Diary note: Protesters target Heathrow airport ahead of expansion decision
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 29/09/16
CONTACT: For more information, or to organise interviews, photo or video coverage of the action contact: press@reclaimthepower.org.uk, 07780014541
******* MEDIA ADVISORY *******
This Saturday, hundreds of activists will participate in a ‘die-in’ and mass bike ride at the UK’s largest airport, to protest aviation expansion ahead of the government’s decision on growing London’s airport capacity this month.
WHAT: Mass creative action at Heathrow protesting airport expansion
WHO: Up to 400 activists from across the UK and local residents, organised by Reclaim the Power
WHERE: Heathrow Airport. Be at Hatton Cross Tube station car park by 12:45 to be escorted to the flashmob.
To join the ‘critical mass’ bike block – meet 12.15 at Grow Heathrow (Vineries Close, Sipson, UB7 0JH)
WHEN: Saturday 1st October.
VISUALS: Mass ‘die in’ action inside a Heathrow terminal – hundreds will ‘drop dead’ wearing gas masks to highlight the climate and pollution impacts of aviation alongside a theatrical ‘Frequent-fliers-high-polluters club’. Simultaneous ‘Critical Mass’ bike ride around the airport. The demonstration will use the ‘red lines’ theme seen at previous climate actions.
SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow @reclaimthepower on Twitter, and use hashtags #StayGrounded #StopAviationExpansion
London — Climate activist group Reclaim the Power plan demonstrations at Heathrow Airport this Saturday with action including a ‘critical mass’ bike ride starting from Grow Heathrow and a massive flashmob ‘die-in’ inside the airport itself.
The ‘critical mass’ bike ride will include a stop at the local Harmondsworth Detention Centre, to highlight the impact of climate change and forced migration. Testimonies from climate impacted communities will be read during the ‘die-in’ in the terminal, alongside a theatrical ‘frequent-fliers-high-polluters club’.
Hundreds are expected to join the ‘Stay Grounded’ action, where Reclaim the Power are calling for no new runways or expansion of aviation capacity anywhere in the UK, and for the aviation industry to be bound by climate change regulations.
The action falls in the middle of a major UN conference (ICAO) aiming to address the emissions impact of aviation, but which has been criticised by NGOs, and just ahead of the decision, expected in October, from the UK government on whether to increase runway capacity at Heathrow or Gatwick.This morning Theresa May has announced that she now has enough cabinet support to press ahead with expanding Heathrow.
As well as the call to ‘stop airport expansion’, Reclaim the Power are calling for a tax on frequent flyers to fund greater investment in climate-friendly transport.
The action is part of a coordinated wave of anti-aviation mobilisations globally – including in France, Austria, Turkey and Mexico (more information on the Reclaim the Power website).
Recent coverage of ICAO UN conference:
- Planes need to stop existing in a parallel universe when it comes to the climate fight (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/sep/26/planes-need-to-stop-existing-in-a-parallel-universe-when-it-comes-to-the-climate-fight)
- Is It Really Take Off Time For Climate Action In The Aviation Sector? (http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/james-lees/is-it-really-take-off-tim_b_12194706.html)
- http://icsa-aviation.org/icsa-expresses-strong-reservations-on-international-proposal-to-regulate-aviation-pollution-five-ways-to-save-the-agreement/
- How UN aviation deal is cheating the climate (http://www.fern.org/icao)