As the world returns to ‘business as usual’ we see governments, airports, airlines and the media increasing efforts to fill the skies to pre-pandemic capacity. There should be NO GOING BACK for industries like aviation that make such a huge contribution to the climate and ecological crisis.
The cancellation of Heathrow Airport expansion sent a ‘clear sky’ signal; this is an industry that needs to be scaled back, not promoting and propping up with bailouts.
This is a sector which needs to drastically reduce emissions yet governments are sending a very different signal by allowing increasing flight numbers, airport and runway expansions and no strings attached airline bailouts.
From Bristol to Cornwall local groups are gathering today and marching in a series of creative and non-violent protests to raise awareness of the dangerous impact of the aviation industry on the climate.
“The negative impact of airport expansion in Bristol falls most strongly on those who use airports the least, and if the airport expands it will further blight the local area with noise, traffic and air pollution along with its health impacts. Locals have had a taste of flight free skies and can see how it could be.” Kim Creus, Bristol resident.
Today’s actions include:
Chew Valley XR, together with a host of community groups and campaigners from across the West and South West are marching from Felton Common to Bristol Airport in a single file socially distanced funeral procession. The funeral theme reflects the many deaths that would be caused by further airport expansion. As well as threatening democracy, Bristol Airport’s planning appeal threatens clean air, quiet, good health and well being. It hastens the death of biodiversity and of people around the world from pollution and climate change. This is a HUGE opportunity to tell the Airport loud and clear that expansion will not be tolerated by local communities: NO to increased pollution and congestion from Airport road traffic, NO to further pollution from flights, NO to greater mental health problems from increased night flights, NO to further destruction of the environment.
In Cornwall teams of rebels are interacting with members of the public to raise awareness of plans by Richard Branson to build a Spaceport in Newquay. Many Cornish residents are unaware of these plans and even more unaware that Cornish Council have pledged £12m in support of this project. This action includes gathering support for a petition to Cornwall County Council.
In West Cornwall a creative climate crime scene protest is taking place against the Heliport which is currently exceeding noise pollution limits and adding to increasing air pollution levels.
The ‘Change is Now’ bus tour started in Bournemouth and toured around the South West including to Exeter, Teignmouth and Taunton. Bringing rebels and creativity and music with it, the tour was a great opportunity to do outreach. We gave out a lot of leaflets , did lots of art blocking and signed up people […]
Autonomous activists occupied the Queen Camel Oak in her final weeks on earth to extend her life in a bid to protect her. Unfortunately, this Ancient, 450 year old, Oak tree was lost to the destructive grip of the RIS2 road building scheme, a £140 million scheme to dual the road. The tree stood near […]
Rebels from the South West who held Oil Firm Valero to account for their dirty business processing fossil fuels and polluting our rising seas at our South West Summer Uprising on 17th July.
Successfully occupying the grounds of Cornwall Council in Truro, and stealthily erecting their tents overnight, activists from all over Cornwall delivered a two week programme of events, talks and workshops for the community and for councillors to attend. At first the campers were met with distrust and asked to leave, but after a few days […]
Photo credit: Gav Goulder Press Release – February 10th, 10am For Immediate release A coalition of investors, who own the Camborne constituency office of Environment Minister George Eustice, announced today that they have donated all of his rent so far to the Insulate Britain campaign. In the run up to the Extinction Rebellion protests at […]
Unofficial estimates suggest around 2,000 rebels took part in 3 days of creative and occasionally disruptive actions at the G7 summit in Cornwall from June 11-13th. Many arrived on foot or bike after epic multi-day treks. This roundup focusses on some of the actions we may have missed while preparing for or particpating in the […]
Photos: Serena Shellenberg, Joao Daniel Pereira, Gareth Morris, Ilya Fisher, Chris Jerrey The theme for the final day of our actions in Cornwall was ‘All hands on deck’ as the G7 proved to be yet another failed opportunity for change. We are clear that all sections of society must work towards creating a better world […]
Photos by: Gareth Morris, Chris Jerrey, Ilya Fisher, Tristian Herbert, Robin Markland, Joao Daniel Periera, Denise Laura Baker The theme for Day Two of the Extinction Rebellion G7 summit actions was ‘Greenwash’. Its purpose: to expose rich countries and their banking systems which talk about ‘green growth’ while continuing to prop up carbon polluting companies […]