We've won a great victory against the Heathrow third runway, but there are still plans to expand aviation elsewhere around the country. The airline industry needs to take on its fair share of emissions cuts. We should be thinking about reducing, not expanding aviation. We can start with journeys which can clearly be made through other means - by replacing domestic flights with an improved national train and coach network.

On Saturday 4 September, our friends at the Campaign against Climate Change are organising a 'Train not Plane' day of action in London and Manchester. It starts with a demonstration outside London's City Airport in the morning, supporting the local campaign to stop increased numbers of flights at the airport. This will be followed by a Read more »

Find more photos from the twinning on Flickr.

At the end of last year, Manchester Council approved proposals to expand Manchester airport's freight terminal, more proof that despite the rhetoric on climate change, it's still full steam ahead for the government's airport expansion programme across the country.

Yet, this Sunday there was more evidence that resistance to airport expansion is alive and well, and getting stronger by the day.

The proposed freight terminal at Manchester would demolish homes and destroy a large section of the historic Hasty Lane and acres of green belt. So Hasty Lane residents have teamed up with Sipson villagers - who are also threatened with losing their homes under the proposed third runway at Heathrow - and through a live video-link-up they were twinned! Read more »

The battle to win hearts and minds on the critical airport expansion issue continues apace. The latest group to take the field is in Manchester, where a flashmob is being organised to protest against the expansion of Heathrow, Manchester and all UK airports.

It's being called to coincide with the Labour Party Conference in Manchester and, in true flashmob fashion, will mysteriously manifest in Albert Square outside Manchester Town Hall on Tuesday 23rd September at 12.45pm sharp!

Update (15/10/2007): Our video interview with Pete Bradshaw of Man City FC is now included:

And there's a podcast from the event on BusinessAssurance.com.

I've been an avid (my friends might say evangelical) fan of decentralised energy ever since I first got my head around it. When I started working for Greenpeace, the organisation was in full swing on a decentralised energy campaign and part of my job was to communicate what it is and why it can do so much more than nuclear to combat climate change.

There have followed 20 months (for me) of virtual shouting from the rooftops. Films have been produced; countless blogs have been written; submissions have been made to energy reviews and audit committees; our campaigners and policy boffins have met with government representatives; dozens of volunteers have visited MPs; many thousands more have written to theirs.

Finally, some good news on climate change. Following protests and opposition expansion plans for three of our largest regional airports have been shelved. Manchester, Birmingham International and Luton have all dropped their plans to build new runways, marginally improving the UK's chances of meeting our long-term climate targets. They are respectively Britain's third, fifth and sixth busiest airports.