Skip to content or view screen version

Airport boss killed by Tree

steve | 21.01.2007 16:23 | Climate Chaos | Sheffield

A falling tree has killed the boss of the UK's sixth busiest airport.

A falling tree claimed the life of Richard Heard (49), Birmingham Airport's managing director. Heard was driving his BMW X5 (one of the most fuel hungry SUVs) to work on his way to work at 5.45 am in what was described as a "freak accident".

Heard presided over Birmingham Airports plans for a massive expansion by 2030. These include the lengthening of the existing runway to accommodate larger aircraft and a second runway (by 2020) to increase the number of flights plus terminal expansion.

Heard could accurately be labeled as a true climate criminal.

Local MPs Lorely Burt (Lib Dem) and Caroline Spelman (Conservative) paid tribute to the man they seemed to have great respect for. Burt said Heard was, "an exceptional man" and he,"will be greatly missed".


For more see:
 http://icsolihull.icnetwork.co.uk/news/local/tm_headline=airport-boss-dies-in-gale-&method=full&objectid=18502109&siteid=91411-name_page.html

steve

Comments

Hide the following 11 comments

How is this news?

21.01.2007 23:35

please explain why this should be on the newswire

It strikes me as being a bit disconcerting that you're rubbing your hands with glee whilst pronouncing that this person was a "climate criminal"

get a life!

Mrs. Heard


Trees killed by Airport Boss

22.01.2007 01:51

This is indeed sad news. The death of anyone(or anything) is often so.

We mourn deaths in ALL Nations.

Why is it news?
The mainstream lot and now the indymedia threaders have chosen to make it so.........
His unfortunate death being solely as a result of the seasonally inclement weather in the U.K. for January.......i.e high winds, rain, storms, etc! (Did I say inclement?amazing).

This poor man was one of the unfortunate 11 or so that were killed, died, by the seasonal activity of nature.......being nature, climate being climate? and was, in particular, singled out by the mainstream lot, because, it seems, he was deemed to have some high profile, tooty flooty job in the capitalist world.
I am not sure if any of the other 10 or so had jobs or names that were worthy of special mention.

Airport bosses kill trees. Trees kill airport bosses.
C'est la vie. C'est la mort.

We mourn deaths in ALL nations.(sadly)

Not Heard

Never Heard


News and non news

22.01.2007 10:08

Why is this news? Indymedia's definition of non-news is: Posts which are clearly purely comment, opinion or rants unrelated to a recent event or action. Well under that definition it very clearly is news since it is a description of a recent event.

What you really mean is that it's not news YOU want to read about. Fair enough. Few people, if any find every newswire post of interest. However the title is pretty clear - if it doesn't interest you click on another title.

Aviation is one of the most polluting forms of transport because emissions are released high in the atmosphere causing more problems than if the same fuel was burned a ground level. Many activists (inc. me) have campaigned against airport expansion so this is of specific interest.

Would the death of Blair or Bush also constitute non-news simply because it was covered by the mainstream lot? I doubt you would complain if it was their deaths that had been reported.

Steve


3rd attempt at 'reporting' this story

22.01.2007 10:56

I see this is the third time you've published this story, the two previous attempts were hidden for good reason by admin.

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/birmingham/2007/01/360295.html

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/birmingham/2007/01/360308.html

Another indymedia admin also commented that your previous post (360308) was a 'tad distasteful'

 http://lists.indymedia.org/pipermail/imc-uk-features/2007-January/0119-jr.html

What exactly are you trying to do for the climate change cause as an "activist" by repeatedly publishing this?

not impressed


Best news all year!

22.01.2007 11:41

'Distasteful' my arse!!! .... This is fucking hilarious!!!

As Im surrounded by the knowledge and experience that capitalism is not only oppressing, exploiting and generally screwing over ordinary people everywhere, murdering thousands in war and oppression and poverty, but is also murdering the planet I live and depend on, generally ruining mine and everybody elses lives through ecological catastrophe, to hear that one of the bastards contributing most to climate chaos has been killed by the newly chaotic climate strikes me as the best piece of 'news' Ive received all year!

You reap what you sow....

reaper


Unimpressed

22.01.2007 12:17

"I see this is the third time you've published this story". Wrong! This is the first time.

Who is the "you" you are referring to? If you bothered to check the articles you'd see that they're three different articles by three different people, no doubt each unaware that this news had been reported prior to their own version.

What exactly are YOU trying to do for the climate change cause by moaning about other people's news items? Instead of dissing others efforts try contributing something positive instead.

The fact an airport boss has been killed by a tree may be distasteful to you doesn't mean it is to everyone and besides, sometimes the truth offends. But that doesn't mean it shouldn't be reported.

Deaths and obituaries are a normal part of news reporting.

If you wish to discuss this further I suggest an email list is the more appropriate place. I am on the Sheffield one which is quiet right now.

steve


that's no defence

22.01.2007 19:51

At the Nuremburg trials (of Nazis), it was established that just doing your job, or following orders, or doing a job because if you didn't someone else would, were not defences.

Somewhere along the line we have to take responsibility for our actions, whether it's working actively for the expansion of air travel (& thus death), or having a quick weekend over in Barcelona, by plane.

So whilst one death doesn't cancel out another, there's a lot of people dying, a lot more will, and that's because humans aren't taking responsibility for the future.

Here's hoping we have one, xx

ooom-sayer


Retread

22.01.2007 19:59

Actually, this has been on the newswire before. Rather pathetic opportunistic exploitation that smells of immaturity.

UKTV Gold


come on...

23.01.2007 09:49

oh come on! to ignoore this story would be silly. its not immature or distasteful at all. its not everyday that a climate criminal gets killed by a tree. this is the kind of thing i daydream about!

get things in perspective.

trees


Kill Them All

23.01.2007 16:39

It is comforting to see so many people triumphant at the death of a human being. My, what a wonderful reflection on all of you.

Amused


What if...

24.01.2007 16:14

What if a member of your family was killed in an aircrash due to a storm. Would you be laughing at the irony of their death being a result of climate change when their actions were part of the problem?

How would you feel about people laughing at their death on the Internet?

moral relativism