UK 'climate camp' kicks off as other climate protesters are arrested

Eleven people were arrested on Aug. 16 after environmental activists staged protests at two airports in south-east England to highlight what they say is a rise in the use of private air travel. About 30 people in two separate groups chained themselves to the entrance of Biggin Hill and Farnborough airports and lay down in the road to protest against those who were shunning attempts to cut carbon emissions. Police said the arrests were made at Biggin Hill after the protesters, some of whom had chained themselves to the main gate, refused to leave. A spokesman said the protest was peaceful but nevertheless illegal. At Farnborough, police warned the protesters they were trespassing and the demonstration was called off without any arrests being made. Richard George, a spokesman for the protesters, said the rise in non-scheduled flights by business executives flew in the face of wider efforts to combat climate change. "The growth in private aviation scandalously mocks the efforts of people who try to reduce their carbon footprint," he said. But he said the demonstrations were not a dry-run for larger-scale protests planned at London's main Heathrow airport this week. A wet reception was in store for hundreds of activists expected to join the Heathrow Airport protest camp. Rain lashed down through the night on the collection of more than 100 tents on the outskirts of the west London airport. Organizers said it was impossible to tell how many will join the week-long protest on its first official day. But they hoped the grim weather forecast for yet more showers will not deter the initial enthusiasm that brought more than 200 people to a private field near the village of Sipson. Early arrivals have spent two days setting up marquees, toilets and cooking facilities as well as placards and banners. Police said there were no arrests overnight as more than two dozen officers kept a close eye on the camp and the surrounding roads. Protesters complained that large generator-powered spotlights erected by police on a road beside the field kept them awake. Organizer Paul Marozzo, who has traveled from Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire, said most people went to bed early. He said: "It was a quiet night, it was certainly a wet one and a very early morning. "They (the police) have got these ridiculous lights just shining on everyone and there are families trying to sleep. Most of all it was a waste of energy." Marozzo said reports of plots by activists to infiltrate the airport posing as tourists were totally inaccurate. He added: "Some of these supposed secret plans are pure invention. They are ridiculous and causing totally unnecessary anxiety." The Climate campaigners lodged a protest with the Press Complaints Commission about a newspaper report they planned to make hoax bomb calls to disrupt air traffic on Aug. 14. "We cannot afford to alienate the public and we will not. Direct action will be safe and it won't be targeting passengers," said campaigner and Leeds University science lecturer Simon Lewis. He and about 250 other campaigners are camping on the path of a proposed third runway for the airport, which handles 200,000 passengers a day. The protest is being staged at the height of the summer holiday season and expects as many as 2,000 people to join the camp. Scientists say air transport contributes heavily to global warming.