Press release

A group of activists from local anti-aviation group Plane Stupid Southampton have just chained themselves to the entrance of Southampton airport and erected tents at the main entrance in a bid turn the regional airport into a climate refugee camp. In addition to setting up camp today, activists have formally submitted a planning application with Eastleigh Borough Council to turn the airport into refugee housing.

The planned expansion of Southampton airport, along with 34 other regional airports in the UK, will do enough damage to the climate to force an estimated 1.3 million people in impoverished parts of the world to flee raising sea levels, flooding, drought and famine.

In response to the announcement on Heathrow's third runway, Leila Deen from climate action group Plane Stupid said,

"Finally the illusion of democracy is over. Despite all the objections, all the arguments and all the science, the government is determined to support the aviation industry over the future of life on earth. We say - bring it on!"

She adds:

"We are as confident as ever that the runway won't be built. Their efforts won't start for years. Through direct action, people will retain the power to stop the runway long after Gordon Brown's brief moment of power expires. This decision is an insult to younger generations and we will respond to it as such."

In response to the green 'sweetners' that the government announced at lunchtime, she said,

"Gordon Brown is no Mary Poppins. No amount of sugar will help this medicine go down. Calling Heathrow 'green' is like calling a 4x4 a green vehicle because it has a cycle rack. This is is greenwash and we won't swallow it. This runway will not be built. We will stop it."

"Its convenient that the government has set a deadline on the aviation industry to reduce its emissions to a time when they will all be dead. Its our generation will pay the price for this nonsense, we cannot let it happen."

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Over fifty young protesters from the climate action group Plane Stupid have this morning shut down Stansted Airport by camping on the runway and surrounding themselves with fortified security fencing.

The peaceful protest began at 3.15am this morning (Monday) whilst the runway was temporarily closed for maintenance work. Plane Stupid aims to prevent the scheduled reopening of the runway at 5am. The group intends to maintain its blockade for as long as possible, preventing the release of thousands of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.

Nine protestors from the anti-aviation group ‘Plane Stupid’ have left the Kingsnorth Climate Camp to mount a protest against short-haul flights from the nearby Gatwick Airport. The nine climate activists had been planning to protest against the government’s plans to expand Kingsnorth coal fire power station. However continual police intimidation and violence forced them to leave the camp, choosing instead to protest against the popularity of short-haul flights, especially during the Edinburgh Festival, from Gatwick airport.

The nine activists arrived at the airport at 7.50am. They then split into three groups. The first group scaled the wall next to the escalator above the train station, occupying the roof structure and dropping a banner: ‘Short-haul flight? Let the train take the strain'. The second group mounted the mezzanine above the arrivals lounge, handcuffed themselves to a railing and dropped a banner: ‘Stop short-haul’. The third group, dressed as information points, with t-shirts asking, ‘Can I hinder?', leafleted the surprised crowd with information about the ecological cost of aviation and the irresponsibility of those who fly short-haul.