In Protest, Greenpeace Buys Runway Land

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

1 minute read

January 14, 2009, 9:00 AM PST

"[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

Tuesday, January 13, 2009 in CNN

Environment Land Use United Kingdom London Heathrow Airport

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