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S. E. A. StatementsNo welcome for airport decisionThursday 24th March 2005 The Socialist Environmental Alliance does not welcome the announcement by the two governments "in principle" to provide £10 million pounds for City of Derry airport. Spokesperson, Davy McAuley said "we cannot welcome this announcement for several reasons: the clear move towards privatisation of the airport contained in the announcement, the clearing of the "obstacles at the western end of the runway" known to the people who live there as their homes and the impact on the environment. "The strong endorsement of "changes in the governance arrangements for the airport" by two governments that see privatisation as the answer to all problems must concern the ratepayers of Derry who have already pumped millions into the airport. If City of Derry goes the same way as Belfast International and Belfast City Airport, it will not be the people of Derry who profit from all that investment. "The SEA stands with the residents of Donnybrewer who do not want to be evicted from their homes, to see them flattened in response to the demands of multinational bullies like Ryanair. It is a disgrace the way they are referred to as "obstacles" in the governments' statement. However, it does show how the human beings most affected by this decision have come to be seen by those determined to bow to Ryanair's diktat", said the SEA spokesperson. "This announcement, like that about the railway, shows the short-term view taken by both governments in relation to transport. The continued expansion of air travel which, according to the airport management, will grow by 40% each year over the next 4 5 years, is a disaster for the environment. Air travel pollution is the single biggest growth factor in destruction of the ozone layer and, consequently, global warming. Derry needs better and quicker rail travel, not privatisation, evictions and more planes.
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