for action on climate change. Clearly, more planes means more catastrophic climate change. It is time to fight back.

Air travel is by far the most carbon-intensive form of transport, and is the fastest growing source of carbon emissions. Yet, climate change is still remarkably absent from any discussion around aviation expansion. Moreover, aviation is unbelievably absent from any discussions, agreements and targets around tackling climate change! It was excluded from the Paris Agreement signed by the World's nations at the UN COP21 last December, and is even exempt from the UK's own Climate Change Act 2008. It is an industry that benefits from huge tax subsidies and unprecedented legal and regulatory loopholes, and is threatening the lives of communities both locally and globally, as well as the very planet we all live upon.

More info >>> http://reclaimthepower.org.uk/aviation-flashmob-critical-mass/more-info/