Farnborough airport protest

[winjim]

I'm originally from Farnborough so I'm in two minds about this. The town has a long history in the development of aviation and the airfield is absolutely central to the place. The people who live there would certainly be upset to see flying stop which was a real risk a few years ago until they developed it as a commercial airport.

It's a real shame that they've put an end to the public displays during the airshow as well. For a month or so every couple of years the place used to really come alive with mad fighter jets doing crazy stunts right over your head. It was great as a kid. Now it sort of feels like the airfield isn't for everybody but just for rich jet-setters and arms dealers.

Can't complain though, I haven't lived there for 25 years.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Complete aside but having come from the "British Humour" thread, I have to say hiring a limo, dressing up and taking the pi** is a severely British way to protest.

 

[Drago]

I'm sure not a single one of the protesters have ever set foot upon a plane. Cough.

In the recent fortnight of protests their leader was outed as driving her diesel car from Gloucester to London every day to partake. Turning the mass public against them will actually make their goals harder to achieve - if they really cared about the planet they'd stop all this right now, but their private actions and lifestyles show that they personally don't care a whit about it.

 

[Andy in Germany]

I'm sure not a single one of the protesters have ever set foot upon a plane. Cough.

In the same way that no supporter of free market economics ever used the old British Rail, NHS or the thoroughly socialist British motorway network...

 

[mudsticks]

I'm sure not a single one of the protesters have ever set foot upon a plane. Cough.

Ah yes the old.

"No one can demand that more and better action be taken over climate change , unless they themselves have led a completely blameless life"

argument.

Surprised it took this long, really .

Makes no difference either way to the science what those individual, protestors have or haven't done in their lives up til now

Fwiw , I've not got on a plane since the early nineties, because of the consequences.

Sort of makes it easier to suggest that others cut it back a bit.



But even if I had, it wouldn't change the science of it

Nor the urgent systemic need for action.

 

[ClichéGuevara]

I'm sure not a single one of the protesters have ever set foot upon a plane. Cough.

In the recent fortnight of protests their leader was outed as driving her diesel car from Gloucester to London every day to partake. Turning the mass public against them will actually make their goals harder to achieve - if they really cared about the planet they'd stop all this right now, but their private actions and lifestyles show that they personally don't care a whit about it.

They carry out actions like this, because time and again, the understanding from the noisier types rarely stands scrutiny, so they try to avoid it, preferring talking over people.

They actually set any measures back rather than supporting global sustainable living. The moment they talk of a 'consensus' it betrays their understanding and knowledge.

 

[Andy in Germany]

In the recent fortnight of protests their leader was outed as driving her diesel car from Gloucester to London every day to partake. Turning the mass public against them will actually make their goals harder to achieve - if they really cared about the planet they'd stop all this right now, but their private actions and lifestyles show that they personally don't care a whit about it.

On the other hand, I don't own a car and generally try to make my lifestyle vaguely ecologically sane, and I get accused of "Not living in the real world" and told "Not everyone can live like you, you know" so it appears we can't win either way.

A cynical person may conclude that these comments are attempts to excuse ignoring messages we don't like to hear.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Ah yes the old.

"No one can demand that more and better action be taken over climate change , unless they themselves have led a completely blameless life"

argument.

Surprised it took this long, really .

Makes no difference either way to the science what those individual, protestors have or haven't done in their lives up til now

Fwiw , I've not got on a plane since the early nineties, because of the consequences.

Sort of makes it easier to suggest that others cut it back a bit.



But even if I had, it wouldn't change the science of it

Nor the urgent systemic need for action.

I'm surprised no-one has shouted "They're using a Limousine! Hypocrites!"

 

[Oldhippy]

On the other hand, I don't own a car and generally try to make my lifestyle vaguely ecologically sane, and I get accused of "Not living in the real world" and told "Not everyone can live like you, you know" so it appears we can't win either way.

A cyclical person may conclude that these comments are attempts to excuse ignoring messages we don't like to hear.

I get exactly the same. Some look genuinely amazed that I choose a cycle as transport and staggered that I would happily potter 60 miles on a bike for a day out. One person even offered to loan me money to get a car as they thought I was struggling.

 

[Baldy]

Only that which is reported in the press, and even then there is some debate. Yes, climate change is happening, of that there is no doubt. The reasons for it are debatable,

And of course the press, especially in this country, are always scrupulous in checking their facts.

If you ever do try reading the actual science you will very quickly see how spurious the arguments against it really are.

 

[Oldhippy]

And of course the press, especially in this country, are always scrupulous in checking their facts.

If you ever do try reading the actual science you will very quickly see how spurious the arguments against it really are.

I think the media anywhere will write anything at all if will generate a sale or a viewer personally irrespective whether true or not.

 

[Andy in Germany]

I get exactly the same. Some look genuinely amazed that I choose a cycle as transport and staggered that I would happily potter 60 miles on a bike for a day out. One person even offered to loan me money to get a car as they thought I was struggling.

When I was a student in Montana, a well meaning family offered to loan me one of these for the nine months I was there:

 

[mudsticks]

On the other hand, I don't own a car and generally try to make my lifestyle vaguely ecologically sane, and I get accused of "Not living in the real world" and told "Not everyone can live like you, you know" so it appears we can't win either way.

A cynical person may conclude that these comments are attempts to excuse ignoring messages we don't like to hear.

Oh yeah I get that too...

"Not everyone can own and run a little organic farm, and choose not to fly , take my holibobs by public transport , on foot and bike, drive sparingly, etc etc"

No I know they can't

Despite none of the above having 'fallen in my lap' and having been the result of active choices...

The point is that we need the 'right' choices to be the easier, and cheaper choices.

 

[Drago]

In the same way that no supporter of free market economics ever used the old British Rail, NHS or the thoroughly socialist British motorway network...

Not a cunning comparison - people choose to fly, whereas if people can't drive/don't own a car/insert excuse here and need to travel between cities they had no choice but to take a train.

And as it happens, the train is one of the less damaging means of transport, regardless of the political ethos behind the ownership of the railway or otherwise.

 

[Baldy]

Unfortunately I do like my holidays in Lapland. To get there without flying, Train to Edinburgh - London - Dover - Calais - Brussel - Hamburg - Kiel - Copenhagen - Malmo - Stockholm - Kiruna about 4 days. Back in the bad old days you could get the ferry to Bergan and train from there - only around 30 hours. Taking the train is also a lot more expensive. I know it's an indulgence but it is so nice up there.