Home › News ›

In Protest, Greenpeace Buys Runway Land

Posted by: Judy Chang

14 January 2009 - 9:00am

Environmentalists have stalled the development of a third runway at Heathrow Airport by buying the land first.

"[Greenpeace] says a third runway will create extra pollution and noise and mean the demolition of hundreds of homes, [and] would resist attempts by Heathrow's Spanish-owned operator BAA to compulsorily purchase the site."

"Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson and impressionist Alistair McGowan were among those who said they had bought the land, about the size of a football pitch, from a local landowner.

Thompson said: "I don't understand how any government remotely serious about committing to reversing climate change can even consider these ridiculous plans. It's laughably hypocritical.

'That's why we've bought a plot on the runway. We'll stop this from happening even if we have to move in and plant vegetables.'

Greenpeace said it bought the land from under the nose of BAA with an elaborate ruse. 'We had to have a cover. We pretended we wanted land to set up a donkey sanctuary,' a spokesperson told the Guardian.

Full Story: Protesters buy up land for Heathrow runway
Source: CNN, January 13, 2009
»
Bookmark and Share
“
One of the reasons the United States became a global economic power was our ability to quickly and efficiently transport goods. We must protect that mobility as if it were an asset as precious as America’s entrepreneurial spirit or its national landmarks.
”