Northern Climate Rush at Manchester airport
and Manchester Airports. This it to mark the Government’s imminent announcement
on a Third Runway at Heathrow, and airport expansion generally. (It is widely
expected that the Government will approve the runway.
The event had been announced quite sometime ago, and was not a “flashmob” or
unannounced action like the October 2007 “arm-tube” blockage of a domestic departures
lounge by a group of Manchester Climate Action/Plane Stupid activists.
In Manchester there were approximately 40 people sitting down (
there were at least 70 officers of Her Majesty’s Greater Manchester Constabulary,
kindly facilitating the protest. There were also a fair sprinkly of Manchester
Airport management in attendance. There were picnic hampers, dancing and general
merriment.
The event was hosted in the most out-of-the-way part of the Departure Lounge
that could be found, away from curious travellers’ eyes. Entry was by ticket only-
the GMP had kindly volunteered to act as door staff, and took an extraordinary
number of photos as mementos.
It lasted an hour or so, with the advertised string quartet making a welcome
appearance.
There was one arrest. MCFly’s reporter was not there to witness that, but is
reliably informed that the individual in question had to make very very strenuous
efforts in order to be detained.
A longer report/analysis on this event will follow.
rush