Tonight:
4°c
When Ed Miliband, the Environment Secretary, said that he hoped that millions of people would take part in global protests to force governments to tackle climate change, he probably did not expect Stansted airport to be occupied by environmental protesters. Yet this morning, flights at one of Britain's largest airports were brought to a halt as a result of the 50 people from the pressure group, Plane Stupid, occupying part of the runway.
Thousands of would-be passengers have been stranded. Worse, the incursion raises real fears about the security of the airport. If eco-campaigners can breach runway security through the ingenious use of an old fire engine, waved through by security, Islamic terrorists with very different ends could surely gain access just as easily. The GMB union says it drew Stansted owner BAA's attention months ago to the flawed state of security fencing. Nor is this the first direct action by climate change protesters at the company's airports: there were protests at Heathrow last year. BAA must answer hard questions about its security provision.
Yet it must be said that the Government's approval for the expansion of Stansted with a second runway is one of the least justifiable elements of its controversial aviation policy. It would devastate a large swathe of rural Essex, including an historic village and church, in the interests of expansion in the budget airline sector, the part of the industry likely to be hardest hit by the credit crunch. The policy is also difficult to square with the Government's new statutory obligation to reduce carbon emissions, which includes those from aviation.
The effect of today's action by Plane Stupid will not just be to disrupt flights; it raises a salutary alarm about the state of airport security.
School daze
TODAY'S report on the nature and scope of primary education, commissioned by Schools Secretary Ed Balls, is unlikely to encourage parents' faith in the school system. The author, former Ofsted inspector Sir Jim Rose, says that schools should abandon the old subject-based curriculum and scrap history and geography. Instead, lessons could be based on six "areas of learning". There should be far more focus on pupil's emotional wellbeing. Computers should be used more.
It should be clear enough already that the move away from traditional and "harder" subjects over the past 30 years has served children poorly - yet this report suggests going further in that direction. Mr Balls would be well advised to jettison these nostrums. He commissioned this report - and if he gave Sir Jim his direction of travel in conducting it, he should have known better.
Children already receive substantial instruction in computing at school to supplement skills they learn at home. What they do not get, and what they need, is a body of knowledge to equip them to understand the past and the present. This must begin with literacy and numeracy but it should continue with subjects like history and geography.
These proposals, if implemented, could aggravate the existing divide between state and private schools - to poorer children's disadvantage. Learning to be happy is not enough.
And celebrating...
RECESSION SPIRIT. Our picture today of the intrepid souls plunging into the Parliament Hill Lido - to remind us all to conserve water - is a testimony to what might be called the recession spirit. Despite, or perhaps because of, the endless forecasts of economic disaster, Londoners are showing remarkable resilience in the face of financial downturn. Whether exploiting London attractions or staying in with family or being thrifty, people are making the best of hard times - even if few of us are ready to resort to an ice-cold dip just yet.
Reader views (1)
do we want to save zimbabawe.
- G.Stocker, ilford essex, 08/12/2008 14:49
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