Plane Stupid is a U.K.-based group opposed to airport expansion and aviation.

by Brook Wilkinson

Europe has several things over the United States -- funnier sitcoms, a better train network, nicer beers. Now you can add a more cohesive anti-travel movement to the list. There's a growing feeling across the pond that people should strictly limit their airline travel, or even give it up completely (a notion made possible in part by the aforementioned train situation). The latest activist superglued herself to a building to make her point.

The woman, a member of the anti-aviation group Plane Stupid, attached herself to the front door of the headquarters for Lastminute.com, a website that she says encourages people to "binge-fly" with their too-good-to-resist fares. Brit writer George Monbiot recently published a book, Heat: How to Stop the Planet Burning, in which he called for a 90% reduction in air travel (you can watch of video of Monbiot explaining his philosophy at YouTube, and read a post entitled "We Are All Killers Until We Stop Flying" on his blog.)

Air travel is a huge concern in terms of the future of global warming: Though it only accounts for about 5% of the world's carbon emissions, there are no alternative fuels or engines on the horizon to ease that burden. I would never advocate giving up air travel entirely -- how could I, given the nearly 100,000 miles I flew last year? -- but I can get behind the idea of taking fewer, longer trips (which are more efficient, since more fuel is burned in takeoff and landing). Just a thought . . .