[cite news]
work = The Guardian
url = http://observer.guardian.co.uk/magazine/story/0,,2116795,00.html
title = Back down to earth|work=The Observer
date = 2007-07-08
accessdate = 2008-01-14] when a group of activists disrupted an international aviation conference, held in a central London hotel and released helium balloons with personal alarms up to the ceiling during the key note speech by a senior British Airways executive.In September 2006 Plane Stupid blocked the runway at East Midlands Airport for four hours, their spokesman Leo Murray said "The people of the past didn't know what the problem was. For the people of the future it's going to be too late. People in developing countries are powerless to do anything about it. If we don't do this, it's not going to get done." [cite web
url=http://www.newstatesman.com/200611060014
title=Planet saved?: Why the green movement is taking to the streets
work=The New Statesman
date=2006-11-06
accessdate=2008-01-14
author=Alice O'Keeffe]
In October 2006, The Sunday Times described Joss Garman as "the new champion of the green movement." [ [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article664909.ece Focus: The new Swampy - Times Online ] ]
In August 2007, BAA Limited brought an injunction against Joss Garman, Leo Murray of Plane Stupid, John Stewart of AirportWatch, Geraldine Nicholson from No Third Runway Action Group and anyone who "aids, abbets or incites direct action against Heathrow in concert with Plane Stupid" in relation to planned Camp for Climate Action near Heathrow Airport [cite web
work = The New Statesman
title = The mother of all injunctions
url = http://www.newstatesman.com/200708130002
author=Robbie Gillett
accessdate=2008-01-13
date=2007-08-13] but, contrary to what was widely reported at the time, BAA suffered a humiliating defeat. They didn't win their case outright. HACAN, NoTRAG and Geraldine Nicholson were all found innocent of any charge brought against them..
During the camp in August 2007 they held protests at other aviation-related sites including Airbus [cite news
work = BBC News
title = Heathrow protesters target Airbus
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_east/6944117.stm
accessdate=2008-01-13] , Farnborough and Biggin Hill [cite web
last = Plane Stupid
title = Climate Campers shut down private jet airport
url = http://www.planestupid.com/?q=biggin1
accessdate=2008-01-13] .
In October 2007 they disrupted activities at Manchester Airport where they handcuffed themselves for three hours in Terminal Three which hopes to double its passenger capacity to 50 million by 2030. [cite news
work = The Independent
title = Climate-change protesters block entrance to Manchester Airport
url = http://travel.independent.co.uk/news_and_advice/article3041050.ece
accessdate=2008-01-13]
The group targets EasyJet; their spokeman said "Tony Blair talks the talk about taking action on climate change while building more runways and allowing more planes at airports" [cite news
work = BBC News
title = Anti-plane group targets Easyjet
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6120210.stm
accessdate=2008-01-13] .
In November 2007 they disrupted the deliberations of a Transport Select Committee inquiry the future of UK airports operator BAA and attempted to hand out copies of a Tyndall Centre climate change report about the impacts of flying on global warming to MPs and members of the public [cite web|url=http://www.uk-airport-news.info/heathrow-airport-news-291107b.htm|title=Plane Stupid Heathrow runway protest disrupts MP's BAA inquiry|publisher=UK Airport News|date=2007-11-29|accessdate=2008-01-14]
In December 2007 Plane Stupid activists shut down travel agents on route of a climate march. Their spokesman said: "These businesses continue, with full support from the government, to profit from wrecking our climate". [cite web|url=http://www.uk-airport-news.info/heathrow-airport-news-091207.htm|title=Plane Stupid activists shut down travel agents on route of climate march|publisher=UK Airport News|date=2007-12-08|accessdate=2008-01-14]
In January 2008 Joss Garman was named by the The Guardian as one of its "50 people who could save the planet" for his campaigning work around aviation. [cite news
work = The Guardian
title = 50 people who could save the planet.
url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jan/05/activists.ethicalliving
accessdate=2008-01-13] Plane Stupid protested at the British Airways ice rink outside the Natural History Museum [cite web|url=http://www.planestupid.com/?q=content/march-penguins-climate-activists-protest-british-airways-ice-rink|title=March of the penguins: climate activists protest at British Airways ice rink|publisher=Plane Stupid|accessdate=2008-01-14|date=2008-01-12]
They were amongst those who caused disruption in a 'flashmob protest' at the opening of Heathrow's new Terminal 5 [cite news
work = The Times
title = Activists plan to cause chaos when Terminal 5 at Heathrow is opened
url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2726902.ece
accessdate=2008-01-13] .
On Wednesday, 27 February 2008, Plane Stupid launched a five-person strong roof-top protest on the UK's Houses of Parliament [cite news
work = The Independent
title = Anti-airport protesters scale Parliament's roof
url = http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/antiairport-protesters-scale-parliaments-roof-788107.html
accessdate=2008-02-27] . Two large banners were unfurled, after breaching security. The banners stated "BAA HQ" and the second stated the group's website and "No 3rd runway at Heathrow". They were up there for a total of around 2 hours then wound down their protest in police presence who escorted them down and arrested them.
In April 2008, Plane Stupid claimed that their group was infiltrated by an international espionage agency [cite web
url=http://www.planestupid.com/?q=content/industrial-espionage-agency-targeted-heathrow-protestors-8th-april-2008
title=Industrial espionage agency targeted Heathrow protestors - 8th April 2008
accessdate=2008-04-13] [cite news
url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/apr/09/climatechange.theairlineindustry
title=Plane Stupid and the spy who got thrown out into the cold
work=The Guardian
accessdate=2008-04-13] . The Times reported that Toby Kendall, 24, an employee of C2i International, had gone undercover in the group going by the name of "Ken Tobias." Airport operator, BAA, who have often been a target of Plane Stupid's campaign, confirmed to The Times that they had been in contact with C2i International but denied ever hiring the company [cite news
url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/transport/article3701838.ece
title=Spy caught by anti-aviation group was ‘more Austin Powers than 007’
work=The Times
accessdate=2008-04-13] .
ee also
*AirportWatch
*Camp for Climate Action
*Environmental direct action in the United Kingdom
*Flying Matters
*Joss Garman
References
External links
* [http://www.planestupid.com/ Plane Stupid homepage]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzFqjfgbKBg Plane Stupid's Joss Garman on Newsnight]
