ABSTRACT
Plane Stupid is a British network of grassroots groups that take nonviolent direct action against aviation expansion. The name of the organization is a wordplay combining ‘plane’ and ‘plain stupid.’ Its logo shows a fist which brings down a plane. 1 The group’s work is based on volunteer activities and is financed through donations. According to its own statements, Plane Stupid is organized horizontally without formal organization structures and without official media representatives (Plane Stupid 2013a). In this perspective, the organization is a wide network of self-organized regional groups acting for example in London, Glasgow, and Manchester while communicating mainly by use of social media such as Twitter in addition to operating its own blog. 2 In Ireland there is a sister organization named Plane Mad. Recently, a German sibling movement has been established with the assistance of British activists. This group is for instance co-operating with environmental protection organizations in Munich, such as Robin Wood. 3 In France, Plane Stupid opposes the planned airport project Notre-Dames-des Landes near Nantes. Clearly, Plane Stupid allows like-minded groups explicitly to take actions in their name as long as those groups are accountable and act nonviolent and in line with the key requirements of the organization.
