ccc-north-london : Message: Stop airport expansion `flash mob' at new terminal 5

STOP AIRPORT EXPANSION FLASH MOB*
ON THE OPENING DAY OF HEATHROW TERMINAL 5

11am on the dot, Thursday 27 March
International Arrivals (Ground Level), Heathrow Terminal 5

www.stopairportexpansion.org

Be at Terminal 5 International Arrivals at 11am to put on (or strip to reveal) your
brightly coloured 'STOP AIRPORT EXPANSION' t-shirt: a visible presence of
public opposition to the madness of airport expansion. Wander round for a
bit, have a coffee, leave when you like.

ORDER YOUR FREE T-SHIRT TODAY: stopairportexpansion@... or 0845 458
2564.

* Flash Mob: 'A large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public
place, perform an unusual action for a brief period of time, then quickly
disperse' (Wikipedia).

The Government and BAA see the opening day of Terminal Five - the biggest
terminal ever built in the UK, and the subject of the longest Public Inquiry
in British history - as an opportunity to put the case for further airport
expansion. Join the flash mob on 27 March to highlight the real problems
that airport expansion causes: climate change, noise, air pollution and
community destruction.

www.t5flashmob.com

PLEASE NOTE: Almost everything is against the Heathrow byelaws, but wearing
a t-shirt is not a crime. So as long as you're not demonstrating, you're not
breaking the law!

***********************************************************
FURTHER BACKGROUND + FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. AIRPORT EXPANSION & CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change is the greatest challenge facing humanity.

Indeed, according to the latest science, "Recent greenhouse gas emissions
place the Earth perilously close to dramatic climate change that could run
out of control" with calamitous results (Hansen et al, "Climate Change and
Trace Gases", Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, 18 May 2007).
Control of these gases must "play a critical role in preserving a planet
resembling the one in which civilisation developed"

If nothing is done to halt airport growth then aviation will overwhelm all
other cuts in UK emissions, helping make catastrophic climate change
inevitable. Nonetheless, the aviation industry is pushing to almost double
Heathrow's capacity by increasing flights and building a third runway.

For more background see George Monbiot's articles for the Guardian: 'On the
flight to global meltdown' (http://tinyurl.com/yrj23d), and 'Preparing for
Take-Off' (http://tinyurl.com/297p9j).

2. HEATHROW TERMINAL FIVE
Heathrow Terminal 5 will open to passengers on 27th March. It is the
biggest terminal ever built in the UK, and has been fiercely opposed by
local people, environmentalists and the local authorities. It was also the
subject of the longest Public Inquiry in British history, lasting almost
four years.

The Government has been consulting on plans for a 3rd runway and a
significant increase in flights numbers on the existing two runways. All
this is part of a 30 year national programme to cater for a trebling in the
number of passengers using UK airports. Terminal Five is the most visibly
symbol of this deeply unsustainable policy.

For more background see www.hacan.org.uk, http://stopheathrow.org and
www.notrag.org.

3. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

Q1. How many people will be there?

Hopefully hundreds.

Q2. Is it legal?

Yes. Though many things (singing, dancing, handing out leaflets etc...) are
against the Heathrow byelaws, wearing a t-shirt is not a crime. So as long
as you're not demonstrating, you're not breaking the law.

However, you might want to bring a climate-change related book with you to
read in the airport, or have a loud climate-change-related conversation with
a friend, whilst imbibing a cup of (pricy) coffee ...

Q3. Will it be peaceful?

Yes, completely. On 19 February, the Evening Standard published a piece
claiming that 'anarchists' were planning to 'flood' Terminal Five on its
opening day, 'threaten[ing] the travel plans of tens of thousands of
passengers and creat[ing] a security nightmare.' Like the Standard's earlier
claims that the (entirely peaceful) climate camp near Heathrow last August
would involve the use of 'hoax suspicious packages' and 'assaults on the
airport's security fence', this is nonsense. The flash mob will be legal,
peaceful and fun: people will assemble briefly before dispersing as
peacefully and as quietly as they arrived.

Q4. Should I arrive at Heathrow openly wearing my t-shirt?

No. Please do not reveal your t-shirt until 11am. If you want to come
wearing it, then wear something over the top of it until 11am.

Q5. What will the flash-mob achieve?

The world's media will be there. The Government and BAA see the opening of
the 5th Terminal as a big opportunity to grab the attention of the media and
put the case for airport expansion. The flash mob will help divert the
limelight away from BAA and its new terminal, and help to highlight the real
problems that airport expansion causes: climate change, noise, air
pollution and community destruction.

Q6. Who will be taking part?

Local residents who've fought Terminal 5 for so long. People who will lose
their homes if a third runway and a 6th terminal go ahead. Local people
whose quality of life will be ruined if there is more expansion. People from
around London, and further afield, who are concerned about climate change.
Everybody is invited!

Q7. Who's behind the flash-mob call out?

We are a group of people concerned about climate change and, in particular,
the impact of the aviation industry and plans for airport expansion. We are
also concerned about the other downsides of airport expansion: noise;
community destruction; and air pollution. We are all active in movements for
social change, especially the environmental and peace movements. Members of
the following organisations have been involved in the planning process on a
personal basis: Airport Watch, Bicycology, HACAN Clear Skies, the London
World Naked Bike Ride, Plane Stupid and Rising Tide Hastings.

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