Extinction Rebellion plans to use drones to shut down Heathrow on 18th June and then for up to 10 days
Extinction Rebellion (XR) demands the Government begins to act on its declaration of a Climate and Environment Emergency by cancelling all Heathrow expansion. On June 18th (start of Heathrow’s consultation), XR plan to carry out nonviolent direct action to ensure Heathrow has to close the airport to flights. This is to create a “pause” in recognition of the impact of high carbon activities, such as flying, on the natural world. If the Government does not cancel all Heathrow expansion, XR will act to shut the airport down for up to 10 days from July 1st. XR is consulting its members on the proposed action. They say it is not intended to target the public, but holding the Government to their duty to take leadership on the climate and ecological emergency. Adding the planned 3rd runway would make Heathrow the single biggest carbon emitter in the UK; to expand the airport at this critical point in history would be madness. XR understands the action will cause disruption to a great number of holiday makers and other travellers, but believe it is necessary – given the prospect of far greater disruption caused by ecological and societal collapse. XR say by giving early warning of the disruption, travellers have time to make alternative plans.
.
Tweet
Extinction Rebellion: Climate protesters plan to use drones to shut down Heathrow Airport for 10 days
The drone protest follows days of demonstrations in London last month that affected hundreds of thousands of people.
By Rachael Kennedy, news reporter (Sky News)
Friday 31 May 2019
A climate activist group has threatened to use drones to shut down Heathrow Airport for up to 10 days if plans for an expansion are not cancelled.
Extinction Rebellion, the group that caused widespread travel disruption across London in April, has said it plans to hold a protest on 18 June that will force the closure of Heathrow for the day.
If the one-day protest does not prompt the government to cancel its expansion plans of the airport, the group says it will launch a 10-day protest beginning 1 July.
A statement on the group’s website said the demonstration was “not about targeting the public, but holding the government to their duty to take leadership on the climate and ecological emergency”.
It added: “Holidaymakers are being given advance notice to change travel plans”.
The group is known for its days of demonstrating last month, which saw protesters pitching tents and erecting roadblocks on major streets in London to cause travel disruption for hundreds of thousands of people.
Among the many blockades used was a pink boat that was parked on Oxford Street, and a skate ramp erected on Waterloo Bridge.
Some protesters also used superglue to stick themselves to public transport and to the fence outside Jeremy Corbyn’s house.
A small protest was also held at Heathrow, but no flights were disrupted.
Heathrow Airport says the planned demonstration with drones is a “reckless action”, adding that it “could endanger the lives of the travelling public and our colleagues”.
It said: “We agree with the need to act on climate change, but that requires us to work together constructively – not commit serious criminal offences just as hard-working people prepare to spend a well-earned holiday with their families and friends.”
Extinction Rebellion are using the demonstrations to try and pressure the government into pledging to cut greenhouse gas emissions entirely by 2025.
The group maintains that governments aren’t taking climate change seriously, and should be treating it as a “climate and ecological emergency”.
.
.
STATEMENT FROM EXTINCTION REBELLION ON HEATHROW PAUSE
May 30, 2019
by Jamie, at Extinction Rebellion
Extinction Rebellion demands the Government begins to act on its declaration of a Climate and Environment Emergency by cancelling all Heathrow expansion. On June 18, we plan to carry out nonviolent direct action to ensure Heathrow Authorities close the airport for the day, to create a “pause” in recognition of the genocidal impact of high carbon activities, such as flying, upon the natural world. If the Government does not cancel all Heathrow expansion, Extinction Rebellion will act to shut the airport down for up to 10 days from July 1.
Extinction Rebellion is in the consultancy stage with its members on the proposed action. This is not about targeting the public, but holding the Government to their duty to take leadership on the climate and ecological emergency. The addition of the planned third runway would make Heathrow the single biggest carbon emitter in the UK; to expand the airport at this critical point in history would be madness.
We understand the action will cause disruption to a great number of holiday makers, however we believe that it is necessary given the prospect of far greater disruption caused by ecological and societal collapse, if we don’t act now. Holiday makers are being given advance notice to change travel plans.
Email: press@risingup.org.uk
Phone: +447305700176, +447804743058, +447802865819; +447944894190; +447561098449; +447549766448; +447904735749; +447986671716; +447918165046; +447479234522
Website: https://rebellion.earth/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExtinctionRebellion/
.
.
.
More in the Evening Standard at
Extract:
The protest group acknowledged that families hoping to jet off on holiday at these times would be disrupted. A statement from the group added: “We understand the action will cause disruption to a great number of holiday makers, however we believe that it is necessary given the prospect of far greater disruption caused by ecological and societal collapse, if we don’t act now. Holiday makers are being given advance notice to change travel plans.
Extinction Rebellion’s official statement on the proposed disruption did not mention the use of drones, but a document shared on social media by activists outlined the plan in more detail.
Extinction Rebellion ends London protests with ‘closing ceremony’
The document read: “The proposal is for rebels to visit the Department of Transport in the weeks before the action and submit letters asking for an immediate cancellation of Government’s Third Runway plans to honour parliament’s declaration of a climate emergency.
“If these demands are not met we will hold a planned picnic and drone session in the fields around Heathrow on June 18 having given full notice to the Heathrow Authorities of our intention to do so.”
“If following this action on June 18 the government has still not taken immediate action, on July 1, and for up to 10 days, rebels will use a variety of nonviolent tactics to close down the airport again including, but not limited to, the flying of drones and blocking of public roads leading into the airport.”
xrpolice020519a.jpg
A protester lays in the street as he is surrounded by police at an Extinction Rebellion demonstration (EPA)
Activists said drone flights would begin in the early hours of the morning and that devices would not be used while planes are in the air.
“Authorities would have full knowledge of the intentions so they will have to close the airport as a duty of care to passengers,” the document continued.
During the last wave of protests at Heathrow, young Extinction Rebellion activists broke down in tears on television as they outline their fears for the “future of this planet”.
In an interview with LBC one boy said: “This is more of a symbolic protest to show the fear… the love that we have for this planet. I’m not afraid of arrest, I’m afraid of the future of this planet.”
“I’m worried that we are going to be the last generation.”
A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: “We will be developing strong plans in response to this and will take firm action against any protester seeking to cause disruption at this location by committing criminal offences such as obstruction of the highway.
“The airport is part of our national infrastructure and we will not allow illegal activities of some protesters to cause disruption and misery to thousands of travellers.
“We would urge anybody intending to join this event with a view to committing criminal activity, whether peaceful or not, to strongly reconsider.”
.
.
.