The only planet to commit suicide

It is not strictly correct that earth is the only planet to commit suicide. mars was once populated and nuclear destruction laid it to waste, as can be now seen. Furthermore, there have been self destructive populations in many other galaxies, such as in some of the planets off sirius.

I can't comment on life on Mars, or the reasons for the lack thereof; but it is also untrue that all aviation fuel is untaxed. AVTUR is free of duty by international treaty, and any change to this situation would lead to a massive increase in the amount of tankering (where aircraft carry enough fuel for both the out and return sectors) going on. Aircraft would fill up in regimes where fuel is cheaper and emit more carbon dioxide as a result. Taxing AVTUR could also lead to aircraft ending sectors with smaller fuel reserves, compromising safety.

AVGAS is taxed at a punative rate, and this leads to many small aircraft being run on MOGAS, again compromising safety. The future of general aviation may well be diesel engines run on AVTUR - there are one or two in the UK and they are suprisingly quiet, or small turbine engines driving variable pitch props.

Given this fundamental error, one has to wonder about the accuracy of the statistics presented in this article. No sources are given - one wonders if they were merely made up to suit the author's prejudices and desire to restrict the right to travel. Used correctly, modern aircraft can be more fuel efficient than single occupancy car use.

Modal shift from air to rail will only take place when rail offers equivalent speed and standard of service. In the UK that is someway off.

You are quite right that AVGAS is taxed. However this fuel is not used in jet engined aircraft. For those that don't know AVGAS is high octane leaded petrol like used to be available for cars (OK, for any pedants reading this, it was higher octane than used in most normal cars)and was phased out because of its environmental and health risks. It has not been banned for those lucky people who like to fly their private prop-engined planes. And, despite the environmental and health issues of AVGAS it is incorrect of RVR800 to state that the tax is punative. It is currently about half that for petrol used by motorists.

RVR800's other arguements are real issues but can be overcome as part of a well constructed plan to introduce aviation fuel duty. The problem with planes refuelling in other countries where fuel is cheaper (ie where tax is not levied) is overcome by International treaty - just as they did to agree no tax. 'Tankering' and low fuel reserves are signifiant safety and environmental issues and can thus be addressed by means of international and national safety regulation.

Climate chaos is widely recongnised as the greatest threat to life on this planet. If governments cannot address such contributors as air travel then we are lost (shit, that means we really are lost!).

I cannot comment on RVR800's accusations about the veracity of Liz's other facts. I'll leave that up to her.

of course the use of fuels is unsustainable. Easter Islanders found that out. Personally I would abandon any restraint and travel as much as possible whilst it is still possible. There will come a day soon when it will be too expensive.

I also recomend all readers to learn how to keep a horse/donkey/yak as these will be needed before too long. I have taken many happy journeys with all three animals. They are far superior to any vehicle, especially yaks which are independant creatures.

So burn off all the nasty fuel then lets return to a more bucolic way of life.

Normally I would not respond to a pedant but as you have questioned my accuracy well - right back at you pal……

There is an international ban on the taxation of aviation fuel (not the fuel that pissy little planes use –thank you Gulliver for your comment). It is not “legal” to impose tax on aviation fuel due to an international agreement, the Convention on International Civil Aviation, known as the Chicago Convention. The Chicago Convention, established by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in 1947, exempts international aviation from paying tax on fuel, whether as a duty or as VAT.

The implementation of the Chicago Convention has been managed through some 4000 bi-lateral agreements meaning that to re-negotiate it would be a bureaucratic nightmare and the politicians here in UK and EU do not want to upset their capitalist buddies who are destroying this planet and our future so they can make a quick buck.

Go read the Hansard debate on Tax on Aviation Fuel.

The Aviation industry has been excluded from the Kyoto Protocol, due to the complexities of imposing domestic legislation on pollutants that are emitted in various national air spaces and the global commons. For these historical reasons, the aviation sector has a privileged position with regard to taxation in relation to other modes of transport.

My information is correct.
Sources listed below - to name but a few
THE END

Research on Aviation summary By Michael McCarthy, Marie Woolf and Michael Harrison Published: 28 May 2005 reported in the Independent
Tyndall Centre for Climate Change (North) The University of Manchester - Growth Scenarios for EU & UK Aviation: Contradictions With Climate Policy
Brendon Sewell report Fly Now Grieve Later
Institute for Pubic policy research - various reports- Plane Trading & The Sky is the Limit
IATA Fuel Trade Meeting - Aviation Fuel And The Environment
FOE aviation briefing may 2005
Measures to Curb the Climate Change Impacts of Aviation Position Paper – June 2005 European Environment Bureau (EEB) Friends of the Earth Europe (FoEE) International Friends of Nature (IFN) European Federation for Transport and Environment (T&E)
SERA EU report sustainable Aviation Policy – Lost In Translation
Green skys.org
General Aviation Awareness Council (GAAC), European Transport Policy for 2010 Time to Decide
The Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Defra funded Fast-Track Research
Environmental Change’, Volume 14,
UK Climate Impacts Programme
DfT, general reports reports inc 2003, ‘The Future of Air Transport’.
The Energy Saving Trust,
Environmental Audit Committee report, ‘Aviation: Sustainability and the Government’s second response’.
Sustainable Development Commission
AEA Report for DEFRA the validity of food miles
CONSAVE 2050 report - Competitive and sustainable growth
Jeffrey Gazzard President of the Union Européene Contre les Nuisances des Avions – Airports and the Environment
The Financial Times
EU Commission and Parliament transcripts
Hansard - debate on Aviation Fuel Tax
International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) summary text of bilateral air service agreements.
HM Treasury

In light of the growth in avaiation pollution and its detrimental effects on the climate, the Nottingham Dissent group invites you to a demo against flying on Sat 7th January 2006. Meet outside the council house at 12 noon. We have flyers, but would welcome people to bring banners, cotumes, improvised street theatre. We will be having a tour of the local travel operators and their clients to convince them that flying is not the best way to get to your holiday destination unless you want to totally screw the planets atmosphere.

love and rage

K

great article liz, all correct & will be supporting the campaign fully.
One day though I hope to fly usinf fischer tropsche kerosne which is a bio crop aviation fuel, currently patented.S.africans synthesized different fuels too during embargoes.
havent got all facts data to hand, had main computer probs,
Joni

In reply to: "Nottingham Dissent group invites you to a demo against flying on Sat 7th January 2006".

What people need to realize is that less than one-hundred years ago, people didn't even have the option to fly or drive.

Mike Neuman
 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ConserveNOW/

"It is never pointless to think about alternatives that may at the moment seem improbable, impossible, or simply fantastic."
-- Václav Havel

Liz wrote

"There is an international ban on the taxation of aviation fuel (not the fuel that pissy little planes use –thank you Gulliver for your comment). It is not “legal” to impose tax on aviation fuel due to an international agreement, the Convention on International Civil Aviation, known as the Chicago Convention. The Chicago Convention, established by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in 1947, exempts international aviation from paying tax on fuel, whether as a duty or as VAT."

I have looked at the Chicago Convention and can't see such a ban although belief in its existence seems to be widespread. Can anyone help me track it down?

Mungo Bovey
Edinburgh
8 April 2006