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Monday, March 02, 2009

Getting Ready for the Fairford Air Tattoo

Why we hate the Fairford Air Tattoo


We hate the way that you make killing fun and that you give our kids free entry to the event while we are trying to teach them about global respsonsibility.

We hate the way that you glorfy competition between nations when the planet's survival depends on nations cooperating.

We hate the way that you claim to represent the people who defend our security but ridicule the science of climate change.

We hate the way that you are an advert for the aviation industry, yet you pretend to be a charity.

We hate the way that the companies at your airshow will be the same ones that can only respond to climate change with million pound marketing budgets to peddle greenwash lies and laugh at those of us that care about climate change.

We hate the way that we are paying for incompetent bankers and also paying for new planes for climate criminals, while our schools and hospitals are forced to make cut backs and our taxes rise and rise.

We hate the way that the BBC and ITV give your show wall to wall free advertising, but never give it any criticism, just because you can wine and dine the reporters.

We hate the way that you play to the stupid and self interested minority in our society who are easily fooled by your loud planes, big bangs, expensive toys and promise of instant gratification, and then you tell us that this is what people want.

We hate the way that your industry buys off the government that fobs us off.

We hate to see our police force being used as a private army in defence of your industry's destruction of our planet.

We hate the way that your industry patronises us with talk about being environmentally friendly by using biofuels, and then starves to death the billions who can not compete.

We hate to see the oil that you need for your toys washed up on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. We hate to see the destruction of the Candian forests as the oil indstury scrapes the bottom of the barrel to satisfy your insatiable thirst for fuel.

We hate your childish boasts about being the worlds biggest airshow, when everyone else is cutting back.

We hate to hear the queen lecturing us about climate change, and then seeing you arranging a 200 plane fly past for her.

We hate to see the business that you do with those terror regimes around the world.

We hate being forcibly reminded of our hatred for you by having your planes flying over us, and having no right of complaint about the noise.

We will be at your show to say "Screw you" to you that is screwing us.

We leave you with Bob Dylan's Master of War and recent art work.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I for one cannot wait for the air show, all those planes that are pumping out CO2 and making a bloody good noise. I will be driving there in my car, which does little to help the environment at about 10mpg!

Global warming and climate change is going to happen no matter what silly government laws are put in to try and stop it....one word, China.

Best of luck though and keep fighting the cause!

Kevin Lister said...

Thankyou for wishing us luck.

As you may be aware, the total amount of CO2 emissions that we have produced since the industrial revolution is still greater than China. Therefore it is incumbent on us to make the first move.

Why should China bother if we can not be bothered and they are the low paid manufacturing shop that does all our CO2 intensive business?

Faiford is an anachronism from a time that has now past. The threats to us are now different and much more serious. Supporting frivolous carbon intensive events such as Fairford simply sends out the message that the solutions to the problem belong to someone else and we do not need to change our life style. This is wrong and it is an immoral lie. We are all in this mess together.

I for one will not be taking the defeatist attitude that there is nothing we can do. We have an obligation to our children to do the best that we can.

Anonymous said...

Fairford is an important show, and to be honest what does it matter how CO2 it produces? A good time is had by all (except when it floods like last year!) and it is a good weekend out for the whole family.

And as for kids, have a look here http://www.durexworld.com/en-GB/Products/Condoms/Pages/CondomHomepage.aspx

Kevin Lister said...

There is nothing important about Fairford. We have just had the Tindal report released this week that says if we carry on with business as usual, we face a 7 deg C temp rise by the end of the century. This is curtains for us all, and for virtually all other life on the planet. This is far more important than having the world’s biggest airshow.

By the organiser’s own admission, over 300 aircraft fly in from around the world. In addition, visitors fly in from around the world, people drive from around the country. The total carbon footprint is enormous, and all for a bit of frivolous fun at a time when we should be doing everything possible to cut our emissions.

If people want to spend time with their family, there are far better ways of doing it.

I take it that the condom link was a sick joke.

Anonymous said...

An interesting exchange of views and I can see both sides, Fairford is an airshow, there is no getting away from that and people have to drive to it, but people will drive to music festivals and sports events during the year. Take Glastonbury, the stars arrive by helicopters and lots of fans fly into Bristol Airport by Easyjet from all over the UK, if we are to get rid of airshows then other spectator events should be scrapped.
I am interested in why you hate the A380 airbus so much, it carries more passengers and freight with a much lower carbon footprint than older planes, flying is still going to happen, this new plane is a greener way of doing it.
Once all the trees are cut down and we don't have any oxygen to breath the planet can start again, I just feel sorry for the first of the new humans who stumble across the Nuclear power stations!

Kevin Lister said...

Thank you for your comments. People flying Easyjet to Glastonbury and the stars arriving there in private jets and helicopters are equally wrong and can not be used to justify the CO2 emissions associated with this air show. The fundamental problem that we have is that our climate is breaking down. CO2 levels are far beyond any levels seen for the past million years and the earth is operating well outside its safe boundary limits. Not only this, the CO2 level is increasing far faster than it has ever done before. Unless serious action is taken immediately, we face total catastrophe. To pretend otherwise is simply ignoring the clear evidence in front of us and ducking the fact that we must transition to a low carbon society.

By comparing the air show with Glastonbury is the same argument as saying that we should do nothing because of China’s emissions. Meanwhile China is saying the same about us; and neither cuts emissions. This is the argument that prevents anyone doing anything. Running gas-guzzling air shows like this perpetuates the myth that the problem is someone else’s to sort out.

As for the A380, there is no way of flying 500 people around the word in an environmentally friendly way, despite industry propaganda. Contrary to what you say, the efficiency of planes has no impact of the environmental - it is the total emissions that count. Ever since the Wright Brothers first flight planes have become more efficient, yet total aviation emission have continued to increase. Efficient planes simply fly further and more often driving the total emissions up. Unfortunately government policy around the world is set to ensure that aviations emissions will continue to increase.

This air show is simply an extension of this government policy and its support for the aviation industry. It comes at a time when all efforts should be in persuading us to adapt to using only the bare minimum level of aviation necessary for essential life and death missions.

I urge you not to waste your money going to this anachronistic and frivolous party.

Anonymous said...

I will be going to the air show this year, having missed out last year due to the rain. I also missed out due to the weather RAF Waddington in 2007. So fingers crossed for this.

I for one don't go to music festivals but do enjoy the airshows as that is what floats my boat.

You fight for a good cause though as I do sometimes wonder what the environment will be like for my children.

It is my taxes though that pay for these aircraft amongst many of us so I think we should atleast get some enjoyment in return.

If there are viable options for alternatives then I am for them.

I run my car on LPG to help the environment and of course my wallet. If there are other uncompromising ways to help the environment, I will be happy to help. But RIAT as a % contribute such a small amount to the total emissions we produce. I think people should concentrate the efforts more in areas that would warrent bigger CO2 returns.

If all petrol vehicles ran on LPG then that would be a mssive saving where everybody wins. Except for the government but then they would just tax us on something else.

I pay 45p/litre for LPG. Simple really and wonder why it is taking such a long time for other road users to see the opportunity.

A.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

Kev, doing another thing with the family isnt better than the airshow if you are totaly into planes!, i have grew up with planes all my life, my dads a pilot, and i love planes so much,....so Kev, think about what its like for the people who love planes.

Philip said...

Britain cannot act alone but it is delusory to think that developing countries will fundamentally change until wealthy countries take a lead. Let us not forget that a very significant share of those CO2 emissions from countries like China and India are to make products that we consume here. And already it is the poorest who are paying for our CO2 emissions. Oxfam show that the average Somali is about 100 times more likely to die from events caused by climate change than the average American, despite emitting roughly 16,000 times less carbon.