Europeâs largest sales fair for private jets has been cancelled - because of activists!
Three years ago, a group of supporters of Greenpeace, Extinction Rebellion, Scientist Rebellion, and other climate justice groups went to the event. Despite organisers boasting of beefed up security, the activists jumped the fence, cycled across the tarmac of the airport the event was happening in, and chained themselves to the private jets on display. A lot of men in suits went very red in the face and the police came in to take them away (the activists, not the red-faced men).
The disruption to the event was relatively short - an hour or two - but it received media coverage across the world from the likes of The Guardian and Le Monde as a symbol of aviationâs injustice. In turn, this caused a serious problem for the private jet industry.
The organisers and other industry voices have been quite explicit that they are afraid of another disruption. Theyâre concerned that activists could damage the planes and - more importantly - will cause harm to their reputation by portraying them as an out of touch âeliteâ causing environmental harm. Which is true! The event has continued to decline, and now, at last, has been cancelled.
In times like these, we need to cherish these victories and build upon them. Now letâs get private jets banned!