Category: Greta Thunberg
Judge throws out case against Greta Thunberg and other London protesters
Greta Thunberg, left, arriving at court for the second day of the trial. Photograph: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP Court rules not enough evidence provided to prove defendants failed to comply with section 14 order at anti-fossil fuel rally
Outside court in London, Greta Thunberg says “We must remember who the real enemy is … who our laws are meant to protect.” Quoted from https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-68166341 Greta Thunberg and four others charged with public order offences over a protest in London have been cleared after a judge ruled that they had no case to answer.
Thunberg was charged alongside Christofer Kebbon, Joshua James Unwin, Jeff Rice and Peter Barker with “failing to comply with a condition imposed under section 14 of the Public Order Act”.
They had been taking part in a protest outside the InterContinental hotel in Mayfair, the venue for the Energy Intelligence Forum (EIF), a fossil fuel industry summit attended by corporate executives and government ministers.
All were arrested after the senior officer at the scene enacted the section 14 order to impose conditions on the protest, which had blocked access to and from the hotel for guests and EIF delegates.
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Greta Thunberg joins protest against Farnborough Airport expansion to demand ban on private jets
Climate activist Greta Thunberg is joining local residents, Extinction Rebellion activists and climate change campaigners outside Farnborough Airport today (27 January) to protest against plans to increase private jet flights from 50,000 to 70,000 a year. The protesters are also calling for a total ban on private jets, which are up to 30 times more polluting than passenger airliners.
Greta Thunberg said: “The fact that using private jets is both legally and socially allowed today in an escalating climate emergency is completely detached from reality.
“There are few examples that show as clearly how the rich elite is sacrificing present and future living conditions on this planet so they can maintain their extreme and violent lifestyles.”
Hundreds of protestors will gather in Farnborough town centre at 11am today to march alongside Thunberg to Farnborough Airport, setting off pink smoke flares and waving banners proclaiming ‘Flying to Extinction’, ‘Stop Private Flights Now’, ‘No to Airport Expansion’ and ‘Private Flights = Public Deaths’.
This is the latest in a series of protests against the airport’s planning application, which seeks to more than double weekend flights and boost the use of heavier, more polluting private jets. In 2022, there were 33,120 flights to and from the airport, a 27% increase compared to 2021’s total of 26,007. Flights to and from Farnborough averaged just 2.5 passengers per flight. Currently 40% of flights to and from the airport are empty, according to research by campaign group Possible. Despite claiming the majority of flights are for business use, the research showed that most Farnborough flights are headed to holiday destinations. Last September a ‘pets on jets’ service launched to fly dogs and their owners from Dubai to Farnborough and back.
Todd Smith, former airline pilot and Extinction Rebellion spokesperson, said: “Flying is the fastest way to fry the planet, and private jets are the most polluting way to fly. Surely it’s a no brainer to ban private jets and stop expanding these luxury airports in the midst of a climate crisis? Survey after survey, as well as several citizens’ assemblies have shown this would be very popular and has widespread support from the general public.
“For most people, life has become more difficult. The cost of heating our homes, buying food and paying our bills has increased massively. So imagine looking out our windows to see yet more private jets flying billionaires around.
“Is this a fair society that we live in, or is there one set of rules for the majority, and another for the elites? Plans to expand the UK’s largest private jet airport seem to make this clear.”
Godalming resident Chris Neill, 67, a retired psychotherapist, said: “We’re in a global climate and ecological emergency. We need to reduce carbon emissions fast and there’s no realistic plan for taking the carbon out of jet fuel. Until there is, we need to fly much less, not more.
“This plan to expand a luxury airport used exclusively by very wealthy people at a time when ordinary people are struggling to manage everyday life is reckless, stupid and selfish. We need a government which has the courage to stop this.”
“Oily money out” : Greta Thunberg and 20 others arrested at London protest
CLIMATE activist Greta Thunberg was arrested along with 20 other protesters outside a central London hotel today in an action to disrupt the Energy Intelligence Forum.
The InterContinental London hotel near Hyde Park was hosting the heads of major oil and gas companies at the event.
Fossil Free London, which organised the protest, hit out at the companies for deliberately slowing the global energy transition to renewables in order to make more profits.
The group highlighted how this year’s United Nations climate conference president is also the chief executive of an oil company.
Dozens of protesters blocked Hamilton Place at both ends with banners and pink umbrellas with eyes painted on, chanting: “Oily money out” and “Cancel the conference.”
Greenpeace activists abseiled down from the roof of the hotel to unfurl a banner reading: “Make big oil pay.”
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later: A detailed, informative article: Oily Money Out: Greta Thunberg arrested at oil conference protest in London
Climate protests everywhere yesterday and today
Greta Thunberg was arrested in Sweden on Friday after allegedly disobeying police orders during a climate protest. Quintin Bignell reports on what happened and the plans for this week.
