Pledge Against Airport Expansion
About the Pledge
On this page:
- How did the pledge begin?
- How is the pledge different from a petition?
- What are the objectives of the pledge?
- Does the pledge organise campaigns or activities?
- Why should I sign the pledge? What's so bad about airport expansion?
- What is ‘personal action’
- Is there any kind of ‘personal action’ that the pledge does not support?
- What will you do with my details?
- What happens when I sign the pledge?
- How do I take my name off the pledge or change my details?
- Credits and Thanks
How did the pledge begin?
The pledge against airport expansion was launched on October 8th, 2004 by a coalition of environment, transport and airport campaign groups. The organisations behind the pledge all oppose the government's plans to expand airports. They argue that there are far more effective ways to manage the rapidly growing demand for air transport.
How is the pledge different from a petition?
In petitions and letter writing campaigns people hope that a large number of people making the same strongly worded request will persuade the government to change its policy.
The pledge is different. It is a statement of intent and a call to action. It contains a real threat - that the people on the list will be active and determined. Usually governments and companies only find the real scale of opposition in the very late stages by which time it can be very hard for them to change their plans. By signing the pledge people make sure that their opposition is recognised from the outset.
What are the objectives of the pledge?
There are four main aims:
- To provide a place where people can register their opposition to airport expansion and become linked with campaigns and activities.
- To show the size and strength of opposition that the government will face if it tries to force its plans through. We want the government to recognise that there are very high political risks in taking on this issue.
- The pledge specifically includes financiers and construction companies. We want them to realise that the scale of the opposition creates a level of risk and cost that makes airport expansion a very poor investment.
- To unite the groups and people campaigning against airport expansion and provide them with a means to reach active people directly.
Does the pledge organise campaigns or activities?
The pledge does not carry on any activities in its own name other than to promote itself. It publicises the activities of other campaign groups but is not a campaigning network.
Why should I sign the pledge? What's so bad about airport expansion?
The case against airport expansion is a strong one. From local air and noise pollution to global climate change, the consequences of the level of expansion planned by the UK government would be catastrophic. We have outlined the key arguments against airport expansion.
What is ‘personal action’
The action you choose to take is entirely a matter of your personal choice. Personal action might include:
- local action: setting up or supporting local campaigns, rallies or demonstrations
- national action: taking part in rallies, demonstrations, mass letter-writing or e-mail campaigns
- political action: voting only for candidates who oppose airport expansion, boycotting companies funding or constructing airports and runways, protesting at the AGM's of companies involved in airport expansion
- direct action: taking part in non-violent direct action at construction sites and against companies involved in airport expansion
- supporting others: providing financial or resource support to others involved in the campaign
Is there any kind of ‘personal action’ that the pledge does not support?
The pledge is strictly non violent. We will not include or mention any campaign that uses violent tactics and will remove from the web listing any personal statements that use violent or threatening language.
What will you do with my details?
Your privacy and the safety of your details are of the utmost importance to us. When you sign the pledge your details are put onto a secure database which can only be accessed by the pledge coordinators. The name and the personal statement you give publicly are listed on the website. Your address and email details are kept strictly confidential and will never be given to anyone.
What happens when I sign the pledge?
We will send you a letter (or email) straight away welcoming you to the pledge and telling you about what is already happening. The letter will also give you a registration number and link so that you can always find your personal statement on the website. The pledge campaign will occasionally send you new contacts and information about the campaign against airport expansion and ways that you can take ‘personal action’. We will make sure that this is only when we have something important to tell you.
How do I take my name off the pledge or change my details?
If for any reason you want to be taken off the pledge, or want to change your contact details, please send an email to detailing the changes you want made. Please send us your registration number and as much information as possible about the contact details you originally gave us. You can find your registration number in the email or letter you received from us shortly after signing the pledge.
Credits and Thanks
The Airport Pledge would like to give special thanks to the following individuals:
- George Marshall & John Stewart - Writing the Pledge and Managing the Pledge Project
- Matthew Carroll - Website Design and Technical
- Meinhard Benn - Database Programming and Site Hosting
- Paul Vernon 'Stig' - Logo Graphic Design and Displays
- John Cross - Paper Pledge Design
...and the many countless others in the supporter organisations.