Cleanup Cornwall's Clouds ( CCC )

by CornwallNews | October 4, 2006 at 08:38 am

2411 views | 2 Recommendations | 4 comments

No more blue skies over Cornwall ?

Cornwall ' County ' Council , prodded along by Councillor Andrew Mitchell, executive member for the economy, are contemplating a massive, retrogressive and hugely environmentally destructive expansion of newquay airport, out on the edge of the atlantic ocean.

On July 24th and 25th 2006 a large area of relatively static high atmospheric pressure rested over Cornwall.

Very little cloud, if any, was being produced at low altitudes by natural weather systems.

The series of photographs above show the cloud formations at high altitudes solely produced by transatlantic jet aircraft exhaust as their cumulative effects grew on each of those two days. It begins with the first jets coming in from the USA to arrive at Heathrow around opening time of 06.00 am GMT. As more jets start departing from Heathrow the cumulative earth encircling fossil fuel smog generation commences on yet another day of many.

These effects are happening every day. Their full impact from ground level is more fully revealed when such static high pressure zones occur around transatlantic routes.

Given all the science that is revealing the true harm and cost of aviation and the urgent need to reduce current levels world-wide, the current stance of Cornwall ' County ' Council is astonishingly and ridiculously regressive and reckless and should be refocussed on more efficient and less harmful ground level transport solutions.

More enlightening pics to follow !

Update. December 31st 2006

First Clean Blue Skies over Cornwall of 2006 on December 21st & 22nd.

Most airports across the UK were fogbound December 21s & 22nd 2006 and hundreds of flights were cancelled. Cornwall experienced two whole days of clear blue skies - the first without cumulative jet trail pollution build up and clouding over in 2006. (See Clear Blue pic record of this significant event. May clear blue skies return soon. The supply chain and body bag and injured personnel journeys arising from warmaking in Iraq and Afghanistan isn't helping).

Protest Against Polluting Newquay Airport Expansion Intensifies - Public Meeting Called For January 12th 2008.

From: http://planestupid.com/?q=blogs/2007/12/15/rising-tide-occupy-newquay-airport

'Climate change campaigners from Kernow Rising Tide have occupied Newquay airport and called for an end to its plans for expansion.

From their action report:

Sometimes you're lucky... For the recently formed Kernow and Plymouth Rising Tide groups, yesterday marked an escalation in their fight against climate change and for environmental justice. However the planned rooftop protest at Newquay airport was given an unlikely boost when builders at the airport left a ladder propped up...which was just as well because ours broke!

Watch the video

Newquay airport specialises in climate-wrecking domestic and short haul flights and is an obvious legitimate target for environmental action. However, we were also raising the issue of a recent report into the airport which shows that the economic case for expansion is unsound.

Yesterday we arrived at the airport on the bus. We weren't the most likely looking bunch, but as usual the place was pretty deserted and we were able to reach our chosen point to access the roof. However our ladder ( from a kid's bunk-bed ) broke, leaving our birdman dangling comically. Luckily for us, the builders' shiny new ladder was unattended, so we used that one instead! The birdman regained his footing and five activists occupied the roof. We had two big banners reading: 'No Public Debate, No Public Demand, All Private Gain!' and 'No More Hot Air On Climate Change'.

We managed to get the press there before the police. When the police did arrive they were happy to let us have some coverage and even complete a TV slot before asking us to get down or get arrested. The five activists on the roof were supported with music, dancing and puppetry from the ground. We also had a media team and legal observer present. We made local TV and radio headlines and expect good coverage in the local papers. All in all it was a fantastic day, if a bit nippy!

For the groups involved it was an energising, empowering experience. We are also arranging a public meeting about the expansion plans ( St. Mawgan Community Hall 12.1.08 at 7pm. ) and are hoping to get representatives from Groundswell and the airport alongside ourselves.'

Groundswell Report : http://www.groundswellcornwall.org/newquayairport

recommend This comment thread is now closed

CornwallNews

at 14:56 on January 9th, 2008

Thank you for your kind offer,seedplanter.

Only if you feel you can add something scientifically sound, serious and significant ( and non-wacky!) to this

http://www.willthomas.net/Convergence/Weekly/Jet_Pollution.htm

this

http://www.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,12374,1574943,00.html

http://www.knmi.nl/~velthove/aircraft.html

http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/20021129120015.html

http://environment.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,,1877388,00.html

and this

http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2006/08/29/no-quick-fix

at 15:19 on January 9th, 2008

Miyspirit

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 12:02 on February 9th, 2008

CornwallNews, I like this story. It's good stuff.

at 18:04 on February 9th, 2008

Thanks Miyspirit.

This story will develop further.

Hopefully it will help a bit towards cleaning up our skies.

Seedplanter.

If you are going to continue attaching thoughts to this story

it would be great if you expanded your thoughts a little so

they become a little clearer - like our skies will be when

humankind rediscovers and remembers

the joys that can be had within a 10mile radius of home.

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