Extinction Rebellion protest at Luton Airport private jet terminals
Extinction Rebellion activists blockade entrances to Luton Airport private jet terminals in Valentine’s Day protest demanding a tax on frequent flyers
- Eco activists have blocked entrances to Luton Airport private jet terminals
- Extinction Rebellion dubbed their Valentine’s Day demonstration ‘love in action’
Climate change activists have blockaded the entrances to Luton Airport’s private jet terminals today.
Extinction Rebellion dubbed their Valentine’s Day demonstration ‘love in action’ as they urged the government to ban private jets, tax frequent flyers and ‘make wealthy polluters pay’.
Eco zealots blockaded the entrances to Luton Airport’s Harrods Aviation and Signature private jet terminals.
The protest is part of a global co-ordinated action launched last week by climate activists across 11 countries that is targeting multiple sites in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the US.
Groups chose to take action today due to the rise in the use of private jet flights for supposedly romantic Valentine’s Day dates.
Demonstrators have locked themselves to a large blue boat that is blocking all three gates to Luton Airport’s Signature Terminal
Eco zealots blockaded the entrances to Luton Airport’s Harrods Aviation and Signature private jet terminals.They asked people passing by to go to Parliament from April 21 to join their campaign to ditch fossil fuels
Activists locked themselves to metal barrels as they protested against people flying private jets
One of the activists, former airline pilot Todd Smith, said: ‘The government has ignored the will of the people to protect the interests of their rich mates.
‘We are here today to make them listen.’
Activist Nigel Harvey, 60, a recycling company boss from St Albans, said: ‘Extinction Rebellion and other climate activist groups are often criticised for disrupting the lives of ‘normal working people’.
‘It should be clear that owning a private jet isn’t normal.
One activist held up a sign that listed ‘arrivals’ as ‘mass migration’, ‘pandemics’, ‘war’ and ‘extinction’
Eco protesters wore pink high visibility jackets and waves Extinction Rebellion flags during the demonstration this morning
‘This is a targeted action. We’re disrupting only the top 1 per cent: the highest-income, highest emitters who are most responsible for pollution and have the most power to affect changes.’
Sarah Hart, 41, a mother-of-two from Farnborough is also protesting.
She said: ‘The fact that our government turns a blind eye on these polluters is just further evidence of its failure to act on the climate and ecological emergency.’
Meanwhile, Finlay Asher, 32, an aerospace engineer from Bristol, said: ‘I’m an aviation worker but feel that I can’t stand by watching the emissions from my industry continue to grow and contribute so heavily to the climate carnage wreaking havoc around the world.
The controversial environmental group claimed that the top 1 per cent are responsible for 50 per cent of aviation emissions
A demonstrator dressed as an airplane pilot held a sign that read ‘ban private jets’ while he stood next to a woman in a pink love heart costume
‘These impacts are mostly felt by the poorest communities, so it’s sickening to also realise that an elite minority of super-rich mega polluters are responsible for the majority of global emissions from air travel.’
Demonstrators have locked themselves to a large blue boat that is blocking all three gates to Luton Airport’s Signature Terminal.
Another group of protestors barricaded the entrance to the Harrods Aviation Terminal, with activists locked onto two oil barrels.
Other activists have gathered in front of both terminals dressed in hi-vis jackets, holding flags and banners in the style of airport signs, and wearing pink vests.
Groups chose to take action today due to the rise in the use of private jet flights for supposedly romantic Valentine’s Day dates.
They asked people passing by to go to Parliament from April 21 to join their campaign to ditch fossil fuels.
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