Aviation Conspiracy: Aircraft Noise Fueling Thailand Protests?
Bill Mulcahy
http://pages.prodigy.net/rockaway/newsletter505.htm
Aviation Conspiracy Newsletter
#505...........................................................................................Nov.
30, 2008 Past newsletters can be accessed at:
http://pages.prodigy.net/rockaway/ACNewsmenu.htm If you want to get the
newsletter sent to you every week, sign up to AviationWatch. Bill Mulcahy
rock...@prodigy.net
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Quote of the Week: "This idea of Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi being a cargo
hub - they can drop it down the drain now" From a N.Y. Times story this week
on the riots in Thailand focused on closing its two major airports;
themselves the focus of anti-noise "balloon" protests last year.
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Aircraft Noise Fueling Thailand Protests?
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As Bill Sees It (Editorial): Was Anti-Noise "Balloon" Release Threat First
Shot In Overthrowing Thailand Government? It wasn't mentioned in the media,
but there seems to be a connection between the current anti-government
protests in Thailand and the 2007 anti-airport noise protests. There was
international interest and many news stories when people living near
Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, protesting increasing aircraft
noise, had planed to release balloons to disrupt air traffic. I don't
believe it is any mistake that the anti-government protestors have targeted,
and actually closed, two of Thailand's major airports. I thought the balloon
tactic was brilliant and it got the government to the bargaining table over
the compensation for the noise victims. It's brilliance as a tactic was that
the protestors didn't even have to release the balloons, only threaten to
do it to get media and government attention to their plight!!!
Will U.S. And European Airport Impacted Communities Use The "Balloon"
Tactic? I'm sure this connection will be noticed by many airport-impacted
communities in the U.S. or Europe. I can imagine that if a community got
together a large group, with each person having one, small helium-filled
balloon and threatened to release them (after calling in the media of
course), it would generate a lot of attention to their plight. If it was a
small group the FBI, FAA and other federal agencies would no doubt arrest
them on the spot charging them with attempting to bring down a airliner.
However, I doubt if they there was a large group the Aviation Cabal and
their police would really risk a public relations backfire. Perhaps, like in
the case of the 2007 Thailand Airport protests only the threat to release
balloons would be enough.
Dr. Allan Greene At A 1990's LaGuardia Airport Demonstration: I had some
problems with the October 26th Aviation Conspiracy Newsletter and I was
asked to re-embed (I think I made up a new word) the video I took of
recently deceased, environmentalist activist Dr. Allan Green into this
week's newsletter. Although Dr. Greene wasn't effected by LaGuardia Airport
noise, he joined with local N.Y. City communities fighting its increasing
noise impacts. This was because he believed, as I do, that we cannot allow
the FAA, airports, airlines and their political agents in congress (the
Aviation Cabal) to divide us while they continue to increase the deadly
impacts of aviation air and noise pollution on our communities. The tide may
not be turning against the quality-of-life destroyers yet, but when it does,
it will have been environmentalists like Dr. Allan Greene that brought it
about.
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Friends of the Earth In Forefront Fighting Aviation Pollution!!! Coalition
of environmental groups, states and regional governments filed petitions
with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, urging the agency to address
the effects of vast amounts of global warming pollution from the world's
aircraft fleet. The petitions are the first step in a process that requires
the EPA to evaluate the current impacts of aircraft emissions, seek public
comment and develop rules to reduce aircraft emissions or explain why it
will not act. Earthjustice filed the environmental groups' petition on
behalf of Friends of the Earth, Oceana and the Center for Biological
Diversity. Global warming is one of the most pressing environmental
challenges of our time.
(From Friends of the Earth 12/5/2007 letter to the EPA Administrator)
Concentrations of greenhouse gases, primarily from society's burning of
fossil fuels and the destruction of forests, are increasing in the Earth's
atmosphere, trapping solar energy that would otherwise be radiated back into
space. This phenomenon is having profound impacts on the earth and its
inhabitants, including a rise in global temperatures, more extreme weather
events, severe flooding and droughts, the spread of infectious diseases, and
the extinction of numerous species. As one of the world's largest emitters
of greenhouse gases, the United States must act to address this urgent
situation by reducing emissions from all sectors of its economy. Aircraft
engines represent an increasing and potent source of greenhouse gas
emissions, due in part to the unprecedented growth in air travel in the
United States and internationally. In 2005, aircraft accounted for three
percent of the United States' total carbon dioxide emissions and 12 percent
of such emissions from the U.S. transportation sector. In fact, the United
States is responsible for almost half of worldwide carbon dioxide emissions
from aircraft, nearly five times the amount of the next largest emitter.
Moreover, aircraft emissions are projected to substantially increase in the
coming decades, and globally, are expected to more than triple by
mid-century. Recent reports show that at altitude, aircraft emissions have a
greater impact on global warming than previously understood, and are more
harmful than land-based fuel combustion. While some countries have already
begun taking steps in response to these challenges,6 the United States has
thus far ignored its responsibility to address this growing source of
greenhouse gas emissions.
N.Y. City Metropolitan Area: "Private Funds Sought For Airspace Redesign
Fight!!! Connecticut is determined to continue its legal battle against the
Federal Aviation Administration's plan to reroute more air traffic over
Fairfield County, and will take it to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary,
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said Monday. "We have made very clear
that the state is committed to fight the battle as long as it is necessary
and no matter who is in it or who is out of it," Blumenthal said. The
members of a 13-town alliance, which includes Stamford, Norwalk and
Greenwich, do not want to go back to taxpayers for more money to pay for the
legal battle in a crumbling economy. Town officials said last week they plan
to ask for private donations to continue the fight. But that isn't an issue
for his office because it has an "exceptionally skilled" legal staff,
Blumenthal said. "We will continue to work with them as full partners," he
said of the towns that form the Alliance for Sensible Airspace Planning. "We
value their expertise and perspective. They are the people on the ground."
The alliance has committed more than $1 million to fight the FAA plan. But,
as town revenues dwindle, members decided to raise the money privately. "We
would like to think we can raise $40,000 per town on average as a minimum,"
said Jerry Ellis, a New Canaan resident charged with leading the campaign.
The alliance hopes to raise most of the money by the end of March, Ellis
said. "These are difficult times. We don't know what the response will be,"
he said. "We may have to alter it based on the feedback we are getting." He
wants mayors and selectmen to help identify possible donors, Ellis said
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/localnews/ci_11060303
FAA Employee Caught Stealing From The Public!!! SEATTLE (AP) - A Federal
Aviation Administration employee from Southern California took illegal perks
from his job - including a plane, yachts and heavy-duty trucks - and an
investigation continues into how widespread the practice was, federal
prosecutors said Thursday. Steven Bradley Smith, a field technician with the
FAA in San Diego, abused an internal computer system to claim surplus items
from other government agencies, according to charging papers unsealed
Thursday in federal court in Tacoma, Wash. "There's a great concern about
who knew what about this - about whether it's something that was systemic,
or one guy who managed to find the seam in the zone defense of the FAA,"
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Jennings told The Associated Press. He said he
could not comment further on the investigation. The computer system is run
by the General Services Administration and is designed to allow federal
agencies to list items they no longer need, so that other agencies can
acquire them free of charge. Prosecutors said Smith should not have been
authorized to acquire items but managed to anyway - purportedly on behalf of
the FAA - using another agency's code number. Among the 215 items Smith
obtained since 2004 were a Cessna 210 from the Forest Service, a Boston
Whaler from the Coast Guard, several computers and a 44-foot Navy yacht that
had been used by the ROTC at the University of Washington, the charging
document said. Smith and his half-brother, Bradley Garner - who owns Royal
Limousine Service in Bermuda Dunes, Calif., and is accused of receiving some
of the goods - are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and theft of
honest services. Smith made an initial appearance Thursday in federal court
in Santa Ana, Calif., and was ordered to post a $200,000 bond before he
could be released on electronic home monitoring, Jennings said. It was not
immediately clear who Smith's lawyer was. Editor's Note: Makes one wonder
how many FAA and other federal employees are bilking the public.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g--YgtnAaV5AJEQ6cFoBilsPg26gD94J2RU80
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Important Aviation
News Stories This Week
Feds: FAA worker took plane, yachts as perks
By GENE JOHNSON - 2 days ago
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g--YgtnAaV5AJEQ6cFoBilsPg26gD94J2RU80
SEATTLE (AP) - A Federal Aviation Administration employee from Southern
California took illegal perks from his job - including a plane, yachts and
heavy-duty trucks - and an investigation continues into how widespread the
practice was, federal prosecutors said Thursday.
Steven Bradley Smith, a field technician with the FAA in San Diego, abused
an internal computer system to claim surplus items from other government
agencies, according to charging papers unsealed Thursday in federal court in
Tacoma, Wash.
"There's a great concern about who knew what about this - about whether it's
something that was systemic, or one guy who managed to find the seam in the
zone defense of the FAA," Assistant U.S. Attorney David Jennings told The
Associated Press.
He said he could not comment further on the investigation.
The computer system is run by the General Services Administration and is
designed to allow federal agencies to list items they no longer need, so
that other agencies can acquire them free of charge. Prosecutors said Smith
should not have been authorized to acquire items but managed to anyway -
purportedly on behalf of the FAA - using another agency's code number.
Among the 215 items Smith obtained since 2004 were a Cessna 210 from the
Forest Service, a Boston Whaler from the Coast Guard, several computers and
a 44-foot Navy yacht that had been used by the ROTC at the University of
Washington, the charging document said.
Smith and his half-brother, Bradley Garner - who owns Royal Limousine
Service in Bermuda Dunes, Calif., and is accused of receiving some of the
goods - are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and theft of honest
services.
Smith made an initial appearance Thursday in federal court in Santa Ana,
Calif., and was ordered to post a $200,000 bond before he could be released
on electronic home monitoring, Jennings said. It was not immediately clear
who Smith's lawyer was.
Garner was scheduled for a detention hearing Friday. A public defender who
represented Garner at his initial appearance, Joan Politeo, was out of the
office Thursday afternoon and did not return a message seeking comment.
Investigators said they determined that Smith turned the yacht, a fiberglass
yawl called the Lively, over to Garner, who took it to Canada, where it
remains. He also gave Garner the Cessna, and even though the plane remained
owned by the government, Garner managed to take out an insurance policy -
and received a $45,000 payment when the plane was damaged in a storm while
parked at a Louisiana airport in 2007.
The Boston Whaler was found on a trailer in front of Smith's home in Blue
Jay, Calif., along with a boat previously used by the Border Patrol and a
Chevrolet K2500 truck once used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration. Attached to that truck was a 600-gallon tank trailer
formerly used by the Air Force, according to an affidavit filed by
Christopher M. Bjornstad, a special agent with the GSA's inspector general.
Smith also arranged for transfer of another yacht and several other trucks,
officials said. Other items, including several Apple computers, were sold on
eBay, Bjornstad wrote.
Smith's activity came to the attention of the GSA when someone else in the
Transportation Department reported he had been using their code number to
try to claim the Lively this year. Investigators allowed him to continue the
practice to build a case against him, the court documents say, and the
Lively episode is the reason charges were filed in Washington.
It's unclear how Smith would have obtained such items from around the
country while keeping his day job. After agencies claim items through the
computer system, they must physically acquire them.
"It's not like UPS shows up with a boat on your doorstep," Jennings said.
In some cases, such as with the yacht, Smith sent Garner to pick up the
items.
Ian Gregor, a spokesman for the FAA in Los Angeles, confirmed that Smith
still works for the agency.
"Speaking generally, and not in relation to any specific case, the FAA has
no tolerance for anyone misusing the funds of the United States of America,"
he said in a written statement. "We expect excellence and professionalism
from all of our 46,000 employees."
Jennings said the government would try to reclaim its property - if it can
find it.
"There's another Boston Whaler missing and a bunch of other boats we're
still looking for," he said.