Greta Thunberg joins Extinction Rebellion protest towards airport
- Farnborough Airport needs to extend flights from 50,000 to 70,000 a 12 months
- They known as for a complete ban on personal jets as a result of they’re very polluting
- The protest befell on Saturday in Farnborough city centre in Hampshire
Greta Thunberg joined Extinction Rebellion this weekend to protest towards plans to broaden a British airport.
The local weather activist marched on Saturday towards the plans submitted by Farnborough Airport Ltd to Rushmoor Borough Council to extend the variety of flights from 50,000 to 70,000 a 12 months.
The protestors walked from Farnborough city centre in Hampshire to Farnborough Airport – setting off pink smoke flares and waving banners – whereas calling for a complete ban on personal jets.
Which they argue are as much as 30 occasions extra polluting than passenger airliners.
Last October the 20-year-old was arrested at a rally exterior the InterContinental Hotel in Park Lane, London which was internet hosting a significant assembly of oil executives, together with 26 others.
Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg takes half in an indication by the Extinction Rebellion (XR) local weather change group, as they protest towards plans to broaden Farnborough Airport
Last October the 20-year-old was arrested at a rally exterior the InterContinental Hotel in Park Lane, London
Miss Thunberg marches alongside protestors towards the enlargement of Farnborough Airport, as they demand a ban on personal jets,
The protesters marched from Farnborough city centre in Hampshire to Farnborough Airport
Miss Thunberg stated: ‘The undeniable fact that utilizing personal jets is each legally and socially allowed at the moment in an escalating local weather emergency is totally indifferent from actuality.
‘There are few examples that present as clearly how the wealthy elite is sacrificing current and future dwelling circumstances on this planet to allow them to preserve their excessive and violent life.’
The airport plans would additionally see a rise in non-weekday plane actions from 8,900 to 18,900 per 12 months and permit heavier plane to make use of the airport if permitted.
Farnborough Airport stated its environmental footprint is ‘a fraction that of a standard business airport’, but it serves as one of many largest employment websites within the area.
Rushmoor Borough Council is about to contemplate the plans in March.
Todd Smith, former airline pilot and Extinction Rebellion spokesperson stated: ‘Flying is the quickest technique to fry the planet and personal jets are essentially the most polluting technique to fly.
‘Surely it is a no-brainer to ban personal jets and cease increasing these luxurious airports within the midst of a local weather disaster? Survey after survey, in addition to a number of residents’ assemblies, have proven this is able to be very fashionable and has widespread help from most of the people.
‘For most individuals, life has develop into harder. The price of heating our houses, shopping for meals and paying our payments has elevated massively. So think about looking our home windows to see but extra personal jets flying billionaires round.
‘Is this a good society that we stay in, or is there one algorithm for almost all, and one other for the elites?’
The airport plans would additionally see a rise in non-weekday plane actions from 8,900 to 18,900 per 12 months
Rushmoor Borough Council will take into account the planning software in March
Extinction Rebellion’s Red Rebels carry out throughout a protest towards plans to extend personal jet flights
Members of Extinction Rebellion Red Rebel Brigade pose throughout a protest towards the extension of the Farnborough Airport
Miss Thunberg stated: ‘The undeniable fact that utilizing personal jets is each legally and socially allowed at the moment in an escalating local weather emergency is totally indifferent from actuality’
Finlay Asher, aerospace engineer and member of the aviation staff group Safe Landing, added: ‘As aviation staff, we perceive there is a option to be made about how we use our restricted planetary assets.
‘If we broaden personal jet flights, then this may devour a big slice of the pie, and go away nothing for anyone else.
‘However, there’s a optimistic approach ahead for society and for our trade: present genuinely sustainable clear transport for the plenty as an alternative, relatively than persevering with to broaden super-polluting personal jet airports which cater solely to a tiny minority of ultra-wealthy people.’
Sarah Hart, 42, an workplace assistant from Farnborough, stated: ‘As a neighborhood resident and a mum of two I’m completely appalled on the airport’s plan to broaden once we ought to be banning personal flying utterly.
‘We should be taking drastic steps to make sure a habitable world for all our youngsters, not rising our use in fossil fuels.’
Miss Thunberg stated: ‘There are few examples that present as clearly how the wealthy elite is sacrificing current and future dwelling circumstances on this planet to allow them to preserve their excessive and violent life’
Local residents, Extinction Rebellion activists and local weather change campaigners show exterior Farnborough Airport to protest towards plans to extend personal jet flights
Todd Smith, former airline pilot and Extinction Rebellion spokesperson stated: ‘Flying is the quickest technique to fry the planet and personal jets are essentially the most polluting technique to fly’
A protestor. Farnborough Airport is among the largest employment websites within the area
A spokesperson for Farnborough Airport stated: ‘Farnborough Airport is a crucial gateway for enterprise aviation connectivity with the vast majority of flights being operated for enterprise and company journey functions.
‘The airport’s environmental footprint is a fraction that of a standard business airport, but it serves as one of many largest employment websites within the area.
‘We recognise the significance of frequently decreasing our environmental affect and we’re solely considered one of a small variety of UK airports to have achieved Level 4+ below the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme.’
