Tuesday 24 June 2008

Flying


Photo: Davipt


How comes, while we’re being told to fly less so as to reduce the effects of global warming, our airports are being extended? As if Heathrow’s Terminal Five wasn’t enough, they’re now planning to ‘improve’ Birmingham airport so that it can take larger aircraft used on long-haul flights.

Why?

Surely, if we’re really expected to fly less, airports should be decreasing in size rather than increasing?

I don’t get it.

Sharon J xx

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7 comments:

Catz said...

Very puzzling isn't it? I am sure I heard somewhere around the millenium panics (please don't laugh as it could be total rubbish!) that if all the aircraft had to be grounded at the same time there wouldn't be room for them all!

Sharon J said...

I've had a scout around the 'net but couldn't find anything related to your comment, Catz. What I did discover though is that although there are around 480,000 flights to and from Heathrow every year (just one airport), only 5% of the world's population have ever flown. Can you imagine what it would be like if everybody had 'our' standard of living?

I personally think the government are being very hypercritical when they can tell us on the one hand that they're working towards a greener future and then give the go ahead of airport expansion.

Anonymous said...

Don't you think this could mean that the government are lying about their intended plans to cut co2 etc? I really don't trust them.

Sharon J said...

When it comes to our government, Pat, I really don't know what to think anymore.

klara said...

i think japan just had their first biofuel airplane flight. its' something but i totally agree there should be less not more at this point. great blog.

just wanted to let you know that I uploaded a post of yours to
http://sustain.newsladder.net/ (like Digg but centered around
sustainability). It's a great resource and I'm trying to spread the word
about it. Please check it out and upload your posts there if you can!

also, there's a widget if you have the room on your site. You can get one at
http://sustain.newsladder.net/tools at the bottom of the page.

take care,
klara

WebSmith said...

I have been flying for over 35 years and under the impression that all of the people with hyperactivity disorders just get up and rush down to the airport in the morning.

There is a train of thought that doesn't seem to be too crazed that suggests that these crisis are created in order to be able to accomplish something that usually involves more legislation, more taxes, or some industrial community making a lot of money.

The thing that I have noticed is that, with all the media fanfare and predictions of impending disaster, things never change too much. They just pretty much stay the same except that everything costs more and we pay more and more taxes.

The thing we need with air flight is a new lighter, stronger material. Perhaps our atomic scientists could forgo the nuclear weapons research and refocus on something useful.

Sharon J said...

I so agree re the atomic scientists. More money needs to be put into saving the planet rather than how to blow it to smithereens.