[IMC-UK-Features] updated aviation feature ready to upload

[ben gringo]

Needs a title and photo...
maybe - Airport expansion plans grounded?
<p>Plane Stupid Scotland <a href="/en/2009/03/423313.html">activists  
shut down Aberdeen airport by setting up a golf course on the taxiway</ 
a> and surrounding themselves with security fencing whilst another  
group occupied the roof of the terminal with a banner reading, “Nae  
Trump Games with Climate Change”. The 3am action prevented the  
scheduled reopening of the runway at 5am. After almost six hours the  
<a href="/en/2009/03/423392.html"protesters voluntarily unlocked  
themselves when police claimed the taxiway was needed by an emergency  
helicopter</a>. Eleven people, including local residents, were  
arrested. </p>
<p>Donald Trump is supporting the expansion of Aberdeen airport where  
his super-rich friends will arrive to play golf on his controversial  
golf course. BAA Aberdeen said they welcome Donald Trump's Golf Course  
which is not surprising as they need rich friends right now. BAA is  
under presure from the Competition Commision and a <a href="/en/ 
2009/02/422871.html"down turn in the aviation industry</a> has hung a  
large question mark over the economic arguments for expansion.  
Expansion of Stansted Airport (which was <a href="/en/ 
2008/12/414611.html">shut down</a> last December) now <a href="/en/ 
2009/03/423283.html">looks set to be postponed for at least two years</ 
a> and the airport will be put on the market without planning  
permission for a new runway.</p>
<p>Despite government rhetoric about cutting CO2 emissions, there are  
<a href="/en/2009/02/421274.html">expansion plans</a> for 34 regional  
airports in the UK. Last month Plane Stupid activists <a href="/en/ 
2009/02/421980.html">interrupted a public meeting during a speech by  
Ed Miliband the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change</a>,  
unveiling a banner highlighting the hypocritical actions of the  
government in relation to aviation and climate change.</p>
<p>Back in January Plane Stupid activists <a href="/en/ 
2009/02/422263.html">chained themselves to the entrance of Southampton  
airport and erected tents at the main entrance in a bid turn the  
regional airport into a climate refugee camp</a> (they were in court  
yesterday and fined between £175 and £600 each). </p>
<b>Links:</b> Aberdeen action <a href="/en/2009/03/423313.html">1</a>  
<a href="/en/2009/03/423392.html">2</a> |
Plane Stupid actions last month <a href="/en/ 
2009/02/422263.html">Southampton</a>, <a href="/en/ 
2009/02/421980.html">Brighton</a> | <a href="/en/ 
2008/12/414611.html">Stansted blockade 2008</a> |
<a href="/en/2009/02/422871.html">aviation and recession</a> |
airport expansion <a href="/en/2009/02/421274.html">1</a> <a href="/en/ 
2009/02/421273.html">2</a> |
<a href="/en/2009/03/423283.html">Stansted rumors</a>