Climate change and anti-airport expansion protest at Heathrow - are you with the protesters or BAA?

[Callisto]

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6943549.stm

I don't actually agree with the protesters... BUT I support their right to protest, regardless of the current security climate.

How's that for sitting on the fence

BAA strike me as a very big, 'orrible, unpenetrative company.
I don't have a problem with people striking, as such.
But, as I live near Heathrow, I am not best please at 1800 police force allocated to it.
People want to fly. Supply and demand. More and more pwople want to fly, regardless of greenhouse issues. Heathrow can not cater for the 68 million that currently flow through.
When they said, they only wasted to casue disruption to BAA, they must realsie that logically, that leads to passenger disruption aswell. I find it difficult to beleive that they will be effective, other than to casue disruption to passengers.
No one has been able to be effective on the US and their 'greenhouse issues'.
I am not saying, don't try - this issue must be addressed, but I am not sure this is the best or most effective way.

I'm with BAA. The airport expansion is good for London because it is good for the economy. It is in our interest to remain a major travel hub into Europe.

I also believe in freedom of speech and the right to protest. But, in light of our very realy security problems, they could protest a bit further away. In this day and age of modern technology and communication there are other ways to be heard.

i am with teh protesters. we can't just keep pissing away finite resources and producing greenhouse gas cos folk want a cheap flight to alicante or whatever. and alot of business travel is completely unneccessary in light of video conferencing etc.

I think one of the biggest contributors to global warming is unnecessary flying - and something we really need to get a change of mindset over. I was particularly riled by someone on inside money on radio 4 a week or two ago - he was Mr Green - was looking into carbon offsetting so that he could fly out to Florida for a holiday - had me whinging at the radio - if you were really Mr Green you wouldn't fly.

Having said that - I am not sure the current protest is the best way to get the message across.

I'm with BAA. The airport expansion is good for London because it is good for the economy. It is in our interest to remain a major travel hub into Europe.

In the absence of global warming I might agree with you - BUT we can't keep ignoring it - we have to face up to it and cut out unnecessary use of fossil fuels - and flying is a BIG contributor - you could drive for months on the amount of fuel used to fly you on holiday to the States.

but it looks like so much fun - all camping and jugglers and getting really dirty. a bit more exciting than one of those pointless online petitions. plus they have been on national news what other way could they get their message on national news?

Well as DH is flying in from Australia and we are then supposed to be flying out to Nice with all the kids on Sunday - no not really with the protesters

What exactly are the protesters trying to achieve. Highlighting / coverage of the issue ? I do think that most people are atleast aware of the issues, surely.

Appropriate answers to global warming must be global -- if in fact human behaviour is responsible for global warming. I'm not convinced.

So, when say the worlds fifty largest airports all band together with a common initiative, then I'll listen.

If these protestors jeopardise one person's security, then they have done more harm than good. There are other ways.

I'm with the protestors. In 20 yrs time therre will be so little oil that flying will be open only to the very rich. Airport expansion is soooo pointless.

It would be nice if they coudl do it w/out disrupting people's holidays - but from what I've heard Heathrow is terrible to get through atm anyway.

Planes are like cars, they really are here to stay.

I'm not convinced they are a security risk. Those massive queues at BA check in - there's a risk, just stand in line and blow yourself up.

I don't think enough people are aware of the peak oil crisis which is coming. Global warming is just part of the issue.

it does need government commitment - but as individuals you can make choices that add up to making a difference as well.

It really annoys tme he number of people who now conscientously sort their rubbish for recycling and then jet off for a city break somewhere. The flying really is a BIG contributor and will negate a lot of other stuff you do (eg extra insulation, low energy lightbulbs, turning things off standby).

Humans are seriously contributing to climate change - sticking our heads in the sand over this one is not going to help - we all need to be responsible and set an example for the developing world - otherwise we are all in one BIG mess (although we are probably in quite a big mess already we just don't realise it yet).

I havent' flown in over 5 years because it's such a PITA.

But rock, what about all those people whose employers compel them to fly for business?

I mean, it's not their fault they have to go. They're trying to make a living like everyone else.

can anyone explain to me why it benefits the UK to be a "major hub" for travel to Europe? So BAA makes money from landing rights etc and a few people in transit spend money in Heathrow's shops. How is this a massive economic boost for London? If anything, I think we should be pushing people out of London and into other airports - there's enough pressure on the SE as it is.

I think that people have to take personal responsibility for their own carbon footprint. Until we do government and big business won't change. There is no point using low energy lightbulbs and shopping locally if you take 2/3/4 foreign holidays a year. But the thing that really amazes me is how unbelievably selfish and careless we are all being with our childrens' future.

(I'm with the protesters btw .

i hate the way the fear terrorism is being used as a form of social control by government.

well if we felt strong enough as individuals we could suggest to our employers that we don't need to go on so many business trips.

We have a system were people can do online conferencing - with large groups of people if needed - that sort of thing is not difficult to set up and should really be pushed - something the government could be doing - along with maybe limiting the airmiles a company can do as well.

People won't change their behaviour unless they are pushed a bit - it is too easy to carry on doing what you have always done.

I for one would be really happy not to have to travel for business meetings.

But the thing that really amazes me is how unbelievably selfish and careless we are all being with our childrens' future.

Yep - I get the feeling our kids aren't going to thank us for our profligate lifestyle

I couldn't agree more, goat!

That's really when I decided to go somewhere and see if it were meant to be.

After 9/11. Scared the beegeezus out of me, all that paranoia and tightened controls.

Peak Oil in 20 years? Un huh... and the world is flat.

Please educate yourself here

airport expansion for the 'good of the economy' is a frighteningly short term viewpoint, one which will very soon be redundant, probably in our children's lifetimes. It shows that the govt really couldn't care less about reducing carbon emissions. As for using terror laws to deal with protestors, words fail me.

They care about reducing carbon emissions when they can use it as an excuse to tax people and/or control them.