So are the runway invaders at Stansted eco nazis or are they just trying to save the world?

[jujumaman]

I think we all fly way too much and am growing increasingly cross about stag weekends/shopping weekends abroad being taken as a norm.

But I'm not sure this kind of direct action is going to do anything to endear the green movement to the public.

What do you think?

eco nazis

Well, my sister-in-law did not make it to a funeral because of them so ECO NAZIS.

Well living nearby with yet more villages earmarked for destruction and the threat of 24 hr plane noise I sort of applaud them as long as they don't undermine the actions of the Stop Stansted Expansion group.

well, given letter writing and hand wringing does bugger all, maybe it is time for direct action.

to quote them

One protester, whose full name was not given, said: "We're here because our parents' generation has failed us and it's now down to young people to stop climate change by whatever peaceful means we have left.

yeah it's all your parent's fault . they annoyed me for some reason. scary how close they could get to the runway though.

You might disagree with the way they are making their point but they are right IMO.

Flying is an increasingly unjustifiable extravagance that we have come to view as some sort of freedom and right. It is completely unsustainable - when are people going to wake up and see this? The earth's natural resources are fast running out and once they are gone, thats it.

Airport expansion is IMO completely morally indefensible and needs to be fought, through the legal and political process as well as through direct action when it seems that other means are being ignored.

They come across as tossers though. They could have found a way to protest which did not inconvenience blameless people, some of whom may agree with them and may have been taking their one and only airline trip of the year.

I wonder how many of Plane Stupid's members have been on holiday by plane themselves - and/or use, wear or eat items which have come into this country by a Big Nasty Aeroplane?

But they wouldn't have thought of that, because they are too busy playing student politics and being Weally Webellious, yeah?

I would quite happily join them, and I do harbour hopes my dds will turn into eco-activists.

I think people are really not facing up to the seriousness and urgency of the issues, maybe there is a better way of raising people's awareness and changing behaviour than protesting on runways but I can't think of a better way that's actually working.

I think we need people like this, even though they might be tossers (I haven't seen them).

Of course I would be irritated if my flight had been held up (not that I've flown in years) but, looking at the bigger picture - there is most certainly a place for this kind of action.

Good for them. As for inconveniencing ordinary people? I guess it must be quite inconvenient to live anywhere near Stansted

What would all those of you who are objecting to them do instead. Or is it something that simply doesn't matter to you?

They may indeed be tossers - I can't say, i haven't met them.

They've still got a pretty good point though, and a point that lots of people have been making in lots of ways for a long time. But it seems that those in power don't bloody listen, so we end up with hippies cavorting on runways and hey presto - the issues are hitting the news and being discussed.

Their actions may have caused inconvenience to the passengers but its is nothing to the impending 'inconvenience' that our depletion of the earth's natural resources wil cause to every person on this planet. Nothing.

Someone on the radio this morning made the point that women would not have got the vote when they did without direct action - I bet lots of ordinary people were "inconvenienced" then .

I've just seen someone from Plane Stupid on Channel 4 news - I've rarely seen a more smug, self-satisfied, pompous, little know-it all on TV!

I guess they've made their point by getting headlines, but it does all come across as public school / student politics.

Well indeed sinkingfast.

We all need to start looking further than our own personal convenience and comfort if we are to avert global catastrophe. Each and every flight taken (for whatever reason) is part of the problem.

Its just not sustainable. No amount of letter writing seems to be changing anything - the whole world appears to have its head up its arse about this. Scary...

Its hardly 'public school / student politics' to be saying that airport expansion/the global aviation industry is profligate lunacy

bit disappointed at the desire to slag off the protesters because they don't seem to be presenting themselves in a media-savvy way. Maybe if they had blueberry-type things, and dressed more fittingly then the issues as outlined by AA may be taken a little more seriously? Double.

Yes it is the ultimate in denial to try and get away from the very valid point that is being made by these people by picking at their techniques and mocking the strength of their feelings.

And as for the term 'eco nazis' - thats just ridiculous. You can hardly compare the actions of the nazis with the actions of environmental campaigners

"I guess it must be quite inconvenient to live anywhere near Stansted"

Bit of a clue in the name as to what might be nearby

...they irritated me, too.

Nothing to do with the point they are making, with which I have at least passing sympathy.

...more to do with the aforementioned air of youthful self-righteousness.

Still, it is best to get these things done whilst you are young and still right about everything....

I don't get this 'self righteous' thing.

How are they meant to behave? Are they meant to be apologetic and meek and very very sorry for pointing out the bleeding obvious?

They are attempting to change something that must be changed if environmental disaster and the end of our way of life is to be prevented.

I have to say, they are brave wo/men and should be applauded and listened to.

What does that mean uqd?

I am fortunate that I don't have to live in the flight path of an airport, nor suffer the development blight or the misery of heavy traffic. But I'd imagine that it must be fairly unpleasant. And if you buy a house with the existing airport and it then doubles/triples/quadruples in size, do you still have no right to moan?

That's without considering the wider environmental impact of increased flights.

It does seem tosspottery of worst kind to critisise protestors because they aren't good at presentation. Or give a good reason why it doesn't matter please.

.....they just got on my nerves. Posh boys and girls playing at being Important about Issues.

(I knew quite a lot of them in the 80s. Except then they sold Socialist Worker and affected Dick Van Dyck accents)

I don't have any more complex analysis than that, really.

...probably they would find me a dull, complacent old git.

They would be right

I'm sure the end of the world's oil reserves and the effects of global will annoy you even more.

Especially if it happens whilst our governments are still busy ignoring the pressing need to develop alternative technologies and reduce our carbon emissions