Action for the Climate

Two independent groups of campaigners from the Camp for Climate Action have this morning stopped private business jets fom operating at two airports in the south east. Executive flights at Biggin Hill and Farnborough airports have been brought to a standstill by climate activists concerned at the huge growth in the use of private jets by business people. The activists D-locked themselves to the gates of the airports.

Police use anti-terror powers against environmental protest

The Camp for Climate Action started Tuesday amidst a major police operation and “terror” scare stories in the media. The week-long camp, is located near the site of a proposed third runway and sixth terminal building at London’s Heathrow airport.

Police tried on Tuesday unsuccessfully to storm the camp. The usual harrassment tactics were used against demonstrators: searches and arrests with crazy charges.

The camp has organized seminars on the problems conducted to climate change and also some protests, including an attempt to block the road to Heathrow on Wednesday.

Some 800 homes are to be demolished to make way for the new extension. The airport is already responsible for causing the equivalent of 31 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, even before the planned extension.

The British Airports Authority (BAA), tried to stop the protest by seeking a High Court injunction barring protesters from parts of the London Underground and sections of the motorway and land surrounding Heathrow airport. The injunction was sought under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, introduced to protect individuals from stalkers. The BAA claimed, amongst various arguments, that the camp could be used as a cover by terrorists seeking to attack the airport.

The High Court ruled that BAA’s requests were too broad but it nonetheless imposed an injunction against Plane Stupid, a direct action group, barring them from Heathrow’s property.

With just several hundred people so far on the camp site, police officers currently outnumber protesters twelve to one. Two people were arrested under the terrorism powers. According to the Guardian, student Cristina Fraser was cycling near the airport when she was stopped by police and charged under section 58 of the Terrorism Act, which makes it an offence to record something that could be used for terrorist purposes. She was later recharged with conspiring to cause a public nuisance.