2023-09-22 14:46:18
France
Activists enter the tarmac to “plant trees”
Climate activists entered the confines of the Bourget business airport on Friday, near Paris, to denounce the “ultrarich” and private jets.
PublishedSeptember 22, 2023, 4:46 p.m.
The activists were dressed in children’s masks and white overalls.
DR
“Climate crime zone”
The activists entered the Bourget business airport (Seine-Saint-Denis) following opening a fence with a grinder. They planted two fruit bushes on the tarmac and hijacked a sign in front of the airport gate, replacing the inscription “Protected military zone” with “Climate crimes zone”. Dressed in children’s masks and white overalls, the activists also scattered colored powder, placed bales of straw and unfurled banners proclaiming “Let’s not let the ultra-rich destroy the planet” and “No to private jets – Yes to fruit trees”.
The operation, which lasted around twenty minutes, ended with an environmental activist calling the police, informing them of the operation. The latter arrived a few minutes later and destroyed the installations. The activists escaped from the airport before the arrival of law enforcement but were checked on their exit. Thirteen of them were arrested by the air transport police (GTA), indicates an airport source.
“We have a card to play”
The objective of the action is to “show that this concrete space at Le Bourget airport might be used for better purposes, which would not be harmful to the planet and our health and would serve the common interest, contrary to the “climaticidal use of private jets by the ultra-rich,” indicate Attac and Extinction Rebellion in a joint press release.
On site, the spokesperson for Attac, Lou Chesné, estimated that “no government action” having been undertaken, “the citizens (were) legitimate to put these climate criminals out of harm’s way who are depriving us of our future”. “We have a card to play, as was the case in Amsterdam where, following an action of civil disobedience, private jets were banned,” continued the activist. In April, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol announced an upcoming ban on night flights and private jets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and noise pollution. In September 2022, activists from Attac and Extinction Rebellion had already blocked access to a terminal at Le Bourget airport for almost two hours. Eleven of them were sentenced by the Bobigny criminal court to fines ranging from 300 to 500 euros on September 14. They appealed the decision.
(AFP)Show comments
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