A third runway is proposed to be built at the Heathrow airport in the UK. Once constructed the third runway would make Heathrow to the single biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK. It’s expected that the airport would emit nearly 27 million tonnes of CO2 every year. A sum that is equivalent to the emissions of 57 of the least polluting countries in the world combined.

But the resistance against the third runway is massive, as I’ve written about before: Greenpeace, celebrities and politicians buy Heathrow land to delay third runway and Angry kids against the grownups inaction

Here in this video Emma Thompson, a British actress and Greenpeace activist, is being interviewed about her anger against the third runway. The video is about 3 months old I believe. But I think it clearly show what kind of feelings people have towards the third runway and the hypocrisy from the UK government.

In a genius attempt to stop the construction of a third runway at the Heathrow airport in the UK the TV impressionist Alastair McGowan has bought a piece of the Heathrow third runway site along with Emma Thompson, Zac Goldsmith and Greenpeace.

If constructed the third runway would make Heathrow UK’s single biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions. It’s expected that the airport would emit nearly 27 million tonnes of CO2 every year. A sum that is equivalent to the emissions of 57 of the least polluting countries in the world combined. But McGowan, Thompson, Goldsmith and Greenpeace hopes to stall or even stop the third runway completely by dividing up the plot to people around the world.

“The government would use its powers to issue compulsory purchase orders for the plots but lawyers said yesterday that the existence of thousands of owners would make this process time-consuming and expensive. Similar tactics have been used successfully to protect tropical forests.”

Greenpeace says they will “resist all attempts at compulsory purchase and will represent millions of people from across the world at any planning inquiry.” And that their “lawyers are now examining ways in which all of our owners can act as a legal obstacle to plans for a third runway at our busiest airport”. So far over 5000 people have signed up for a piece of the plot.

“As legal owners of this plot we will take the opportunity to oppose airport expansion at every stage in the planning process. We’re joined on the deeds by Oscar winning actress Emma Thompson, comedian Alastair McGowan and prospective Tory parliamentary candidate Zac Goldsmith. Along with Greenpeace UK, that’s the maximum number of owners we can put on the deed, but you can sign up to add your name and stand beside us to resist all attempts of a compulsory purchase of the land.

You’ll be joining beneficial owners who’ve already signed-up including local Labour MP John McDonnell, Tory frontbench spokeswoman Justine Greening, Lib Dem MP Susan Kramer, environmentalist George Monbiot and acclaimed climate scientist and Royal Society Research Fellow Dr Simon Lewis.”

Emma Thompson said: “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.”

“It’s a very good time to enter the property market. If BAA want my patch they will have to negotiate with me – and why would I want to sell it to them?” said Kramer.

McGowan said: “The government is sticking two fingers up to the environment and the people of this world. By giving this runway the go-ahead Gordon Brown is effectively holding a giant blow torch to the polar ice-caps and saying ‘Melt, Melt !’”

If you want your very own piece of the land you can sign up here.

Here comedian Alastair McGowan explains why he joined the Airplot to stop Heathrow expansion:

Conservative Party green advisor Zac Goldsmith explains why he’s part of Airplot, a group who’ve bought land in the middle of Heathrow airport’s proposed 3rd runway, and who say they will never sell it to BAA or allow the airport operator’s bulldozers onto their site:

The older generation is partly to be blamed for this climate change mess we have gotten our self into. They sit on the power and the money. They decide yours, mine and your children’s future. And from the looks of their inaction it seems they have decided to make the future a real mess for everyone.

No wonder the kids, and their moms, are angry.

They are so angry that they have started a UK network called WE CAN (WE Climate Action Now).

“we CAN was started by a group of mothers and young people who are gravely concerned about the government’s failure to take decisive action on climate change. Many of us have not taken political action before. The CAN in our name stands for Climate Action Now – which is what we’re calling for. The government needs to know that it has a mandate to tackle the problem – we want to show that it has.”

Their first action will be a demonstration against the plans on a third runway at Heathrow Airport.

“How can a responsible government that claims it cares about the environment be giving serious consideration to a third runway which would double air traffic (not reduce congestion) and emit as much yearly CO2 as the whole of Kenya? The government’s stance on this issue sums up the whole problem: profits and popularity are put before the planet.”

They have even made a video:

http://wecan.uk.com