Thirteen protesters, including three Machynlleth residents, who chained themselves to railings at the UK’s largest airport have been told it is almost inevitable they will be jailed for their actions.
Alice Hooker-Stroud leader of the Wales Green Party and list candidate for Mid and West Wales said:
"I am absolutely shocked by the judges ruling. Three of the activists on trial for occupying the runway at Heathrow airport are friends of mine from Machynlleth where I live. I have worked with them and campaigned peacefully alongside them, and they are people of integrity and compassion. I proudly stand in solidarity with all thirteen of these brave individuals who are standing up for humanity and our shared future.
We must take serious and immediate action on climate change to safeguard our future, and airport expansion cannot form part of the package. I think it is time to put the UK government in the dock for their continued failure to tackle rising carbon emissions and for killing the British renewable industry."
The defendents said about today's judgement
“Today's judgement demonstrates that the legal system does not yet recognise that climate defence is not an offence. We took action because we saw that it was sorely needed. When the democratic, legislative and processes have failed, it takes the actions of ordinary people to change them.”
“We are very grateful for all the messages of support and solidarity we have received from all over the world, and are immensely proud of the action we took to combat emissions from aviation. Climate change and air pollution from Heathrow are killing people now, and the government's response is to spend millions making the problem bigger. As long as airport expansion is on the agenda, Plane Stupid will be here. We're in it for the long haul.“
Notes
- On Monday 13th of July 2015 Thirteen climate change activists were arrested after they chained themselves together on the northern runway at Heathrow.
- A new runway at heathrow would lead to CO2 emissions equivalent to that of Kenya
- Aviation accounts for roughly 6% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions, and 2% of the carbon dioxide produced by people globally. But as this industry expands while emissions from other sectors are cut, a study commissioned by the European parliament expects it to produce 22% of the world’s CO2 emissions by 2050, unless there is a sharp change in policy. That’s enough to push us past the thresholds our governments promised to avoid.