Launch of the Global Anti-Aerotropolis Movement (GAAM)

By Miki Barnes, LCSW
March 22, 2015

I am forwarding this Press Release on behalf of Rose Bridger, John Stewart and Anita Pleumarom in recognition of the invaluable and inspiring work they are doing to protect rapidly disappearing farmland around the globe from the ravages of greed driven, environmentally irresponsible airport development. As noted by Rose Bridger, author of Plane Truth and founding member of the Global Anti-Aerotropolist Movement (GAAM), "Most aerotropolis projects are antidemocratic, the host community largely excluded from the governance of projects that are of enormous strategic significance. The airport, or a consortium, is granted a high degree of autonomy over the entire site. In many cases foreign investors are major shareholders, placing the project even further from control of the local community."

Dear colleagues and friends,

I'm pleased to inform you about the launch of the Global Anti-Aerotropolis Movement (GAAM). Please find our Press Release below and links to two briefing papers:

Please sign up as supporters of GAAM! For more information please contact me at rosebridger@gmail.com or Anita Pleumarom, director of the Tourism Investigation & Monitoring Team taaf.gaam@outlook.com or John Stewart, Chair of AirportWatch, johnstewart2@btconnect.com.

For updates, please regularly visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GAAMovement. A GAAM website will also be established soon.

Yours truly,
Rose Bridger

Press Release

20/03/2015

Global Anti-Aerotropolis Movement Launched

Campaigners from across the globe have come together to fight so-called "airport city" or "aerotropolis" schemes, which have been spreading rapidly worldwide in recent years(1). Environmental and climate justice campaigners, aviation and tourism critics, human rights activists, and other concerned citizens and groups have formed the Global Anti-Aerotropolis Movement (GAAM) to raise public awareness and take action on socially and ecologically harmful mega-airport development projects.

An aerotropolis is an airport-centric development, whereby a new or existing airport is surrounded by urbanisation including luxury hotels; shopping and entertainment facilities; convention, trade and exhibition complexes; golf courses and sport stadiums; and industrial parks. Governments advocate aerotropolis projects as a way of stimulating the economy but critics argue they create environmental, social and economic problems (2).

Anita Pleumarom, one of the founders of GAAM, said, "These massive airport development packages can cause havoc particularly in developing countries with weak democratic structures and law enforcement. They often involve forceful evictions and dispossession of the people's access to land, water and other resources. Therefore, it is not surprising that resistance against such projects has been growing worldwide."

GAAM aims to support local struggles and strengthen the international campaign community against harmful aerotropolis projects. Organizations and individuals who share GAAM's concerns are invited to sign up as supporters.

Notes:

(1) GAAM founders:
AirportWatch, U.K., http://www.airportwatch.org.uk/
AirportWatch Europe, http://www.airportwatcheurope.com/
Rose Bridger, author of the book Plane Truth, http://www.planetruth.net/
Pastoralists Indigenous NGO's FORUM, Tanzania, http://www.pingosforum.or.tz/
Third World Network, http://www.twn.my/
Tourism Investigation & Monitoring Team, Thailand, http://www.twn.my/tour.htm
Tourism Advocacy & Action Forum (TAAF)

(2) Briefings:
"What is an Aerotropolis, and why must these developments be stopped" by Rose Bridger
"Join the Global Anti-Aerotropolis Movement (GAAM)!" by Anita Pleumarom

For more information and/or for sign up as supporters, contact:

Rose Bridger, rosebridger@gmail.com,
Anita Pleumarom, taaf.gaam@outlook.com,
John Stewart, Chair of AirportWatch, johnstewart2@btconnect.com,
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GAAMovement

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