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Fightback begins over aviation

24 Oct 1998

Community, transport and environment campaigners are meeting for the first time in Brimingham this Saturday (24th October) to begin the fight-back against the growing local and global environmental damage caused by air travel.

The one-day conference will see international experts speak about:

.    the latest research into the effects of aircraft exhaust on the world's climate:
.    what exposure to aircraft noise really means for the health of those who live around airports
.    how grassroots community groups deal with local problems
.    a Europe-wide campaign for an aviation fuel tax that aims to make the "polluter pay".

The conference, organised by Friends of the Earth (FOE) and the Aviation Environment Federation (AEF), features keynote speeches on "The Global Impacts of Air Travel" by Dr Mark Barrett and "Airports and Sustainability" by Terry Gould, a senior local government executive involved with the case against Terminal 5 at Heathrow.

Conference organiser Jeff Gazzard of Manchester Friends of the Earth said:

"The social and environmental damage caused by air travel gets worse every year. All of us who suffer the effects need to find tough new ways to keep the aviation industry under environmental control.

“A disciplined, well-informed and determined campaign is the only way to stop the Government's forthcoming Airports White Paper leading to the uncontrolled expansion of airports and air travel!"

NOTES TO EDITORS

1.    Dr Mark Barrett is the author of "Pollution Control Strategies for Aircraft" for WWF UK and is currently undertaking work for the European Commission on road traffic pollution. Terry Gould is Head of Environmental Services at the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead and is an expert on the noise, health and sustainability issues that surround airport expansions.

2.    "Airports & Air Travel: A Local & Global Problem" is taking place at Birmingham Voluntary Service Council, 138 Digbeth, Birmingham City Centre. Programme starts at 10.30 am Saturday October 24th 1998. The conference is chaired by Christian Wolmar, the respected transport journalist.

    For more details contact Jeff Gazzard as above, Paula Smith at Friends of the Earth National Office on 020 7490 1555 or Tim Johnson at the Aviation Environment Federation on 020 7329 8159.

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