Press release

Plane Stupid Scotland shuts Aberdeen airport - 3rd March 2009

Richard — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 03:53:14 +0000

Nine young protesters from the climate action group Plane Stupid Scotland have this morning shut down Aberdeen airport by setting up a golf course on the taxiway. They have surrounded themselves with fortified security fencing whilst another group are occupying the roof of the terminal building and have unfurled a banner reading, “Nae Trump Games with Climate Change”.

The peaceful protest began at 02.15am this morning whilst the runway was closed. 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 to prevent the release of thousands of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.

Plane Stupid turns Southampton Airport into climate refugee camp - 17th February 2009

Richard — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 13:33:53 +0000

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.

Activists accuse Climate Change Secretary of 'hypocracy' - 12th Feburary 2009

Richard — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:00:26 +0000

Plane Stupid Brighton activists have interrupted a public meeting during a speech by Ed Miliband MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. They unveiled a banner accusing the government of becoming a "hypocracy" - a government of hypocrites.

The Plane Stupid activists dressed in t-shirts reading 'Ed's Popular Mobilisation Team' in reference to Miliband's call late last year for popular mobilisation on climate change. They handed out flyers listing the 34 airports planned for expansion within the UK to the audience, demonstrating the apparent lack of government resolve for tackling the environmental issues that are crucial for safe-guarding our future. Demonstrating their disapproval of the government's pandering to corporate interests, many of the audience made paper aeroplanes, which took flight towards the Secretary of State.

Plane Stupid responds to Heathrow decision - 15th January 2009

Richard — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 12:08:43 +0000

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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Plane Stupid responds to the release of its 57 Stansted Airport protesters - 8th December 2008

Richard — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:33:10 +0000

Monday's action has shown the power of young people determined to turn the climate talk into climate action. We took the decision to disrupt the airport to directly reduce the CO2 impact of Stansted, as a response to the government's consent to its expansion. We did so with heavy hearts, knowing it would disrupt passengers, because we knew the consequences of this action couldn't be worse than the consequences of inaction. If irreversible climate change kicks in, millions of lives will be destroyed.

We are genuinely grateful for the level of support from people who have agreed with us that desperate times call for desperate measures. We have used this action to ask for everyone to 'please, do something'. We hope that all those that have expressed support for today's action will now think about what they are going to do to ensure the survival of our planet and people on it.

Climate campaigners shut Stansted airport - 8th December 2008

Richard — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 04:16:14 +0000

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.

Scottish climate activists target Scottish First Minister - 16th October 2008

Richard — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 09:53:11 +0000

At 4am this morning, residents from Clydebank, Paisley, Kirkliston and Cramond peacefully set up a stereo and blasted aeroplane noise through the entrance of the First Minister's private residency in Edinburgh. The action stands as a protest 'dawn chorus' to highlight the experience of living life in the shadow of a growing airport. Ironically, the stereo caused 110 decibels of noise - the equivalent of a jumbo jet taking off.

For half an hour about ten residents surrounded the building dressed in bright pajamas, night caps, clutching teddybears, with ear defenders to display the dangerous levels of noise pollution endured by their families and communities. Their placards stated "It's time to wake up to the impacts of aviation" and "have a taste of your own medicine".

Plane Stupid leaves Camp for Climate Action for protest at Gatwick - 7th August 2008

Richard — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 09:01:37 +0000

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.

Plane Stupid campaigner superglues himself to Prime Minister inside Number 10 - 22nd July 2008

Richard — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:07:38 +0000

A campaigner from the climate action group, Plane Stupid, is currently super-glued to Prime Minister Gordon Brown in the State Dining Room of 10 Downing Street.

Dan Glass, a 24 year old MSc student based in Scotland, gained access to the PM’s official residence at 5pm this evening. He greeted Mr Brown and asked the Prime Minister why he and his ministers have refused to meet West London residents opposed to the construction of a third runway at Heathrow. He simultaneously put his super-glue covered hand onto Brown’s polyester suit. When Brown went to turn away he found he had been super-glued by his clothing to Plane Stupid, and had no option but to listen to Dan or undress.

Audio link available here.

Transport conference delegates shocked by elephant in the room - 17th June 2008

Richard — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:41:22 +0000

A 5 metre high giant inflatable elephant shocked delegates at the Edinburgh Caledonian Hilton today with a massive banner stating 'Aviation is the elephant in the room'.

This spectacle, created by anti-aviation group Plane Stupid Scotland, is a huge visual reminder that aviation remains a massive elephant in the room as long as emissions from aviation continue to be ignored in the Climate Change Bill.

The display took place outside a Hilton-hosted conference that brings organisations and researchers together to discuss how to "deliver the national transport strategy whilst meeting… climate change targets".

Airport protestors on roof of Scottish Parliament - 14th April 2008

Richard — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 08:41:08 +0000

Two environmental activists from the climate action group, Plane Stupid Scotland, have climbed onto the roof of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh to protest against plans for expansion of Scottish airports.

Adam Weymouth, 23 and Mathilda Gissord, 23, got on to the roof of the Parliament at about 9am this morning and unfurled a large banner which carries a paradody of the Trainspotting design, "Choose Life." The banner reads, "Plane Stopping: Choose the future. Say no to airport expansion."

Industrial espionage agency targeted Heathrow protestors - 8th April 2008

Richard — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 23:29:55 +0000

Aviation industry in the frame as Plane Stupid investigation exposes mole

Climate action group Plane Stupid has been targeted by a professional espionage agency.

Oxford-educated Toby Kendall, 24, an employee of aerospace security consultants C2i International (1), infiltrated and spied on Heathrow campaign groups across London for a year. He was immediately suspected and following a Plane Stupid investigation he was last week confronted and exposed in a Japanese restaurant by the Plane Stupid activist Tamsin Omond - one of those who recently scaled Parliament (2).

Climate campaigners hang 'NO 3rd RUNWAY' banner before PMQs - 27th February 2008

Richard — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:20:09 +0000

Campaigners opposed to Heathrow expansion have scaled the roof of the Houses of Parliament and hung protest banners from the building before Prime Minister's Questions is due to begin.

The three men and two women from climate action group, Plane Stupid, opened an outside door before walking along the roof and dropping two banners. The non-violent direct action comes on the day a government consultation into Heathrow expansion ends. The protesters are making paper aeroplanes out of confidential Whitehall documents that reveal the process is fixed, and gliding the planes into the MPs' car park below.

March of the penguins: climate activists protest at British Airways ice rink - 12th January 2008

Richard — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 14:47:53 +0000

Around 30 penguins today 'reclaimed the ice' at the Natural History Museum's ice rink in protest at British Airways sponsorship of the museum's annual winter festivities.

The protestors, from the climate action group Plane Stupid, dressed as penguins to highlight the irony of an airline creating an ice rink in central London, whilst its business activities are a major cause of global warming, which is melting the polar ice caps and causing dangerous climate change. The loss of the polar ice will imperil wildlife such as penguins and polar bears and is believed to be a major 'tipping point' which will speed up climate change.

Plane Stupid activists shut down travel agents on route of climate march - 8th December 2007

Richard — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 10:19:51 +0000

Environmental activists from direct action group Plane Stupid have shut down travel agents and airline offices along the route of today’s National Climate March in London as part of the Global Day of Action against climate change.

Plane Stupid spokesperson Michael Kelly said,

"These businesses continue, with full support from the government, to profit from wrecking our climate."