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After Terminal 1 picnic, a year of direct action
Anna Davis13.01.09
CLIMATE-change activists today warned of a year-long campaign of direct action after staging a sit-down protest at Heathrow airport.
About 250 protesters dressed in Edwardian costumes gathered at Terminal 1 to demonstrate against the proposed third runway last night.
More than 300 police were drafted in to deal with the protest, which forced BAA to close 18 check-in desks.
The protesters staged a mass picnic in opposition to the Heathrow expansion plans to the music of a string quartet.
The activists, who were joined by villagers from Sipson - which will be destroyed if the third runway goes ahead - played party games, cheered and threw hats in the air while chanting "no third runway".
Former Page Three girl turned activist Marina Pepper, 41, who dressed as a suffragette for the event, said: "This is a peaceful protest over an incredibly serious issue and it is important we keep the moral high ground."
Tamsin Omond from Climate Rush, which organised the event, said more protests are being planned.
Referring to a climate conference due to take place in Denmark in December, she said: "There will be another one. There will be one mass action a month until Copenhagen. We will do it completely openly and we will announce it. It is important to keep showing Gordon Brown and the Government that if an event is provided huge numbers will come down, even if they are worried they will be breaking the law, until he gives us political leadership on climate change.
"People can feel safe that they are peaceful, even if they sit on the edge between legal and illegal. As long as we stay peaceful we will have huge numbers."
She promised that the next event would "capture the public imagination".
Climate Rush spokesman Neil Page used a megaphone to tell the crowds at the protest to check online for details of the next demonstration.
He added: "It is up to the Government to listen and take action. They need to know we will do whatever it takes to make that happen."
He added: "We will see you soon for more fun and theatre and art."
A spokeswoman for BAA said no flights were delayed or cancelled as a result of the protest.
John Dennett, 75, from Exmouth, was at the airport to catch a flight to Majorca. He said: "I think the protesters are completely wrong, but they haven't affected me at all. It has been quite entertaining watching them. None of the people catching flights have been angry or upset."
Jane Taylor, 53, from Sipson, will lose her house if the third runway is built. Her 77-year-old mother Sheila will also have to move from her home.
Mrs Taylor, an occupational therapist, said: "Not only do I stand to lose my home, but I stand to lose the close proximity to my immediate family as well. My sister will not have to move, but the M4 will be within 10 feet of her back door.
"I have lived in the village for most of my life and my mother has been there for 77 years in the house that belonged to my grandparents. The runway will have a devastating effect on my family. But I also support the green aspect of this protest."
The three-and-a-half-hour protest, which saw campaigners dancing a conga alongside lines of police officers, ended without arrests.
Ms Omond, who has completed her studies and now works for Climate Rush full-time, said: "The best bit of the protest for me was when everyone was chanting 'no third runway'. I was held up above the crowd. It was an incredible feeling seeing how many people were there and how passionate people were."
Reader views (3)
i feel like a bit of a chump for my previous critisisms. they are obviously conscienscous people with a sensitive and fair minded outlook and very genteel.
i support their aims.
sometimes people need to fly long haul there is no alternative.
with shipping slump cant they convert some ships for passengers its more comfortable than flying but i suppose pirates could be a problem.
we have to start untieng the knots weve made in our history. we can use our imsgination and creativity to find agreeable solutions.we can be great the athletes showed that at the olympics.
i dont even like flying but its the only way to get where i need to be
im glad for them that they made thier oint and for the police that it was problem free.
- Lao Wei, wei hai china ( uk. isligton london)
I was an active protestor last night, - because the area we were protesting in was in effect closed for business I decided to travel back in full costume to gauge reactions. I had many positive comments on the tube journey back from Heathrow to Poplar, via Piccadilly, Central and DLR, ranging from love your dress - you look very pretty to questions about the campaign, so it just proves that the public are very interested in T5 and Heathrow expansion, generally the feed back was sympathetic, people commented on oil running out and we should be concentrating on more sustainable infrastuctures, rail etc., especially for short haul destinations.
- Jacqueline Baynes, London
Congratulations to all who took part, the event was completely peaceful and frienfly, but really highlighted the importance of the issue. Climate change is going to affect everyone of us, and particularly those living in developing countries, who are worst affected, yet have done the least to cause the problem. The government has made commitments to reduce emissions through the climate change act, now they must act on these commitments by taking urgent action to stop airport expansion, as well as other contradictory policies such as building coal fired power stations.
- Lucy, London, Brixton
