Does anyone else out there feel just a tad incensed by this week's confirmation of UK airport expansion plans by Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander and his "progress report" ? It's all rather business-as-usual, predict-and-provide, planning-versus-environment schizophrenia :- Well, shiver me timbers, me hearties (Climate Change pirate speak : "More pirates needed to stop Global Warming"), here's a suggestion : cancel your holidays, and let everyone know you're cancelling your holidays, and encourage them to cancel their holidays, and tell the world : the reason why you're not booking a holiday, especially anywhere that involves leaving the country, anywhere, ever again is because of the crazy central government transport planning which totally ignores Climate Change. Stop buying package holidays, city breaks, Center Parcs, coach tours, cruises, air-and-hotel deals, hotel anything. Oh yeah, and cancel your trek to Nepal/Micronesia/Guyana/Sahel, even if it is "eco-tourism". Don't for one minute take up any travel offers in The Guardian, or "free flights" competitions in your local rag. Walk right on by past the bright lights of the travel agents (much like you walk right past the insanely bright lights of the all-destroying supermarkets). It's not expedient to Expedia. No, you're not going to fly to Glasgow from South-East England for a Christmas warmer, even though it's five quid with booze thrown in. Tenerife is not "closer" because the fare is £55 one way, even though BA say so. Mediterranean Italy will be too hot to bear next summer : don't bother with Toasty Tuscany. In fact, don't go anywhere at all for your holidays. Travel is a large percentage of the total Greenhouse Gas emissions we make, so why not change our internal relaxation paradigm. You've got the music, the food and the cushions all sorted out at home, so why not holiday at home, instead of trekking halfway round the world/continent/country for a breather ? Become a STOP AT HOME person in 2007, and make the COMFORT OF HOME your ultimate destination. It may not be a tropical paradise, or even a bracy/balmy Skegness/Bournemouth beach-front, but your cat's there, and your favourite books, and you won't miss any post and you won't have to cancel your organic veg box delivery. Don't call them holidays. Call them homeydays. Just think of the economic impact ! Imagine Central Government shock ! People not travelling all the time ? People refusing to budge ? People indoors instead of in a coach station at Heathrow ? Cancel your holidays, and watch Douglas Alexander's face start to droop (I think he always looks way too chirpy for his own good). |
|||
 |
Campaign against Climate ChangeUK activists portal |
|
|
|
The 2M Group
I found this today on a web-site called 24dash.com and it actually gave me hope for the first time this week! So that can't be bad! The 2M Group were launched on Monday 11th December - this week. Cathy.
"The leaders of Hounslow, Richmond and Wandsworth councils have welcomed the formation of a new cross-party alliance to campaign against the Government's policy of uncontrolled expansion at Heathrow.
The new 2M Group of local authorities will provide a single voice for two million people in communities concerned about the environmental impact of plans for an extra runway and intensification of use of existing runways.
Hounslow leader Peter Thompson said: "Hounslow, along with many other local communities, is facing a series of threats during 2007 as new Government plans around airport expansion are unveiled. This group will present a united front against the combined forces of the Government and aviation industry to protect the quality of life for all our residents."
Richmond upon Thames leader Serge Lourie said: "It is right that local government should take the lead in making the environmental case on behalf of residents. If ministers think they can force through plans for more flights which will bring more noise and air pollution for such a large area of London and the South East they are seriously out of touch."
Wandsworth leader Edward Lister said: "The fact that this group can speak on behalf of two million residents will send a strong message to the Government. We will be working with local residents groups, supportive MPs and other campaigning bodies throughout the region to demonstrate the widespread opposition to continued Heathrow expansion."
The inaugural meeting of the new 2M Group was held last night at Hounslow Council. London Boroughs attending included Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kensington and Chelsea, Richmond and Wandsworth.
Authorities outside London included Slough, South Bucks, Spelthorne and Windsor and Maidenhead. Other boroughs have also expressed support for the new group".