Also by annaj

Find more photos from the twinning on Flickr.

At the end of last year, Manchester Council approved proposals to expand Manchester airport's freight terminal, more proof that despite the rhetoric on climate change, it's still full steam ahead for the government's airport expansion programme across the country.

Yet, this Sunday there was more evidence that resistance to airport expansion is alive and well, and getting stronger by the day.

The proposed freight terminal at Manchester would demolish homes and destroy a large section of the historic Hasty Lane and acres of green belt. So Hasty Lane residents have teamed up with Sipson villagers - who are also threatened with losing their homes under the proposed third runway at Heathrow - and through a live video-link-up they were twinned!

Just say 'No': Anna with Sipson residents outside the Department of Transport

Another busy start to the week - though last week never really finished since I spent most of the weekend at the Airport Watch conference with fellow anti-airport expansion campaigners from all over the country.

It was a really useful weekend, sharing ideas, discussing how we tackle the various false solutions, like biofuels, and smoke and mirrors that the aviation industry is hiding behind, and reflecting on how far we've come. We've won all the arguments, and are gradually chipping away at the government and aviation-industry fortress, the final frontier around the out-of-date 2003 Aviation Policy that underpins airport expansion plans around the country.