Airbus Plane Wing Seized by U.K. Climate Protestors (Update1)
By Tracy Alloway and Camilla Hall
Aug. 13 (Bloomberg) -- U.K. protesters seized a barge delivering a wing for an Airbus SAS A380 airliner at the start of a campaign against aviation's contribution to climate change.
The wing was being transported along the River Dee from Airbus's factory at Broughton, Wales, the environmental group `Plane Stupid' said in a statement today. Protestors boarded the barge and pitched tents on it before being removed.
The action begins a week-long campaign against the aviation industry that continues tomorrow with a demonstration at Europe's busiest airport, London Heathrow, and culminates in a day of mass protest on Aug. 19. The A380 was singled out because any fuel-efficiency gains it offers will be wiped out by a surge in the number of people flying, protestors said.
``Extraordinary times call for an extraordinary response,'' Leo Murray, a Plane Stupid member, said in the statement. ``These new airliners aren't being manufactured to clean up the aviation industry, they're being built to significantly enlarge it.''
Campaigners said they want the A380 wing to be stored until scientists come up with a way for aviation to expand without contributing to global warming.
``Protestors gained unlawful entry onto the Dee River Craft,'' Toulouse, France-based Airbus said in a statement. ``Whilst Airbus agrees with people's rights to demonstrate, safety and security are our paramount concerns at all times and demonstrations must be lawful and demonstrators behave responsibly.''
Six protesters were escorted off the barge by Airbus security guards, the North Wales police said today in an e- mailed statement. Last week, Plane Stupid was banned by the U.K. High Court from taking part in the larger Heathrow protest.
Heathrow Rally
More than 1,000 people are expected to attend the rally at Heathrow, which will be patrolled by as many as 1,800 officers, said Andrew Newman, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Police.
About 200 people have already arrived near the airport to create a ``sustainable eco-village,'' said Heather Riley, a spokeswoman for organizers Camp for Climate Action. The group opposes Heathrow operator BAA Ltd.'s plans for a third runway.
The `village' consists of tents, wind turbines and solar panels and is outside the airport's perimeter fence near the headquarters of BAA.
BAA Injunction
BAA, owned by Spanish construction company Grupo Ferrovial SA, won an injunction last week to stop protesters from camping within 100 meters of property run by Transport for London, the city's transportation authority.
``Around 1.5 million passengers are due to pass through Heathrow during the week of climate camp,'' Heathrow Managing Director Mark Bullock said in a statement. ``It is our responsibility to ensure that we do everything we can to guarantee their safety and comfort during this very busy period.''
BAA's initial injunction was criticized by London Mayor Ken Livingstone, who said it might affect 5 million people. The final injunction provides no additional powers of arrest and covers a smaller area, Camp for Climate Action said.
The protestors do not intend to cross the perimeter fence at Heathrow into places where planes are located, the group said on its Web site.
