Sunday, August 12, 2007
Protesters Set Up Camp Near Heathrow
LONDON -- Environmentalists pitched tents, erected a wind turbine and built a solar- powered movie theater Monday near London's Heathrow Airport as part of a protest against a proposed new runway and the environmental damage caused by air travel.
About 150 protesters set up tents in a field north of Heathrow's perimeter fence near where the new runway would be built to prepare for the start of the weeklong protest, which begins on Tuesday and culminates in a day of unspecified "direct action" on Sunday.
Hundreds are expected to attend the "climate camp" during the week. Organizers said their aim was not to disrupt people's travel plans but to start a debate about airport-related environmental damage.
A fifth terminal is scheduled to open at the airport in March 2008, and the government has proposed the third runway to open around 2020.
One of the protesters, Gary Dwyer, 34, said he expected the event to be peaceful.
"There will be the day of direct action, but we've said there will be no attempt to storm runways or anything like that. Public safety is paramount," he said.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown's office warned the demonstrators not to interfere with the running of the airport.
"People do have a right to protest in this country, but the government believes that action that would disrupt the running of Heathrow would be unacceptable," a Downing Street spokeswoman said on condition of anonymity in line with government policy.
Up to 1,800 police officers will be on duty during the protest. Metropolitan Police said officers carried out patrols of the camp Monday to ensure no offenses were being committed.
Mark Bullock, managing director of BAA Heathrow, said the airport operator would also take necessary steps to protect staff and travelers during one of its busiest travel weeks of the year.
"With the current terrorism threat, keeping Heathrow safe and secure is a very serious business," Bullock said. "Any action taken by the protesters that distracts us or the police from this task is irresponsible and unlawful."
LONDON -- Environmentalists pitched tents, erected a wind turbine and built a solar- powered movie theater Monday near London's Heathrow Airport as part of a protest against a proposed new runway and the environmental damage caused by air travel.
About 150 protesters set up tents in a field north of Heathrow's perimeter fence near where the new runway would be built to prepare for the start of the weeklong protest, which begins on Tuesday and culminates in a day of unspecified "direct action" on Sunday.
Hundreds are expected to attend the "climate camp" during the week. Organizers said their aim was not to disrupt people's travel plans but to start a debate about airport-related environmental damage.
A fifth terminal is scheduled to open at the airport in March 2008, and the government has proposed the third runway to open around 2020.
One of the protesters, Gary Dwyer, 34, said he expected the event to be peaceful.
"There will be the day of direct action, but we've said there will be no attempt to storm runways or anything like that. Public safety is paramount," he said.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown's office warned the demonstrators not to interfere with the running of the airport.
"People do have a right to protest in this country, but the government believes that action that would disrupt the running of Heathrow would be unacceptable," a Downing Street spokeswoman said on condition of anonymity in line with government policy.
Up to 1,800 police officers will be on duty during the protest. Metropolitan Police said officers carried out patrols of the camp Monday to ensure no offenses were being committed.
Mark Bullock, managing director of BAA Heathrow, said the airport operator would also take necessary steps to protect staff and travelers during one of its busiest travel weeks of the year.
"With the current terrorism threat, keeping Heathrow safe and secure is a very serious business," Bullock said. "Any action taken by the protesters that distracts us or the police from this task is irresponsible and unlawful."
