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Climate change protest Newquay airport - Risingtide

Kernow Risingtide | 15.12.2007 12:59 | Climate Chaos

PRESS RELEASE

Climate Activists Spotlight Newquay Airport

Climate activists from Rising Tide[1] have occupied Newquay airport today. The demonstrators are calling for an immediate halt to expansion of the airport[2] and a public debate on its future. With banners, leaflets and costumes - the peaceful protest calls attention to the airport as an obstacle to sustainable development in the County.

Aviation currently accounts for 13% of the UK's contribution to climate change and is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions[3]. Newquay airport offers only domestic and short haul flights[4], condemned by MPs[5]. Flying does ten times more damage to the climate than taking the train[6], while destinations served from Newquay are easy to reach by train or coach[7].

This year we have seen the worst flooding in decades, from central Africa and South Asia to Yorkshire and Gloucestershire. Meanwhile, Greece, Italy and California have struggled with bush-fires in tinder-dry conditions. Despite these warnings, delegates at the UN climate talks in Bali continued to resist meaningful cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.

Today's demonstrators are also alarmed following the conclusions of a recent report[8] commissioned by Groundswell[9], which refutes the County Council's claim that Cornwall's future development depends upon expansion of the airport. The report concludes that the economic case for expansion of the airport is weak and that the airport's current operating deficit of around one million pounds per year is met by Cornwall County Council[10], through higher council tax or cuts in services.

In light of the imminent problems of climate change and peak oil it is crucial that local government invest in sustainable public transport. A recent report by Visit Scotland concludes: "A tourism economy without a sustainable transport policy and system means less tourism in the long term" [11]

Substantial public funds must not be invested in a project which would increase Cornwall's CO2 emissions and damage the local environment, under a plan which takes no account of rising oil prices. The expansion of Newquay airport must be stopped.

Notes:

1. Rising tide is a global network of local groups, taking action against climate change and building a movement based on social and environmental justice.
2. Expansion plans, backed by...
3. 13% - from Answer to Commons Parliamentary Question 2 May 2007.

http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/tags/emissions
4.

http://www.flightmapping.com/UK/Newquay/

http://www.newquaycornwallairport.com/index.cfm?articleid=40516
5. The Battle of Newquay: Green lobby launches war to curb domestic flights
By Jonathan Brown and Ian Herbert

http://environment.independent.co.uk/climate_change/article2366512.ece
6.

http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/tags/emissions
7.

http://www.seat61.com
8. Newquay Airport Expansion The Case Examined

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?9dytjtz5n2v
9. Groundswell is an independent group of Cornish decision makers

http://www.groundswellcornwall.org/who
10. Newquay Airport Expansion: The Case Examined, Elizabeth Baines,
Commissioned by Groundswell Cornwall. Page 40.
11. Visit Scotland Research (

http://www.visitscotland.org),
Tomorrow’s World: Consumer and Tourist, vol. 2, no. 1, May 2006, page 12:

http://www.scotexchange.net/tomorrow_s_newsheet_180506.pdf

NB: Cornwall County Council became sole owners of the airport in 2004...
Newquay Airport Expansion: The Case Examined, Elizabeth Baines,
Commissioned by Groundswell Cornwall. Page 5.

NB: Rising Tide activists in Cornwall also took part in a recent national day
of action to highlight the climate impact of RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland)
investments, RBS branded itself The Oil and Gas bank. The activists
appeared with banners and leaflets outside the RBS branch in Truro.

Kernow Risingtide
e-mail: kernow [at] risingtide.org.uk
Homepage: http://www.risingtide.org.uk

Additions

update

15.12.2007 19:51

I think a reason general press releases are put on Indymedia is that the people involved are very busy trying to sort out the action and just want to get information out as quickly as possible.

There simply wasn't time this morning to write a full account of what happened and how it happened - the action was taking place.

However five people were on the roof for several hours. Other people held banners and handed out leaflets to passengers. The police response was low key and there were no arrests.

Sorry for not writing a more detailed update, but don't have time at moment, but someone will try and write something later.

participant