Airport hit by 'green' protest

October 08, 2007

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CLIMATE change protesters blockaded a security check-point at Manchester Airport today by chaining themselves to a gate.

The seven, protesting about the `environmental cost' of domestic flights, included a city councillor.

Police were called to the Terminal 3 check-in hall at 7.30am as passengers faced delays getting to the departure lounge, but an aiport spokesman said there were no delays to flights.

The activists from two groups called Manchester Climate Action and Manchester Plane Stupid unfurled a banner which read `Domestic Flights Cost the Earth'. They have accused Manchester council, which owns a 55 per cent stake in the airport, of hypocrisy over its `Green City' initiative. The airport plans to double passenger numbers to 50 million by 2030.

Green Party councillor Vanessa Hall, who took part in the protest, said: "Climate change will have a massive impact on our economy, health and well-being.

"It's environmental and economic lunacy to consider any expansion of aviation. We can't be a Green City with an expanding airport.

"I am blocking domestic flights to highlight the true cost of flying and to call the council into account for their hypocrisy."

The protesters used chains, glue and plastic pipes to lock themselves together and to fasten themselves to the security gate.

Passengers were directed to other security gates, but faced longer queues because of the protest.

Screens

Medical screens were placed around the protesters, but supporters handed out anti-climate change leaflets and train timetables to passengers.

Student Robbie Gillett, of Manchester Plane Stupid, said: "It is no longer socially acceptable to fly from Manchester to London, given what we know about climate change. It's absurd when there are train alternatives readily available.

"We are the last generation who can stop climate change and time is running out."

A police spokesman said officers monitored the protest and helped airport staff arrange alternative routes for passengers to get into the departure lounge.

A aiport spokesman said: "There have been no delays and there has been no attempt to breach security.

"We believe that passengers have the right to make these choices, but climate change is a serious issue and aviation contributes to it.

"However, there are more mature ways of working to solve this than blocking people who have paid for flights."

The protest ended peacefully after the campaigners released themselves from their shackles at 10am.

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The Bobelesque, In The Rye (08/10/2007 at 08:52)

March them out, by force, and make sure they get prosecuted for something. The security people at the airport have enough to contend with, without these attention seekers getting in on the act. Why weren't they at work? I assume they are all on the dole or students. Stamp it out!

Leo B (08/10/2007 at 08:53)

Love the way that these people always seem to believe that they have the right to affect other peoples' lives to make their point....bit like religion, really. I'm right, you're wrong - so you'll have to change. God save us from those who want to tell us how to think...

Mr Angry, Bury (08/10/2007 at 09:03)

Bobalesque, I am in the unusual position of agreeing with you. All this green rubbish is a huge con,I hate eco fascists with a vengance, they are stupid and tiresome and like to tell others how to think

Black Flag (08/10/2007 at 09:08)

Leo B, given that you oppose people who believe they have the right to tell others how to think and act, would you support the legalisation of all drugs?

The Bobelesque, In The Rye (08/10/2007 at 09:08)

Mr Angry, I've been in agreement with you, Mr Manchester and come-on-city in the last seven days - I must be getting soft. Thank goodness marc and ace remain disagreeable :-)

Redmeister (08/10/2007 at 09:18)

Get a job whilst you're there, Ringway Handling have got some vacancies.

Grief Tourist, Tameside (08/10/2007 at 09:19)

Damn tree huggers. If people wanna destroy the planet just let them.

Leo B (08/10/2007 at 10:09)

Black Flag, I didn't say that I oppose people who try to tell me how to think: what I am oppoosed to is people seeking to enforce their views by imposing them upon me, whether by violence, or by interfering with my life, to give just two examples. The machinery exists for them to make their views known in any number of democratic ways: they don't need to cause disruption and distress to a section of the population simply because they believe them to be in the wrong, and who probably, in fact, cleave to the majority view.
I'm not sure why you drag the legalisation of drugs into the topic: that's not what's under discussion here, and your reference to the subject is entirely specious.

alvinlwh (08/10/2007 at 10:17)

They can protest all they want, but will that make people stop flying? I, for one, will not! I want to fly, I like to fly, who are they to stop me? In fact I had just booked mysef a second long haul holiday for this year beacuse I found out that my carbon footprint is too small (below average!). I only use energy saving light blubs, I do not drive a 4x4. My central heating is set only on 4 hours a day in the winter, average temp in my home is 18C. And these tree huggers wants me to stop flying? When my carbon footprint is already below average? Nuts to them, I now do what I can to increase its size!

tezza, tyldesley (08/10/2007 at 10:36)

The Bobelesque, In The Rye I agree with you, I assume that they have all walk here from there respective holes in the ground, and that the only reason they do this on a Monday is because they have to sign on every Tuesdays. I would kick them up the backside with my big size 10-carbon footprint.

ace, manchester (08/10/2007 at 10:43)

Leo B
But the democratic way isnt working mate open your ears and eyes .has blair or brown listened to anything the voters have asked? just look at the referendom?Blair told us that we are not getting a vote on our future and brown has dismissed it even though most people want it..""DEMOCRATIC"" I dont think so

Black Flag (08/10/2007 at 10:44)

Leo, I asked you about the legalisation of drugs because I've found it to be a good benchmark of whether people mean what they say about opposing people, as you put it, "seeking to enforce their views by imposing them upon me, whether by violence, or by interfering with my life."

The criminalisation of drugs is also an example of one group imposing their views on another group, but for some reason, many of the supposed defenders of personal freedom think they have a right to impose their own views in this area.

tezza, tyldesley (08/10/2007 at 10:53)

Alvinlwh what do you mean you only have the heating on 4 hours a day; its not November yet is it? Tell the family to put a coat on if they’re cold.

tezza, tyldesley (08/10/2007 at 11:24)

That woman in the photo doesn’t look very green to me is she only green because she has a green coat on. And what about all that paper they wasted making the signs? I do hope that the new flights to Israel don’t fly from terminal 3

Charlotte (08/10/2007 at 11:35)

They always look the same these so called do-gooders, earth-savers whatever you want to call them. Do any of them work? Do any of us normal, real people out there give a damn about what they're saying? Will they make a difference? No to all of the above. I couldnt care less about them or their poxy protest. As someone said previsouly, there are plenty of jobs out there, get working!

Kevin from Hulme (08/10/2007 at 11:37)

They should have been arested and Charged, with all the security alerts going on at present in this country they have broken all the rules getting into the airport. that Coulcillor in the picture is paid my Manchester City Council for doing this Stunt.
She should be booted off the Council now.

flo, Manchester (08/10/2007 at 11:39)

I flew down to Exeter last weekend, because although the flights were dear enought, the train was even more expensive. Sort the trains out first!

mylifeinthemafia (08/10/2007 at 11:44)

I'm guessing all these wasters are dolies and if so are quite clearly not available for work. Therefore, it should be no giro time!

Black Flag (08/10/2007 at 11:55)

Flo, I'm in full agreement.

Trains operate using fuels on which they pay duty, whereas aircraft get their fuel duty-free. It's time to level the playing field by taxing flights in line with the amount of fuel they use.

Hulme-Man, Hulme (08/10/2007 at 11:56)

I have never heard of anything so riduculous and this is not the sort of action that you would expect of a Manchester City Councillor. There are more responsible ways of registering protest and bringing the 'Environmental Cost of Domestic Flights' to the attention of the public. It is not the fault of those hundreds of ordinary families and individuals who have spent their hard earned cash on the cheapest method possible to have a holiday or to go and visit relatives in other parts of the UK.

If these people truly are 'green' then I trust the piping was recyclable and that the glue they used was Environmentally friendly? However, I think not!

David S (08/10/2007 at 11:57)

With reagrd to Vanessa Hall's participation in this action,the following is text taken straight from the City Council web-site.

'Councillors decide which policies the council should pursue, ensure that they are carried out and monitor services provided to ensure that they are delivered in the most efficient and effective way.

The local councillor represents a constituency (known as a Ward) and is there to represent the views and opinions of local people. It is also his or her responsibility to assist those with difficulties which the Council could help solve.'

I see nothing in that description which can justify attempting to disrupt the travel arrangments of her constituents and other residents of Manchester and beyond.

David S

Kitty Daly in Hulme (08/10/2007 at 12:05)

The Woman in the Green coat is a Councillor in the Hulme warde. The rest might be on the Dole, we pay are Taxes for this nonsense at the airport. These Greens like getting in the news every year,they love Chains, Glue, and Ropes.
I hope they do not leave the mess at the Airport they left on Birley Fields only 12 Months ago.
The year before they climbed up to the top of Hulme Bridge.
How did they get to the Airport, Cycled I hope.

Kitty Daly in Hulme (08/10/2007 at 12:17)

The Looney Party, would be a better Name.

I feel so ashamed I'm from Hulme now, I can only Apoligise to those who has been caught up in the travel disruption over this on behalf of Hulme People.
I'll be voting that Labour Girl in May.

come-on-city (08/10/2007 at 12:29)

Anyone up for an argument???

In my opinion I disagree completely with their views but I will defend completely their right to protest!

Good on em' I say!

Tony Blair. London. (08/10/2007 at 12:37)

If this Green Councillor Wanted a Air Ambulance in a matter of Life or Death Situation, one wonders would she have refused it.
Would be a better idea if she protested at her local Newsagent at the sale of Cigarettes and Fireworks, these two items Damage the Enviroment and your Health.

What A Splendid Manchester Paper and Website you have here, if you Don't mind me saying. I always get a Copy when Visting Manchester.

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