Subvertised billboards in Manchester in protest at the Big Six domination of energy supply

Billboards in Manchester were transformed today as anger against the ‘Big Six’ energy companies rises. DIY modifications were made in protest about the thousands of people who die each year due to fuel poverty, and the hikes in heating bills. [1]

The Big Six – EDF, Centrica (British Gas), Eon, RWE Npower, Scottish Power and Southern & Scottish Energy have increased energy bills by as much as 22% this January 2012, while profits have soared to a record five-year high [2]. Government statistics show that every year, around 2,700 people, mostly pensioners, die from coldness-related diseases like pneumonia [3].

Jane Simpson, 34, from Manchester Climate Action group, who participated in the DIY modifications said “I just wanted to come out and say it. The energy companies are ripping us off big time and making a fat buck off it. But it’s about much more than prices. It’s about big corporations dominating our energy supply. We need democratic community control over how we heat our homes.”

James Terry, 26, also linked the issue to climate change. He said: “It’s not just people in the UK who are dying because of the energy companies selfish obsession with profits – people around the world are dying from climate change resulting from the government and energy companies refusing to make the change to renewable energy.”

“We need a chance to discuss where we get our energy from and how much it costs, not just have it dictated to us by big energy companies”

Those least able to pay for energy are forced into installing meters and paying more, and when the money runs out, so does the light, heat and hot water.

While the Big Six energy companies are making a five-year record profit of over 700% per customer, the government is cutting its Winter Fuel Allowance. The group accused the government and energy companies of a “deadly obsession with making money”. [4]

This action has been inspired by the ‘Winter Warm Up’ weekend of action called by Fuel Poverty Action [5]. Hundreds of protesters are expected to participate in actions in Leeds, London, Cambridge and other parts of the country. The group are highlighting the injustice of the ‘Big 6’ control over energy resources.

See fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com for more information on the national

event.

ENDS

Notes to editors

————————

[1] Fuel poverty is defined as expenditure of 10% or more of household income on fuel. There were 25,700 ‘excess Winter deaths’ last Winter. At a conservative estimate, 10% of these deaths were directly due to people being unable to afford to heat their homes.

Government’s full statistics here:

data.gov.uk/dataset/excess_winter_deaths

[2] Energy Companies Profits at 700%. See article:

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-204902…

[3]An April 2011 YouGov survey found that nearly 1 in 4 households (24% or 6.3million homes) were suffering fuel poverty. See full report here:http://bit.ly/s4NbSh

According to the government-commissioned Hills Poverty Review, 2,700 people – a conservative estimate – will die this winter as a direct result of being ‘fuel poor’. For the full review see: www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/funding/…

[4] Energy Companies Profits at 700%. See article:

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-204902…

[5] Fuel Poverty Action is a project of the Climate Justice Collective

(CJC). CJC has emerged out of Climate Camp UK. Fuel Poverty Action aims to

expose the economic and environmental causes of fuel poverty and take

action to create energy democracy and climate justice.

A protest banner from another Ryanair demonstration

On Thursday 27th October 2011, Ryanair had to cancel a marketing event at the University of Manchester Students Union after students dismantled their promotional stall in protest against the company’s record on the environment and workers’ rights.

Ryanair had advertised to hold a stall from 12pm to 3pm last Thursday (29 October). However, at 12.30pm, a group of around nine students began dismantling the company’s banners and display boards and popping their promotional balloons. The Ryanair sales team soon left the building.

Students said the action was in anger at Ryanair’s disregard for the dangers of climate change by aggressively marketing cheap flights. They said the action was also taken in solidarity with disgruntled Ryanair workers. Last August, Ryanair worker John Foley staged a rooftop protest at Liverpool John Lennon Airport against the company’s anti-union activities and poor record on workers rights.

Physics student Catherine Redcliffe said, “Ryainair’s relentless pursuit of profit over all other concerns is trampling on workers’ rights and endangering our future at the same time. The aviation industry takes more money out of Northwest region than it puts in.”

Nonetheless, Ryanair seemed adamant that the day had been a success claiming that their staff were “about to pack up and head home” when the stall was disrupted.   Spokesperson Stephen McNamara said, “Ryanair thanks the Plane Stupid clowns for once again turning a good promo into a great promo.”

However, students were bemused by this claim. Redcliffe explained, “Ryanair’s promotional stall was advertised on posters to last from 12noon to 3pm. The stall was dismantled at around 12.30pm after which their sales team left – so they lost out on most of the day.  Their response is nothing unusual though.  Everyone’s used to being lied to by Ryanair.”

Student Union democracy

Just one balloon remain.....abandoned Ryanair marketing stall at the University of Manchester Students Union

The students, who did not claim to be from any particular group, were further angered at Students Union management for renting the space to Ryanair in the first place. Previously, students had voted that their union should campaign on climate issues and not have business relations with environmentally-damaging companies.

Geography student Marc Hempton, 20, said, “I wanted to show how Ryanair’s presence was a breach of our democratic process. This is my Union and our collective decision had been sidelined by unelected management. We shouldn’t allow environmentally damaging companies in our union where we have fought for positive policies on climate change and against relationships with unethical companies. I’m glad we sent them packing for the day.”

The day before the stall (Wednesday 26th October), activists had petitioned UMSU management with letters signed by students to cancel the promotional event.  Management refused, saying that Ryanair stall was bringing in extra cash.

Hempton added, “In some ways, this is a microcosm of problems regarding climate change and workers’ rights. Where making a quick profit is prioritised at the expense of people and our environment, it makes it harder to address these issues and creates bigger costs further down the line.”

UMSU were unavailable for comment.

This article was adapted from the Mule.

Last weekend campaigners from across the north joined Manchester Climate Action and Manchester Airport on Trial to set up a temporary camp in the woods by Manchester Airport. The camp was attended by around 40 people over the weekend who came to raise local awareness about the airport’s expansion plans and bear witness to some of the greenbelt land the airport intends to build on over the coming months.

The focal point of the weekend was a cycle caravan and walk around the area on Saturday where campaigners took a tour of the areas which are to effected by the expansion plans, including the area earmarked for the 60 acre ‘Enterprise Zone’ on the edge of Wythenshawe and cottages on Hasty Lane which are due for demolition to make way for a new freight shed.

During the tour of the area the group spoke to local residents and gave out flyers for a public meeting being organised by SEMA (Stop Expansion at Manchester Airport) this Thursday 2nd June at 7.30pm in Benchill.

Sally Holmes from Manchester Climate Action said ‘By 2030 the airport intends to be as busy as Heathrow is now, with flights every 70 seconds. Many of us have come this weekend out of concern for how the expansion will impact the local community, in terms of both air and noise pollution. The airport consistently over estimate how many jobs will be created by the expansion and fail to communicate to local residents how the increase in flights will really impact their lives’.

They were also joined by veteran campaigners involved in the Campaign Against the Secord Runway (CAR2) in the late 1990’s who described where the camps had been, how the biodiversity of the area had been affected and showed empty fields which had been the home of protected ancient woodland just 15 years ago. Although 10 years has passed since the second runway opened, many of those who lived in the former protest camps described how memories quickly came flooding back being in the woods again with the persistent drone of aircraft landing and taking off just a few hundred metres away.

Patrick Stone from Manchester Airport on Trial said ‘the weekend has been real success for us. With so many people coming down to support the campaign it shows the impacts of aviation are still on the high people’s agendas in the UK and that expansion plans won’t go unchallenged.’

Ali Garrigan from SEMA said ‘this event has been really important for raising the profile of the campaign in the local community. With the scoping process for a new national aviation policy taking place over this summer it’s really important that people who care about this issue speak out now. As the majority owner of the Manchester Airports Group (MAG) Manchester City Council have a significant opportunity to feed into this scoping process and ensure that future national aviation policy represents their communities wishes and reflect their commitment to tackling climate change’.

The campaigners were warmly received by much of the local community who were shocked to hear details of the extent to which the airport plans to expand both physically on the ground and in terms of flight capacity.

After an exciting trial where the defence called upon expert witnesses including climate scientist Kevin Anderson from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Research, public health expert Robin Stott, and Heathrow MP John McDonnell amongst others the judge recognised the “sincerity” and “laudable motives” of the protesters, and handed down lenient sentences of 2 year conditional discharges and £310 court costs whilst One defendant received 80 hours of community service.

Although the coalition government cancelled plans to build a third runway at Heathrow, regional airport expansion is still being heavily pursued. In November 2009 Manchester Airport received planning approval from Manchester City Council to expand the World Freight Centre at Manchester Airport and increase passenger numbers by a third, which will result in the demolition of local homes and an increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Despite a High Court ruling which recognised the incompatibility between expansion plans at the UK’s commitments to emissions reduction targets, Manchester City Council has shown an unwillingness to rethink their plans or engage in discussion.

During the trial Martin Eakins, local councillor for Northenden, described the local efforts to prevent expansion at the Airport. In response to the judge’s suggestion that campaigners would have had a strong case for judicial review of the plans, he explained that they had been refused funding on the basis that their challenge would be unsuccessful. Local resident, Pete Johnson, whose home on Hasty Lane faces demolition, told the court that their efforts to engage with the council and oppose the expansion were “thwarted by politicians with vested interests,” and that he felt “angry, frustrated and cheated.”

This was fittingly reflected in a statement from John Mcdonnell MP, who vocally opposed the third runway at Heathrow.

“When governments themselves so blatantly ignore the wishes of the people they are elected to represent, when they promote the sectional interests of one sector of business above the interests of their citizens, when they deny Parliament an effective role, when they subvert their own democratic planning processes, and when their actions so dangerously contradict their own legislation on climate change, responsible citizens are left with no alternative but to take direct action to further the cause that they believe in.”

One of the most inspiring and reaffirming experiences for the defendants and everyone who attended the trial was hearing from leading climate scientist Kevin Anderson, who spoke out on the aviation industry’s ‘special treatment’, asking;

“Why is it fair that aviation continues to be a special case while every other sector has to reduce their emissions? Every year we have an exponential increase in CO2 embedding us in a future of dangerous climate change. If aviation continues to grow that means we’re heading for 4 degrees, but that would only be a transient temperature on the way to an equilibrium rise of 6 to 8 degrees. A rise of 4 degrees is dire, above that it gets worse and worse- it is a future that we contemplate at our own peril.”

He also highlighted how aside from setting fire to a large pool of kerosene in your back garden, flying was the most carbon intensive activity that anyone can engage in.

Speaking at the end of the trial the defendants released the following statement:

“This is the first action in the north contesting airport expansion, and whatever the outcome in court today, this trial will not be the last.

The court heard from respected climate scientists that climate change is accelerating, and continues to be the biggest threat to life as we know it. Having heard from this, the expert testimony, we are more convinced than ever that our actions were justified and necessary.

We have heard in court today from local Councillor Martin Eakins, and from Heathrow MP John McDonnell that the political system both locally and nationally is failing to address the public health emergency that is climate change.

The court heard that Manchester Airport’s expansion plans are based on outdated and flawed policy. Manchester City Council, who own the airport, have a responsibility to abandon proposed plans and change course while there is still time.
The court heard from local resident Peter Johnson, whose home on Hasty Lane faces demolition in order to expand Manchester Airport. He expressed how efforts to oppose the expansion were “thwarted by politicians with vested interests”; and how he felt “angry, frustrated and cheated” by the system that is supposed to represent him.

None of this evidence was challenged in court, and yet the court saw fit to find us guilty.

As the court heard, civil disobedience has a long and honourable tradition in this country, and Manchester has a proud place in that history. We all have a duty, and a responsibility, and we will continue to act to stop climate change.

We would like to thank everyone who has supported us during the trial, locally, nationally and internationally.”

By lunch time today the court had heard from defendants Robbie Gillett and David Cullen who defended their actions on the grounds that they were proportionate and necessary in the face of climate change in order to prevent death and serious injury by stopping emissions from the airport. Robbie stated that attempts had been made to engage and meet with local government and challenge the expansion plans through formal routes but they had been ‘fobbed off’. A strong argument was also presented by Dave who successfully challenged the prosecution’s assertion that climate change is still a spilt debate.

Into the afternoon the first expert witness, Professor Kevin Anderson from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Research, was called as part of the defence.

He summed up what campaigners have been saying for years as he questioned “why is it fair that aviation continues to be a special case while every other sector has to reduce their emissions?”.

He then went on to say “every year we have an exponential increase in CO2 embedding us in a future of dangerous climate change. If aviation continues to grow that means we’re heading for 4 degrees, but that would only be a transient temperature on the way to an equilibrium rise of 6 to 8 degrees. A rise of 4 degrees is dire, above that it gets worse and worse- it is a future that we contemplate at our own peril.”.

The second witness, Dr Geoff Meaden, was also called to the stand related the actions to both local and international concerns. He spoke about the ‘tipping points’ we are reaching with global temperature rises as well as the increased possibility of flooding in the Manchester area due to changes in weather patterns, and specifically how the airport itself would be submerge by just a two metre flood.

At the end of day one the defendants, campaign and court can be under no illusion that we need to start waking up to the fact that climate change isn’t just a problem for future generations; we are seeing its devastating impacts now. The aviation industry is receiving special treatment in terms of the expansion that is being allowed and financially in the tax break of £9 billion each year it is given, including paying nothing on fuel, while public sectors are cut and the VAT we pay on toilet roll increases to 20%.

The actions of the Manchester defendants are an example of how we might be able to see real change; signing petitions just isn’t enough anymore. We need to start targeting the industries and corporations who are not only dodging tax whilst public sectors are cut, but also continue exploiting our planet.

Tomorrow the defence will continue with the court hearing from local councillor Martin Eakins, who will speak on the democratic deficit in the region, and local resident Pete Johnson speaking about the barriers to pursuing a judicial review against the expansion due to the prohibitively high costs involved.

Come and support the defendants tomorrow or Wednesday morning at 9am at Trafford Magistrate’s Court, Manchester, or send your statements of support to manchesterairportontrial@gmail.com.

www.manchesterairportontrial.org

Environmental activists who occupied tree-houses and barricaded themselves in underground tunnels during the long running protests against the construction of the second runway at Manchester Airport will be re-united at a public event this Thursday 17 February commemorating the 10th anniversary of the opening of the runway in February 2001.

Original article from the Manchester Mule.

Hosted by activists from Manchester Climate Action and People and Planet, the evening will see veteran activists from around across the country return to Manchester for an event including a photo and video exhibition from the protest camps, displayed at the University of Manchester Students Union.

Merrick Godhaven, 41, who now lives in Leeds explained why he was returning for the event, “There’s a radical history of resistance to power, and that history will never be taught in schools.  We have to make the effort to make this people’s history live, and see that one generation can take inspiration and practical ideas from what has gone before.  The present campaign against Manchester Airport is also a source of inspiration to me.  Seeing the new generation of activists team up and share ideas with the older one makes us all stronger and more likely to succeed.”

Lance Crookes, who was also involved at the time, and who now lives in Northenden said, “Manchester’s council leaders were very vocal when they promised that 50,000 new jobs would be created as a result of the 2nd runway but there has been silence since it opened in 2001.”

MULE contacted Manchester Airport for a response on the question of job creation, however they declined to respond.

Simon Bradley, 22, from Manchester People and Planet, “The event not only looks at the rich heritage of environmental activism in Manchester, but also provides a valuable opportunity for today’s generation of activists to meet those who were campaigning on the same issues a decade ago. With the airport still at the top of the environmental agenda in Manchester, swapping stories and experiences can help us raise awareness and challenge the Airport’s dangerous expansion plans.”

The event is being organised in the run up to the trial of six climate activists who breached airside security at Manchester Airport last May – temporarily shutting the airport down. The four day trial begins on Monday 21st February at Trafford Magistrates Court. The defendants are charged with aggravated trespass and will plead not guilty.

“Site Battles: Second Runway at Manchester Airport” will take place on Thursday 17th February at 7.30pm at the University of Manchester Students Union. The event is free and open to members of the public.

The defendants outside court

On Monday 6th December a two day trial began for the 11 defendants from Manchester Airport on Trial who blockaded Manchester Airport in May 2010. All 11 faced charges of wilful obstruction of a public highway for erecting two tripods across the entrance to World Freight Centre. Despite freezing temperatures there was a good show of support outside court and people from all walks of life, including Hasty Lane resident Pete Johnson, came down to the courthouse with banners to wish the defendants well.

Proceedings began, and by 1pm on Monday the court heard how the protest had been a ‘response to a flawed planning process’ and the ‘democratic process being thwarted’. The judge handed out fines averaging £300 per person to the nine activists who had pleaded guilty to the charges, unable to withstand the cost of the trial.

In the afternoon the case then focused in on Mark Haworth and Amanda Walters, who entered a plea of not-guilty, arguing that their protest was reasonable and proportionate. The court heard the defence case; that the expansion of the Airport would have significant impacts on local homes and globally in contributing to climate change. Furthermore, the court heard how other methods of redress had been tried prior to the protest action in May 2010.

Speaking after the case, defendant Mark Haworth said, “The battle against airport expansion at Heathrow, Stansted andGatwick was won because ordinary people came together, joined forces and took on the aviation industry. We’ve linked up with residents in Manchester and Heathrow and we’ll continue to challenge Manchester Airport’s expansion plans.”

Local residents Peter Johnson, Jon Smart and Holly Johnson with defendants Amanda Walters and Mark Haworth at Hasty Lane before the trial

A large part of the defence case focussed on the ‘reasonableness’ of the action given that other methods of redress had been explored. The witness statements of Manchester Councillor Martin Eakins and Hasty Lane resident Peter Johnson were read out verbatim by the Defence Counsel.

In the statement, Eakins described his close involvement in the campaign to Save Hasty Lane, including making official representations to the Wythenshawe Area Committee, petitions and letters to national government.

From Cllr Eakin’s written statement: “I feel that all democratic avenues were exhausted and I think it is reasonable to say that the only way avenue to achieve carbon reductions through traditional politics in this case was closed.”

In Peter Johnson’s written statement, he described his efforts to prevent his family home from being demolished.

From Peter’s written statement: “

We are now in a position where help and support from other areas in continuing to oppose the decision means that another route must be used if we are to halt this and/or further expansion already proposed or identified by the airport.”

Despite the strong defence both defendants were found guilty.  Defendant Amanda Walters said, “The judge accepted that our concerns were legitimate and that other means of making our views heard had been tried. Whilst the Council continues to impose expansion of the airport onto local people, we will continue to oppose it.”. Mark Haworth and Amanda Walters were given a fine of £175 and £250 respectively plus were ordered to pay £460 in costs each plus a £15 ‘victim surcharge’ each.

Commenting on the verdict Peter Johnson said, “I’m disappointed for the individuals who went above and beyond the call of duty – for a cause we should all be worried about. This isn’t just a matter of concern for those of us living at Hasty Lane – the expansion of the Airport will have effects on the whole of Manchester, and the world too. Sadly, actions like these are seldom recognised as being right at the time, but the fight continues.”

Manchester Evening News coverage here.