31st March 2008

Last week Greens joined the 'Flash Mob' protests at the opening of the new Heathrow Terminal 5 (T5). The protesters milled around the check-in areas looking innocuous then simultaneously ripped off their over-garments to reveal matching red t-shirts emblazoned with the simple message, "STOP AIRPORT EXPANSION". They made a peaceful protest, chaperoned by plenty of police with machine guns, for the eyes of the world's media.

Elinor Croxall, Coordinator of Stroud District Green party who joined the protest, said: "Airport expansion is farcical in light of the mounting evidence that we will create an hostile planet as a result of climate change. The flash mob was a very positive event and a clear demonstration that some people do consider the effects from climate change of greater importance than more cheap flights."

See Elinor's photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/smelieli/

A whopping £4.3 billion quid was spent on essentially a better-lit new cattle shed, and has been mired in problems since opening. Staff couldn't log on to new computer systems, baggage handlers struggled to park near planes or get through security before new 'fasttrack' check-in machines malfunctioned and T5 ground to a complete halt. Many planes had to be cancelled and vast numbers of baggage are still separated from their owners.
 
Philip Booth, a spokesperson for Gloucestershire Green party who has been campaigning against Staverton Airport's expansion commented: "BA made over a half billion pound profit in just six months last year despite a £270 million fine dished out for their part in colluding with 'competitors' over passenger fuel surcharges. T5 is estimated to be enabling up to 80,000 new flights, even before the planned new third runway - I applaud this peaceful action for drawing attention to the economic and environmental madness of expanding airports in a world with ever less oil and ever more climate change. What does it take to wake politicians up?" 

For more see www.planestupid.com and www.notrag.org