Climate Wrecks Flights
by Bonnie Alter, London on 12.23.06
Heathrow Airport has been enshrouded in fog for the past four days and thousands of passengers have been forced to camp out, waiting for flights. Whilst we sympathise with these misery-ridden travellers, desperate to get home for the holidays, this is (finally) a case of climate wrecking flights, instead of, as usually happens, flights wrecking the climate. The satirical weekly column, "Greener than thou" says that this has to be one of the best environmental stories of the year. " Each morning, since the fog set in, Rowan and I have run into the garden to check out the sky, then sat down to calculate the torrents of CO2 that will not be released. Last night, with hundreds more planes grounded indefinitely, it seemed the right moment to crack open a bottle, and plan a party. Until then, with 2006 such a grim year for the climate, there was no way we could have justified even this minor environmental insult. Personally, just the extra lighting would have made me feel guilty. But our party - assuming we used sustainable cutlery and took the bottles to recycling in the wheelbarrow - would be written off by just one of those thousands of passengers not taking a plane. If BA kept up the total ban on domestic flights we might even run to crackers". Further: "They brought it on themselves, don't these people read George Monbiot?" Their last tip, in rhyme: Home-made canapes this year, will keep your consciences clear. :: Guardian
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Don't forget to mention the Denver blizzard which happend at the same time last week!
LINK HERE
I'm flying through there on Sunday, hope I make it.
I wish aviation companies would promote airships as the transport of the future. I love flying, but travel by plane is no longer the romantic, relaxing luxury it once was. Delays, cramped seats, terrorism and environmental concerns have made planes a nightmare. However, I believe that the age of the airship has yet to come. the question is, will people be willing to travel across the Atlantic at 50mph instead of 500mph? If it helps the planet and still allows my to travel by air. We need to slow down anyway. 21st century life is too fast! What could be nicer than a slow, leisurely flight in an airship? Travelling at a lower altitude allows for some great sightseeing on the journey too. Also airships are very quiet - an airport catering only for airships instead of planes would have no complaints from residents. Terrorism is less of a worry too. fire a gun at an airship and it won't plummet from the sky. Airships can easily use biofuel or solar power to provide them with the fuel they need for steering. It's about time Boeing and Airbus switched to making airships instead of A380s and 787s. Man does not need to stop flying - man just needs to stop flying by plane.