Thirteen protesters, the safe environment activists, belonging to Plane Stupid group, at 03:30 am on Monday the 13th July, cut the perimeter fence of the London’s Heathrow airport. They formed a human chain to oppose the building of the third runway at the airport. That was a peaceful protest against proposals to build a new runway. Heathrow is the 3rd largest airport in the world and handles 73.4 million passengers a year.
They were protesting against the environmental hazard due to laying the new, 3rd runway and had chained themselves to the one of the two runways. They said the target set for the airport of reducing greenhouse gas emission by 80% by 2050, gas pollution of the atmosphere was not achievable. The Plane Stupid group insisted that 90% of the flights originating in the airport are for the short haul to Manchester, Edinburgh, and Paris. They further added that there are enough rail links available which can be used. The group had posted all info on the Twitter and also posted their selfies. They even took the selfie when police cut the locks. Nine of them got arrested under the suspicion for violating the Aviation Act. It took four hours to remove them. Four got transferred to the safe area. The group apologized to all whose the day got spoiled and insisted that many passengers flew now and then without any need. These people are those who are making the unnecessary need for expansion.
All in all, they meant the administration to get seriously concerned for the measures required. One of the couples, Chris Madigan, and fiancee Christine had to postpone the wedding planned in Dublin on Tuesday as they could not make up and reach. The flights got delayed till the group’s arrest. 21 flights got canceled. The delay in operation cost millions of dollars. More than 5 thousand passengers were disturbed. Experts were of the opinion that airport security is lacking much and needs review and amendment.
There is an informal discussion that is going on about the transportation demands and the climate control parameters set by the administration. Approx 73,4 million passengers every year use the terminal for commuting. Heathrow is the central location of the five airports located around that cater to 135 million passengers yearly. The statement said,”
“It’s those who fly frequently and unnecessarily who are driving the need for expansion, and we cannot keep ignoring the terrifying consequences of flying like there’s no tomorrow.” Via
The climate change activists from anti-airport expansion direct action group called the Stupid Plane. The protestors say that going ahead with the recent Airports Commission recommendation that a third runway should be built at Heathrow will make it impossible for the UK to meet its climate change targets.
The protestors say that going ahead with the recent Airports Commission recommendation that a third runway should be built at Heathrow will make it impossible for the UK to meet its climate change targets.
The skies above Heathrow are already the busiest in the world, and demand for flights is driven by air fares that are kept artificially low by generous tax exemptions. The activists say that if the aviation industry paid more of its environmental costs then there would be no pressing need for a new runway.
Nine of the top ten most popular routes out of Heathrow are the short haul, including destinations such as Paris, Manchester and Edinburgh, which all have existing rail alternatives.
Ella Gilbert, an activist from Plane Stupid who is on the runway, said:
“Building more runways goes against everything we’re being told by scientists and experts on climate change. This would massively increase carbon emissions exactly when we need to massively reduce them, that’s why we’re here.
We want to say sorry to anyone whose day we’ve ruined, and we’re not saying that everybody who wants to fly is a bad person. It’s those who fly frequently and unnecessarily who are driving the need for expansion, and we cannot keep ignoring the terrifying consequences of flying like there’s no tomorrow.
No ifs, no buts, no third runway. And we mean it.” Via
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRCgmYTmNek
