Connecting anti-aviation movements
from Grow Heathrow to the ZAD (summer 2016)
The end of July saw a group of 20 riders congregate at Grow Heathrow, a beautiful occupied space on the site of the planned expansion of Heathrow’s third runway in the village of Sipson. Their intention? To ride the 600km to the ZAD, a similar community in France, to share experiences, invite communication and solidarity, and forge international links in the fight against the aviation industry.
The occupation of Grow Heathrow, on an abandoned waste site near the airport, has attracted many inhabitants, some permanent, some more transient, but all with the shared goal to prevent the expansion of the airport and strive for a more just and sustainable way of living.
The occupation of Grow Heathrow, on an abandoned waste site near the airport, has attracted many inhabitants, some permanent, some more transient, but all with the shared goal to prevent the expansion of the airport and strive for a more just and sustainable way of living.
At Grow Heathrow we discovered how the ongoing struggle to prevent the construction of the third runway was born from the local community, who have been resisting the airport’s expansion for many years, with a Climate Camp held nearby in 2008 helping to build links with the local campaigners and strengthen the movement. In 2010, through a demand for a greater anti-aviation presence in the village of Sipson by some local inhabitants, the site was taken and has ever since been transforming into a place of resistance and of growth, with experiments in ways of living communally, building homes from salvaged materials, making meals and drinks from foraged plants and much much more.
After contributing to a work day on the site, the riders set off for their week-long journey. It was a diverse group who set off together, amongst those beginning the ride a father and his three-year-old child in a trailer complete with solar panel; a group of friends on a three-person tandem built for the occasion; a precariously strapped on guitar and mandolin joined the load; as well as lycra-clad pros with all the gear!
This diversity created a unique and powerful dynamic, and an instant mobile community was formed with a limitless level of patience to deal with the trials and tribulations which arose, with a huge sense of care within the group. Although many events could have threatened to split the “tribe”, all worked together to make the journey itself as important as the destination. Over the South Down hills and in to Portsmouth, then through Normandy and Brittany, the riders wild camped or were welcomed by anti-aviation campaigners and community gardeners. So much unconditional warm hospitality was felt, and many stories shared from each other’s struggles.
After contributing to a work day on the site, the riders set off for their week-long journey. It was a diverse group who set off together, amongst those beginning the ride a father and his three-year-old child in a trailer complete with solar panel; a group of friends on a three-person tandem built for the occasion; a precariously strapped on guitar and mandolin joined the load; as well as lycra-clad pros with all the gear!
This diversity created a unique and powerful dynamic, and an instant mobile community was formed with a limitless level of patience to deal with the trials and tribulations which arose, with a huge sense of care within the group. Although many events could have threatened to split the “tribe”, all worked together to make the journey itself as important as the destination. Over the South Down hills and in to Portsmouth, then through Normandy and Brittany, the riders wild camped or were welcomed by anti-aviation campaigners and community gardeners. So much unconditional warm hospitality was felt, and many stories shared from each other’s struggles.
By early August the ride had reached la ZAD (Zone to Defend), a 4000-acre plot of forests, farm lands, historical farm houses, wheat fields and lakes. Similar to Grow Heathrow, the campaign to stop the transfer of Nantes’s airport to the site started with many local committees until a Climate Camp took place on the site in 2007 and people started to occupy the space on a longer term. Many different collectives are now spread out across the area, each with its own individual identity and unique role and contribution within the wider community – resemblant of a village living outside of the state’s oppressive institutions.
During their time at the ZAD, the riders from Grow Heathrow got involved with many aspects of communal work ranging from the building of a cob dome, to cooking, harvesting beans, stacking hay and collecting beer for a party! As an exchange and to further foster the links between the two, letters from people at Grow Heathrow were delivered to collectives on the ZAD, and a presentation on the anti-aviation movement in the UK was given during the stay.
Many stayed on longer than expected and most plan to come back in the near future, possibly in support of the evictions announced by the French government in October.
The beautiful stories and incredible adventures that came out of this project are infinite. Hopefully, the photos below can convey a small glimpse of what it was like.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/cyfngyy81cnlqcb/AADHQhvVZ5WybumnEu4IOYnna?dl=0
During their time at the ZAD, the riders from Grow Heathrow got involved with many aspects of communal work ranging from the building of a cob dome, to cooking, harvesting beans, stacking hay and collecting beer for a party! As an exchange and to further foster the links between the two, letters from people at Grow Heathrow were delivered to collectives on the ZAD, and a presentation on the anti-aviation movement in the UK was given during the stay.
Many stayed on longer than expected and most plan to come back in the near future, possibly in support of the evictions announced by the French government in October.
The beautiful stories and incredible adventures that came out of this project are infinite. Hopefully, the photos below can convey a small glimpse of what it was like.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/cyfngyy81cnlqcb/AADHQhvVZ5WybumnEu4IOYnna?dl=0
