Pilots: Protestors "shooting at wrong target"
Saturday, 18 Aug 2007 15:30
BAA bosses want to add a controversial fifth terminal to Heathrow
Airline pilots have accused the climate change protestors that have gathered outside Heathrow of doing their environmental cause "a disservice" by choosing aviation as their prime target.
Captain Mervyn Granshaw, chairman of the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa), claimed that his organisation understood the need to combat carbon dioxide emissions, but insisted other forms of transport and industries were more culpable for the problem.
"We know that emissions have to be reduced, and we continue to play our part as we have always done. But to target aviation as a prime cause is mischief and most people recognise this," he said.
"As our recent report, Aviation and the Environment, shows, long-distance high-speed trains are more polluting. The European Commission has said that EU-flagged ships are much bigger polluters than EU aircraft. So why no protests in Southampton about the increasing number of cruises?"
Balpa have offered to meet the protestors to form part of an informed debate on the emotive subject, but a spokesperson from the 2,000-strong group of activists camped around Heathrow's perimeter said any meeting would have to take place after this weekend's activities.
"We're more than happy to discuss the science of climate change with anybody, but right now we're caught up planning for tomorrow's direct action," said Ben Healy.
Around 1,800 police officers are to be deployed to monitor the climax of the protests over the next two days.