It is the intention of Extinction Rebellion to continue protesting at Farnborough Airport.
Announcements may, or may not, be made public in advance on our social media.
Extinction Rebellion is a non-violent movement and at all times we will act in accordance with our Principles and Values using non-violent strategy and tactics to bring about change.
Our reason for protest should be clear, the Earth, our home, is dying. The icecaps are melting, the forests burning as carbon emissions from fossil fuels rise, polluting the atmosphere - this is the cause of climate breakdown. The Secretary General of the United Nations has stated that we stand at “Code Red” for humanity.[1]
A mere 1% of the world’s population causes half of aviation’s emissions.[2] These are the “polluter elite”. Each private flight from Farnborough is estimated to create the same volume of CO2 emissions as nine ordinary UK citizens in a whole year. And there’s less tax to pay on aviation fuel than that paid by any driver filling up with petrol to get to work.
This must not continue, private flights are costing us the Earth.
We will not be bystanders.
References
[1] https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/08/1097362
[2]https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/nov/17/people-cause-global-aviation-emissions-study-covid-19
[3] Extinction Rebellion activists block all major entrances to Farnborough Airport in Hampshire (2nd October 2021)
https://xr-southeast.uk/extinction-rebellion-blockades-uks-largest-private-airport/
Press resources
Extinction Rebellion (AKA XR) is a non-violent direct action protest group with the goal of preventing further mass extinction and damage to the climate. The group has three main demands.
1. Tell the truth - Government must tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, working with other institutions to communicate the urgency for change.
2. Act Now - Government must act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.
3. Go Beyond Politics - Government must create and be led by the decisions of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice.
More information