Latest news with #ExtinctionRebellion
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Airport that serves private jets hit with major backlash over future plans: 'The lowest of the low and the worst of the worst'
Protesters gathered last month outside the Farnborough Airport in Hampshire, England, to speak out against the expansion of this facility, which serves only private planes, the Alton Herald reported. A decision is expected this summer regarding the expansion, which aims to almost double the airport's capacity to 70,000 planes a year by 2040. On April 13, groups including Extinction Rebellion, Alton Climate Action Network, Farnborough Noise Group, and the Friends of the Earth rallied outside the airport with signs bearing messages like "It's plane stoopid." "This will also mean more night flights and holding stacks at 3,000 feet over places like Petersfield and Farnham," said campaigner Colin Shearn, per the Alton Herald. "The impact of these decisions will be felt by future generations in terms of pollution and climate change but more immediately in house prices and noise disturbance." Airports are a difficult enough neighbor as it is, given how they disrupt peace and compromise the air quality around them. When they serve private planes — which produce all that noise and toxic, Earth-warming pollution — for just a handful of people, it adds insult to injury. "Quite frankly, we're opposing that they're here at all," said an Alton protester in a video shot by XR, per the Alton Herald. "We've had the OK from the government to expand Heathrow, Gatwick, and Luton, which is insanity considering the ecological and climate crisis we're facing. "But to expand this airport, which is for private jets, for me is the lowest of the low and the worst of the worst. These are people flying away for the weekend to go skiing." They're not wrong about the outsized impact of private planes. A recent study found that just 250,000 people accounted for private flights worldwide — and that in a year, their travel produced more air pollution than Tanzania, a country of 67 million people. Not only that, but the use of private jets is increasing rapidly, often without any passengers aboard at all. Wasteful air travel like that needs to end if we want to protect both our communities and our planet from the impact of air pollution. Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home? Yes — always Yes — often Yes — sometimes No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Herald Sun
27-05-2025
- General
- Herald Sun
Protesters threaten to shut down Brisbane's Story Bridge
Don't miss out on the headlines from On the Road. Followed categories will be added to My News. One of Brisbane's busiest bridges could be shut down by protesters during peak-hour traffic to demand a lane be allocated for bikes. Members of Space for Cycling Brisbane and its supporters plan to march across all six lanes of the Story Bridge between 8am and 9am on Friday. The protest, calling for one of the lanes to be altered to a bike, scooter and pedestrian only travelway, comes following the closures of the footpaths on either side of the bridge in March ahead of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. A structural assessment was later carried out by engineers, who found water to be leaking through the concrete. Commuters looking to travel across the Story Bridge on Friday morning may need to look for other options. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass According to organisers of the protest, there has been 'no time frame' given to the public on the reopening of the footpaths nor an appropriate alternate detour made available. 'There are thousands of people who use the Story Bridge daily who have had their commutes and travel impacted for well over two months now,' a message from the organisers read. 'It is now clear that the footpaths over the bridge are unsafe to travel on, however more frustrating than the closure is the lack of communication from the council and the lack of a suitable detour. 'Council has multiple times published suggested detours that aren't possible.' A detour is in place for cyclists and pedestrians using the new Kangaroo Point Bridge, while CityCat and KittyKat services also link Kangaroo Point to the city and Howard Smith Wharves. Protesters are marching to demand one of the bridge's six lanes be converted into a pedestrian and bike crossing. Picture: Supplied The move has been slammed by Brisbane City councillor Andrew Wines, after the group was coined 'Extinction Rebellion on wheels' by Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner during a council meeting on Tuesday. 'Brisbane commuters need to be aware of a dangerous and disruptive protest that will shut down traffic on the Story Bridge during peak hour on Friday morning,' Mr Wines said in a statement. 'The cycling activists, who are taking a leaf out of the Extinction Rebellion playbook, plan to proceed with their illegal protest at 8am on Friday despite concerns raised by Queensland Police and Brisbane City Council. Brisbane City councillor Andrew Wines slammed the march, declaring protests will 'cause chaos' during the peak-hour stint. Picture: Supplied 'They plan to hold Brisbane commuters to ransom and cause chaos, just like Extinction Rebellion did a few years ago. 'The protesters are trying to force the closure of a lane of Story Bridge to traffic so it can be used by cyclists and pedestrians while work is underway to repair the bridge footpaths. 'However, the chaos this protest will cause will just prove the point that it's simply not practical to close traffic lanes on the Story Bridge for the benefit of cyclists.' Mr Wines said expert analysis by council found two lanes of the bridge would need to be closed to safely allow cyclists and pedestrians to cross – causing 'daily traffic chaos' not just on the Story Bridge but across the city's road network. The group has been likened to radical protesters Extinction Rebellion, who have shut down Brisbane's corridors before. Picture: NewsWire / Sarah Marshall He added: 'We're working to ensure the footpaths are reopened within months.' Queensland Police are set to make a last-minute bid to stop the demonstrators from marching and will appear at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday. The court application was lodged after talks reportedly broke down between the two parties. 'Police and Brisbane City Council attempted to engage with the protest organiser in relation to suitable protest plans, however mediation was not successful,' the spokesperson told ABC News. 'Under provisions of the Peaceful Assembly Act, police will lodge documentation with Brisbane Magistrates Court for a decision to be made with respect to the Notice of Intention to Hold a Public Assembly.' It comes as the bridge's footpaths were closed in March ahead of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred's landfall and haven't been reopened since. Picture: NewsWire / Dan Peled Protest organiser Kathryn Good said the protest would not go ahead if the court ruled it to be illegal. 'Brisbane City Council have accused us of holding an illegal protest,' she wrote to supporters on Tuesday. 'This is not only factually untrue, but an absolutely outrageous statement to make.' She confirmed the organisers has submitted a Notice of Intention and informed Brisbane City Council ahead of time. 'The organisers including myself have engaged in good faith with QPS and BCC,' Ms Good added. 'We are aware that they are seeking a court order to prevent the process and we have every intention of complying with any court orders made.' Ms Good said the protest had no affiliation with Extinction Rebellion, or any other political party or group. More than 100 people are expected to march. Originally published as 'Extinction Rebellion on wheels' threatens to shut down Brisbane's Story Bridge over missing bike lane
West Australian
27-05-2025
- General
- West Australian
‘Extinction Rebellion on wheels' threatens to shut down Brisbane's Story Bridge over missing bike lane
One of Brisbane's busiest bridges could be shut down by protesters during peak-hour traffic to demand a lane be allocated for bikes. Members of Space for Cycling Brisbane and its supporters plan to march across all six lanes of the Story Bridge between 8am and 9am on Friday. The protest, calling for one of the lanes to be altered to a bike, scooter and pedestrian only travelway, comes following the closures of the footpaths on either side of the bridge in March ahead of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. A structural assessment was later carried out by engineers, who found water to be leaking through the concrete. According to organisers of the protest, there has been 'no time frame' given to the public on the reopening of the footpaths nor an appropriate alternate detour made available. 'There are thousands of people who use the Story Bridge daily who have had their commutes and travel impacted for well over two months now,' a message from the organisers read. 'It is now clear that the footpaths over the bridge are unsafe to travel on, however more frustrating than the closure is the lack of communication from the council and the lack of a suitable detour. 'Council has multiple times published suggested detours that aren't possible.' A detour is in place for cyclists and pedestrians using the new Kangaroo Point Bridge, while CityCat and KittyKat services also link Kangaroo Point to the city and Howard Smith Wharves. The move has been slammed by Brisbane City councillor Andrew Wines, after the group was coined 'Extinction Rebellion on wheels' by Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner during a council meeting on Tuesday. 'Brisbane commuters need to be aware of a dangerous and disruptive protest that will shut down traffic on the Story Bridge during peak hour on Friday morning,' Mr Wines said in a statement. 'The cycling activists, who are taking a leaf out of the Extinction Rebellion playbook, plan to proceed with their illegal protest at 8am on Friday despite concerns raised by Queensland Police and Brisbane City Council. 'They plan to hold Brisbane commuters to ransom and cause chaos, just like Extinction Rebellion did a few years ago. 'The protesters are trying to force the closure of a lane of Story Bridge to traffic so it can be used by cyclists and pedestrians while work is underway to repair the bridge footpaths. 'However, the chaos this protest will cause will just prove the point that it's simply not practical to close traffic lanes on the Story Bridge for the benefit of cyclists.' Mr Wines said expert analysis by council found two lanes of the bridge would need to be closed to safely allow cyclists and pedestrians to cross – causing 'daily traffic chaos' not just on the Story Bridge but across the city's road network. He added: 'We're working to ensure the footpaths are reopened within months.' Queensland Police are set to make a last-minute bid to stop the demonstrators from marching and will appear at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday. The court application was lodged after talks reportedly broke down between the two parties. 'Police and Brisbane City Council attempted to engage with the protest organiser in relation to suitable protest plans, however mediation was not successful,' the spokesperson told ABC News. 'Under provisions of the Peaceful Assembly Act, police will lodge documentation with Brisbane Magistrates Court for a decision to be made with respect to the Notice of Intention to Hold a Public Assembly.' Protest organiser Kathryn Good said the protest would not go ahead if the court ruled it to be illegal. 'Brisbane City Council have accused us of holding an illegal protest,' she wrote to supporters on Tuesday. 'This is not only factually untrue, but an absolutely outrageous statement to make.' She confirmed the organisers has submitted a Notice of Intention and informed Brisbane City Council ahead of time. 'The organisers including myself have engaged in good faith with QPS and BCC,' Ms Good added. 'We are aware that they are seeking a court order to prevent the process and we have every intention of complying with any court orders made.' Ms Good said the protest had no affiliation with Extinction Rebellion, or any other political party or group. More than 100 people are expected to march.
Perth Now
27-05-2025
- General
- Perth Now
Protesters threaten to shut down busy bridge
One of Brisbane's busiest bridges could be shut down by protesters during peak-hour traffic to demand a lane be allocated for bikes. Members of Space for Cycling Brisbane and its supporters plan to march across all six lanes of the Story Bridge between 8am and 9am on Friday. The protest, calling for one of the lanes to be altered to a bike, scooter and pedestrian only travelway, comes following the closures of the footpaths on either side of the bridge in March ahead of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. A structural assessment was later carried out by engineers, who found water to be leaking through the concrete. Commuters looking to travel across the Story Bridge on Friday morning may need to look for other options. NewsWire / John Gass Credit: News Corp Australia According to organisers of the protest, there has been 'no time frame' given to the public on the reopening of the footpaths nor an appropriate alternate detour made available. 'There are thousands of people who use the Story Bridge daily who have had their commutes and travel impacted for well over two months now,' a message from the organisers read. 'It is now clear that the footpaths over the bridge are unsafe to travel on, however more frustrating than the closure is the lack of communication from the council and the lack of a suitable detour. 'Council has multiple times published suggested detours that aren't possible.' A detour is in place for cyclists and pedestrians using the new Kangaroo Point Bridge, while CityCat and KittyKat services also link Kangaroo Point to the city and Howard Smith Wharves. Protesters are marching to demand one of the bridge's six lanes be converted into a pedestrian and bike crossing. Supplied Credit: Supplied The move has been slammed by Brisbane City councillor Andrew Wines, after the group was coined 'Extinction Rebellion on wheels' by Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner during a council meeting on Tuesday. 'Brisbane commuters need to be aware of a dangerous and disruptive protest that will shut down traffic on the Story Bridge during peak hour on Friday morning,' Mr Wines said in a statement. 'The cycling activists, who are taking a leaf out of the Extinction Rebellion playbook, plan to proceed with their illegal protest at 8am on Friday despite concerns raised by Queensland Police and Brisbane City Council. Brisbane City councillor Andrew Wines slammed the march, declaring protests will 'cause chaos' during the peak-hour stint. Supplied Credit: Supplied 'They plan to hold Brisbane commuters to ransom and cause chaos, just like Extinction Rebellion did a few years ago. 'The protesters are trying to force the closure of a lane of Story Bridge to traffic so it can be used by cyclists and pedestrians while work is underway to repair the bridge footpaths. 'However, the chaos this protest will cause will just prove the point that it's simply not practical to close traffic lanes on the Story Bridge for the benefit of cyclists.' Mr Wines said expert analysis by council found two lanes of the bridge would need to be closed to safely allow cyclists and pedestrians to cross – causing 'daily traffic chaos' not just on the Story Bridge but across the city's road network. The group has been likened to radical protesters Extinction Rebellion, who have shut down Brisbane's corridors before. NewsWire / Sarah Marshall Credit: News Corp Australia He added: 'We're working to ensure the footpaths are reopened within months.' Queensland Police are set to make a last-minute bid to stop the demonstrators from marching and will appear at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday. The court application was lodged after talks reportedly broke down between the two parties. 'Police and Brisbane City Council attempted to engage with the protest organiser in relation to suitable protest plans, however mediation was not successful,' the spokesperson told ABC News. 'Under provisions of the Peaceful Assembly Act, police will lodge documentation with Brisbane Magistrates Court for a decision to be made with respect to the Notice of Intention to Hold a Public Assembly.' It comes as the bridge's footpaths were closed in March ahead of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred's landfall and haven't been reopened since. NewsWire / Dan Peled Credit: News Corp Australia Protest organiser Kathryn Good said the protest would not go ahead if the court ruled it to be illegal. 'Brisbane City Council have accused us of holding an illegal protest,' she wrote to supporters on Tuesday. 'This is not only factually untrue, but an absolutely outrageous statement to make.' She confirmed the organisers has submitted a Notice of Intention and informed Brisbane City Council ahead of time. 'The organisers including myself have engaged in good faith with QPS and BCC,' Ms Good added. 'We are aware that they are seeking a court order to prevent the process and we have every intention of complying with any court orders made.' Ms Good said the protest had no affiliation with Extinction Rebellion, or any other political party or group. More than 100 people are expected to march.
LeMonde
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- LeMonde
Louis Vuitton and the Avignon mademoiselles
Louis Vuitton made a stop in southern France for its latest Cruise show. On the evening of May 22, the house staged its 2026 Cruise collection in the Cour d'Honneur of the Palais des Papes in Avignon. This was the first time this monumental Gothic building, whose construction began in 1335 and which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, hosted a fashion show. The choice did not please everyone. Several groups staged demonstrations in front of the monument on the afternoon of Saturday, May 17, holding up placards. Led by the CGT Spectacle (the entertainment branch of the labor union), Extinction Rebellion and Attac, protestors raised concerns about the working conditions of the contract workers involved in the show, as well as the environmental damage caused by the event. The privatization of the surrounding neighborhood for several days before the show also heightened tensions. However, the event offered benefits to both the region and the city. Beyond the global spotlight such an event brings to the chosen venue, it generated real economic impact. More than 2,000 hotel rooms were booked for the two days of festivities, accommodating the brand's teams, technicians and 450 guests. Louis Vuitton also pledged to help fund the Palais des Papes's new lighting project, approved by the municipal council in September 2024 and estimated at €2 million. The choice of the Palais des Papes continued Nicolas Ghesquière's fascination with unique architecture. The creative director of the house's womenswear collections has previously staged cruise shows in visually striking venues: in France, at the Axe Majeur in Cergy-Pontoise (in the Paris region) in 2021 and the gardens of the Fondation Maeght in Saint-Paul-de-Vence (on the Riviera) in 2018. Abroad, he has chosen the Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Niterói, designed by Oscar Niemeyer in Brazil in 2016; the Miho Museum by Chinese-American architect Ieoh Ming Pei in Japan in 2017; and the modernist estate of actor Bob Hope (1903-2003) in Palm Springs, California, in 2015. "The Palais des Papes is an extraordinary place. I have been thinking about it for a show for a long time. There are so many historically rich places in France; we don't always need to seek out far-flung destinations. When I returned there some time ago with my partner [the American actor Drew Kuhse], I saw such amazement in his eyes! As French people, we sometimes forget that these places exist here at home," the designer said just minutes before the show began. High, supple boots Cruise collections are not just an opportunity to inspire and transport clients. The stakes for these mid-season lines are significant: They remain on store racks the longest, sometimes for up to eight months, making them more important for sales than other collections. The financial crisis currently facing the luxury industry has spared none of its key players, not even leaders. LVMH's net profit dropped 17% to €12.6 billion for the 2024 fiscal year. "This collection was inspired not only by the history of the venue, which evokes the chivalric and medieval eras, but also by the idea of stage and performance. Avignon is a cradle of fantastic culture. I have many memories of the festival, when the city suddenly becomes devoted to artists. I saw works there by Bill Viola, Christian Boltanski and Pina Bausch," Ghesquière recalled. Created in 1947 by Jean Vilar (1912-1971), the Festival d'Avignon, held each summer, is one of the world's largest theater and performing arts events. Designed by British artist Es Devlin, the show's set design evoked the concept of spectacle. In the Cour d'Honneur of the Palais des Papes, the audience was seated at the center of a stage, facing rows of empty red velvet stands. The models circled the guests. Among the attendees were actresses Alicia Vikander, Emma Stone and Cate Blanchett, as well as Pharrell Williams – attending as a colleague, as he heads Louis Vuitton's menswear – and France's first lady, Brigitte Macron, a longtime supporter of the brand. The collection, rich in ideas, skillfully blended different worlds and eras. To the song "Excalibur" by William Sheller (1989), medieval and knightly silhouettes appeared in velvet-sequined shift dresses paired with high, supple boots; short capes in felted cashmere patchwork; gleaming jacquard dresses reminiscent of court tapestries; and flowing knit dresses with breastplates covered in silver chains. Stage costumes evoked the spirit of Keith Richards or David Bowie. There was a rock star edge to cropped, zippered leather jackets and suits with metallic blazers or paisley prints. Some pieces, richly decorated and finely crafted, bordered on haute couture, such as short dresses made entirely from embroidered silk petals. By mixing references – historic and contemporary – Ghesquière, known for his love of science fiction, avoided glaring anachronisms by cleverly blurring the lines. While the world of luxury and fashion has never been so unsettled – a dozen new creative directors will debut on the runways in September and October, including Matthieu Blazy at Chanel, the Proenza Schouler duo at Loewe and Pierpaolo Piccioli at Balenciaga – Ghesquière has stayed his course. Appointed at Louis Vuitton in 2013 after 15 years at Balenciaga, he renewed his contract for another five years in 2023. How does he view the changes coming to his competitors? "It's very exciting! Paris Fashion Week is going to be incredibly strong, and that's what we want, isn't it? It's galvanizing!" Absolutely.
