Shock Horror: the right wing press fear-mongers about environmentalism!
I've always had my suspicions. With people like Melanie Philips (Daily Mail) believing climate change to be some sort of socialist conspiracy and the Sun describing environmentalists as 'green hippy lunatics' its easy to feel sceptical towards these papers when they talk about green issues. If one ever wanted proof though of the absurd lengths these papers will go to to stop action on climate change then go no further than this weeks private eye. It has an excellent story showing the amount of trash that came out of these papers preceding the heathrow protest. Read on and enjoy.
2. Aug
The times has chilling news of what it calls 'a sit down protest........ which might block airport entrances and exits.'
7 Aug
'Heathrow travellers will face massive disruption.' warns the Express. ''There were reports that campaigners planned to break into the airport, cause havoc in terminals and block roads and railways leading to heathrow.'
11 Aug
Telegraph
It is feared that up to 3000 protesters will descend on the airport making the situation unbearable. Airport owners are taking steps to secure the airport following intelligence reports that well organised affinity groups plan to break though the perimeter'
12 Aug
Sunday Express:
'Joss Garman... the irritably smug co-founder of anti-aviation group 'Plane Stupid... when he gets arrested for storming the runway at Heathrow (as he inevitably will) will call his mummy.'
13 Aug
Around 150 protesters are now at the camp
The Mirror
'The organisers of a week long camp for climate action are hell bent on bringing Heathrow to a halt in 'mass direct action' that could cost tens of millions of pounds, BAA expects demonstrators to pose as passengers to infiltrate the four terminals where it is feared that they will set up fake ticket booths so innocent travellers miss flights. Police are bracing themselves for 'life threatening acts' such as climbing perimeter fences, blocking runways and disrupting nearby roads, including the M25. Protesters are are also expected to try to storm and occupy offices.'
The Daily Mail
'More than 150000 activists from across Europe will join them' By the third edition this has been revised to 'more than 1500'
14 Aug
The Express
'Anarchy at Heathrow'
The Sun
'Bomb raids by eco nuts!' 'It is believed activists will plant hoax suspect packages causing misery for passengers'
15 Aug
The Mail
'Are Militants plotting to infiltrate Heathrow dressed as air crew?' readers are left to supply their own answer
18 Aug
Telegraph
'A group that has infiltrated the climate camp at Heathrow claimed yesterday it can disrupt communications between the control tower and aircraft'
19 Aug
Sunday Times
An undercover investigation by the Sunday times reveals a plot by protesters to invade Heathrow's runways and stop flights.
20 Aug
Police report minor scuffles, 1000 protesters show up at the proposed site of the new runway, BAA headquarters, a BA cargo depot, a power station and offices in London and Oxford including the department of transport building. No one trespasses on runways or terminals at Heathrow and flights and passengers are completely unaffected.
21 Aug
Express
'MAYHEM AS ACTIVISTS END HEATHROW VIGIL!'
If you want to see a more realistic interpretation of what happened at Heathrow George Monbiot was there himself and has plenty of wise words about the protest. Its rather sad that the only people who have the guts to hold these papers to accounts are the freelancers at the private eye, maybe there are decent progressive MPs out there who should be commenting?
The times has chilling news of what it calls 'a sit down protest........ which might block airport entrances and exits.'
7 Aug
'Heathrow travellers will face massive disruption.' warns the Express. ''There were reports that campaigners planned to break into the airport, cause havoc in terminals and block roads and railways leading to heathrow.'
11 Aug
Telegraph
It is feared that up to 3000 protesters will descend on the airport making the situation unbearable. Airport owners are taking steps to secure the airport following intelligence reports that well organised affinity groups plan to break though the perimeter'
12 Aug
Sunday Express:
'Joss Garman... the irritably smug co-founder of anti-aviation group 'Plane Stupid... when he gets arrested for storming the runway at Heathrow (as he inevitably will) will call his mummy.'
13 Aug
Around 150 protesters are now at the camp
The Mirror
'The organisers of a week long camp for climate action are hell bent on bringing Heathrow to a halt in 'mass direct action' that could cost tens of millions of pounds, BAA expects demonstrators to pose as passengers to infiltrate the four terminals where it is feared that they will set up fake ticket booths so innocent travellers miss flights. Police are bracing themselves for 'life threatening acts' such as climbing perimeter fences, blocking runways and disrupting nearby roads, including the M25. Protesters are are also expected to try to storm and occupy offices.'
The Daily Mail
'More than 150000 activists from across Europe will join them' By the third edition this has been revised to 'more than 1500'
14 Aug
The Express
'Anarchy at Heathrow'
The Sun
'Bomb raids by eco nuts!' 'It is believed activists will plant hoax suspect packages causing misery for passengers'
15 Aug
The Mail
'Are Militants plotting to infiltrate Heathrow dressed as air crew?' readers are left to supply their own answer
18 Aug
Telegraph
'A group that has infiltrated the climate camp at Heathrow claimed yesterday it can disrupt communications between the control tower and aircraft'
19 Aug
Sunday Times
An undercover investigation by the Sunday times reveals a plot by protesters to invade Heathrow's runways and stop flights.
20 Aug
Police report minor scuffles, 1000 protesters show up at the proposed site of the new runway, BAA headquarters, a BA cargo depot, a power station and offices in London and Oxford including the department of transport building. No one trespasses on runways or terminals at Heathrow and flights and passengers are completely unaffected.
21 Aug
Express
'MAYHEM AS ACTIVISTS END HEATHROW VIGIL!'
If you want to see a more realistic interpretation of what happened at Heathrow George Monbiot was there himself and has plenty of wise words about the protest. Its rather sad that the only people who have the guts to hold these papers to accounts are the freelancers at the private eye, maybe there are decent progressive MPs out there who should be commenting?
Shock Horror: the right wing press fear-mongers about environmentalism! | 1 comment (1 topical)
Shock Horror: the right wing press fear-mongers about environmentalism! | 1 comment (1 topical)


