Protesters hail 'colourful and fun' anti-Heathrow demonstration
13.1.2009 (local Guardian) Photos below .....
By Chris Caulfield & Paul Teed
Hundreds of anti-expansion protesters held a "colourful and fun protest" at Heathrow ahead of the Government’s decision on a proposed third runway.
According to organisers between 300 and 400 protesters, many in Edwardian costume, descended on the aiport’s Terminal 1 ahead of this week’s expected announcement on whether a third runway will be allowed.
"I think part of it is we are ordinary Londoners, not some weirdo strange group of people it’s just to show that we are ordinary folks who care about the community. It’s got a very much family gathering feel to it."
Susan Kramer
The evening’s protest, organised by Climate Rush, saw demonstrators in Edwardian costumes backed by string quartet in an attempt to emulate the Suffragette movement.
Among the crowds were Richmond Park MP, Susan Kramer, who is leading the Liberal Democrat’s anti-Heathrow expansion campaign and chairman of anti-expansion group HACAN John Stewart.
Mrs Kramer said: "We are having an absolutely brilliant time. It’s been a wonderful colourful protest.
"It’s been entirely peaceful. There’s been a conga line, a group playing Edwardian music, another group playing alternative music, there have been cup cakes. It’s been almost a celebration."
She added: "I think part of it is we are ordinary Londoners, not some weirdo strange group of people it’s just to show that we are ordinary folks who care about the community. It’s got a very much family gathering feel to it."
John Stewart said: "The protest went very well indeed. There were between 300 and 400 here, many in party dress it was very colourful and very fun, but fun with a serious purpose.
"And that purpose is to send a message to Gordon Brown to say if he does give permission for Heathrow expansion there will be more protests, but perhaps not so fun."
Chiswick Resident Rebecca Frayne, a founding member of group Climate Action Now, attended the protest with her two 15-year-old sons and her eight-year-old daughter.
The 46-year-old said: "If the third runway goes ahead it would make it impossible for the Government to meet it’s carbon dioxide emission target. That’s why we have come here to get the Government to consider our children’s future."
link to article
see also
some photos to give a flavour of the evening - a really successful, peaceful, good natured event - but with a deadly serious underlying purpose.
And a nice picture of a conga at
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2009/jan/12/activists-travelandtransport
(13th January 2009)
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