Over the weekend, members of the group Extinction Rebellion blocked passenger access to Geneva airport’s private jet terminal for two and a half hours.
The Facebook video above shows part of the protest.
One of the roughly 100 participants described private jet travel as “absurd”. A tiny portion of the population is having an excessive and absurd effect on the rest of the population.
“We condemn this absurd form of transport. A private jet emits 20 times more CO2 per passenger than a normal plane” a spokesperson for the group told Le Matin.
The activists, who had no official permit for the protest, eventually left without resistance. Geneva police recorded the protestors’ identities but said they have not made any decision on what action they might take.
Earlier this month, 117 members of Extinction Rebellion involved in blocking bridges in Lausanne were convicted and fined for breaking Switzerland’s penal code.
More on this:
Le Matin article (in French) – Take a 5 minute French test now
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JOYPATTINSON says
These people are leftists who detest anybody with a few bob more than they themseles have. They are anti-rich and anti people who have the means to travel as they wish. No mention of the difference in pollution between a plane that is half empty and one packed to the limit with holidaymakers on cheap flights! Without rich people there would be no businesses or luxury hotels which in turn create employment. There is nothing wrong with people preferring to spend their money as they wish. They earned it and can spend as they wish.
Helen Cass says
HI Joy, I think it is more likely they mean what they say: private flights are an excessive and unnecessary form of transport that are damaging the climate further. We have massive pressure on our ecosystems thanks to climate breakdown, why do people have to fly like this? Have you heard of the mass extinctions going on around us? It is irresponsible and people should choose a greener way to go. In response to your other ideas, I have no problem with people having luxurious hotels etc. some rich people choose environmentally responsible hotels and transport. If you have a lot of money and therefore control a lot of economic activity you should step up to that responsibility and take choices that don’t harm others.
Scoles Gavin Kelly says
the 602 billionares in the world could fix world hunger poverty without changing there own lifestyles . could fix alot of world problems , but they would rather inslave us all and watch the world die.