ST-EX

Hi everyone, I was a little concerned to read this:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/05/371418.html

Apparently there is going to be a protest organised at Heathrow in August to raise awareness of pollution caused by air travel(as if we needed any more reminders)! What are your thoughts on this? Are flights going to be disturbed?
It seems like aviation is constantly held up as the root of all evil, regardless of the fact that it is still public transport. If environmentalists are worried about this, wait until the VLJs become popular-small jets to carry a few passengers-just what we need at a time like this(!)
I'm currently training for my PPL, hopefully going on to commercial, but it's pretty depressing when people are so quick to point the finger of blame. Funny how nobody seems particularly bothered about the enormous amounts of 4x4s on the road-how often do people need to go 'off road' really?

Bokkenrijder

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zalex...elated&search=

This sums it up quite nicely, especially the part starting after 01:45 by Patrick Moore: extreme left wingers looking for a new way to promote communism after The Wall/Iron Curtain came down. Same thing for those idiots demonstrating at G8 meetings BTW.

Here's the link to the first part:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f8v5...elated&search=

Don't let the media legitimize these neo-communist fanatics!

flying brain

Not commies, just ignoring the facts

1. Aviation accounts for just 1.6% of global CO2 emissions.

2. An old technology coal powered power station contributes the equivalent of 2,000,000 cars CO2 per annum. China is building two of this type of power station - every week. Thats over 200 million cars equivalent added by this time next year - and every year thereafter that the station runs..

3. If aviation stopped today - entirely - it would only be equivalent to a few weeks of US CO2 production, or China, who next year will be right up with the US in terms of emissions - and that assumes that no other inefficient mode of transport, like trucks and buses, takes over even part of the economic necessity of air transport.

4. Anti aviation protests just end up covering up the real task that we need to achieve - a global reduction in CO2 emissions, starting with industrial power, car / truck transport and domestic power.

5. Aviation has achieved substantial reductions in CO2 emissions in the last 30 years, and new technology has more to come. Welcome B787 and A350 whose emissions promise to be 50% lower per seat than their forebears. If industry and domestic emissions matched this, there would be no problem to face.

5. And if anyone doubts the connection between CO2 concentration and retained solar heat, spend 3 minutes watching this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFfIiqR2YOQ

The problem is real, the solutions are there, the political will is not.

The protesters should be at Westmisnter and every other global Government seat, not on the runway.









4.

Bokkenrijder

Hmmmm, doubt that.

Politicians have embraced this 'problem' for the usual reasons: political power, and using it as a cash cow as a way of 'solving' this 'problem.'

ORAC

China No. 1 in carbon dioxide emissions

BEIJING (AP) — China has overtaken the United States as the world's top producer of carbon dioxide emissions — the biggest man-made contributor to global warming — based on the latest widely accepted energy consumption data, a Dutch research group says.

According to a report released Tuesday by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, China overtook the U.S. in emissions of CO2 by 8% in 2006. While China was 2% below the United States in 2005, voracious coal consumption and increased cement production caused the numbers to rise rapidly, the group said.

aviate1138

Flying Brain said .....
"Aviation accounts for just 1.6% of global CO2 emissions."
Aviate1138 adds.....
Not true.
Antropogenic emissions of CO2 are but 3% of Global CO2 emissions. UK CO2 from aviation sources is barely 0.12% of global CO2 total.
If that is significant then I will eat my hat!
Aviate1138

west lakes

They don't want to know the facts!

Their view of "democracy" is do it our way

A quote in local papers some years ago following local concerns about a windfarm, Ok fine they are renewable energy (don't wish to go anywhere arguing about their benifit etc.) But there is no doubt they are visible for miles and seen by many as visually obtrusive, can see 5 seperate sites ( 36 seperate turbines)on way to work from one location! Work on a offshore site due to commence soon so that will make it 6
Back to the quote from a local Eco spokesman to the effect of "well hard luck we think they are good if they ruin someones view hard luck"

The AvgasDinosaur

Wind turbine K I L L vast numbers of birds especially birds of prey.
Be lucky
David
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6257194.stm
http://www.celsias.com/blog/2007/03/...ered-wildlife/

west lakes

possibly nearly involved in loss of human life

Soon after one of the above farms was installed a local lifeboat attempting to fire a line to a boat in difficulties got the line entangled in on of the turbines. Only made local news!

419

I wonder how many of the protesters will turn up on foot or riding cycles?

After all, if they are so worried about pollution, I can't imagine any of them will wish to travel by car, bus, train etc.

747-436

After the events in Glasgow today I wonder if the police will let them anywhere near the airport!

Gingerbread Man

Maybe they should try protesting at the however-many-million homes in the UK, responsible for around 40% of the emissions. If we could get people to turn off a light when they're not using it (I know people who can't get the hang of this) then maybe they won't have to bleat so hard about air travel and my future sports car purchase (that's a long way in the future - i'm not boasting or 'owt).

Ginger

G-BOY

No, it's the news media - they're glossing over it, and promoting all things green...blackmailing the airlines, politics or just 'plane' thick? It certainly raises a few questions as to their intentions...but they aren't going to tell us.

It's a bit like when you're flying, and - let's say - an aileron drops off. You don't tell the PAX the truth, because it'll over-panic them if they know that you know they're screwed.

Broadcasters aren't that different. They'll lie to cover something up. The best thing you could do is expose them for talking bull - by presenting the facts - the only problem with that is, that the major broadcasters won't let you do that, for the reason I just mentioned. It's a vicious cycle, to which they have the upper hand. That's how these assholes work.

I'm a media production student - and there's this old guy; ex-documentary producer (allthough most of which were a pile of crap) close to retirement - he slags off everybody - in some cases personally insulting people for no reason at all - ironic as he teaches a 'professional practice'. He won't get fired by the Uni though - despite everybody in the department hating his guts - because he has a fancy address book, and he can get some famous names - he's in control, and he knows as long as he can play that card he's got a job.

So it was nice to hear he's getting sacked sometime after I go back in October...I guess he's run out of contacts!

747-436

They will lose the little sympathy that they have got from those around the airport if they try and stop 1000's of people getting to work and also passengers from getting their flights! Which it seems like they will try!

ChristiaanJ

Right.
About 20% of the total of greenhouse gases is produced by cattle (mostly ruminants), mostly methane. Not necessarily from where you think... most of it is from burps when they're ruminating (i.e., chewing the crud).

Aviation is just an easy target. Pity it's so far removed from any of the real problems.