End Domestic Flights demo and party this Saturday
Article published: Friday, September 3rd 2010
Activists will congregate at Terminal 3 of Manchester Airport this Saturday, 4 August, as part of a day of protest against domestic flights between Manchester and London. Later on there will be an evening of party and music as part of the connected campaign to save the Hasty Lane cottages, threatened with demolition by the proposed expansion of the airport.
Campaigners from groups including Stop The Expansion at Manchester Airport and The Campaign Against Climate Change the will stage events in London and Manchester to highlight the environmental destruction caused by unnecessary air travel between the two cities’ airports. With around 38 flights every day travelling between them, opponents argue that these flights pose an high carbon emission output that could easily be reduced through alternative modes of transport, such as trains.
Phil Thornhill from Campaign against Climate Change said: “Aviation symbolises the high-emission lifestyles of the developed world that are threatening billions, especially in the most vunerable communities, around the world. We can start to get to grips with the growth in aviation by eliminating the shorter journeys that can be made in other, less carbon intensive ways”.
The day of action will see activists demonstrating outside City Airport in London in the morning, before travelling through London on an open top “End Domestic Flights” bus to spread awareness of the campaign. Meanwhile the afternoon will see a second demonstration outside Manchester Airport’s Terminal 3.
Manchester Airport have however faced criticism for stifling the demonstration by denying an appropriate space to stage the protest. Chloe Simmons, from Stop Expansion at Manchester Airport said: “We approached Manchester Airport to arrange where the demonstration could take place effectively in sight of the public and airport management. Instead we were offered a number of outdoor spaces where the travelling public would not be able to see us.
“It seemed to us that Manchester Airport wanted to make our protest invisible to diminish it’s impact. At a time when climate chaos threatens us all, the right to assembly and peaceful protest is crucial.”
A site near the entrance to Terminal 3 has now been agreed upon after campaigners rejected the airports original offers.
A party for will be held in the evening at Hasty Lane near Manchester Airport, an area threatened by the expansion of a new terminal featuring food, drink and live music from ceilidh band “The Fig Band”. Protesters have been fighting proposals this year which could see four homes in Hasty Lane replaced with a cargo unit.
Joe Beech
More: Manchester, News
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