How do you stop a major airport expanding? Buy the land they want for the runway.
That’s what Greenpeace in the UK has done. They bought a plot of land slap bang in the middle of the proposed third runway site at Heathrow Airport, London. Their co-owners are TV impressionist Alastair McGowan, actress Emma Thompson and a Tory parliamentary candidate, Zac Goldsmith.
The campaign is called Airplot and you can be part of it. Sign up to become a ‘beneficial owner’ of the plot. There’s no cost involved but you’ll be included in a legal deed of trust and will be represented in any legal fight by the purchasers of the land.
If Heathrow’s expansion goes ahead, it will become the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions in UK. And the government’s plans to expand airports across the country will make it impossible for the UK to meet its greenhouse emissions reduction commitments.
Here’s what Airplot co-owner Emma Thompson says about that, “I don’t understand how any government remotely serious about committing to reversing climate change can even consider these ridiculous plans. It’s laughably hypocritical. That’s why we’ve bought a plot on the runway. We’ll stop this from happening even if we have to move in and plant vegetables.”
Organic vegies, of course.
In Australia, expansion of coal export facilities in New South Wales and Queensland will make us responsible for much more greenhouse pollution too.
Maybe we should start looking at the real estate ads.
What land would you buy to prevent crazy carbon intensive development?
