Fury at Extinction Rebellion over plans to shut down London airport
Extinction Rebellion has been slammed online after announcing plans for a “Hong Kong-style” shutdown of London City Airport.
Climate action group Extinction Rebellion has been panned online after announcing a plot to “occupy and shut down” a London airport to demand government action on the climate crisis.
The group plans to “close” London City Airport, in the city’s east, inspired by protests at Hong Kong International Airport in August that led to hundreds of flights being cancelled and thousands of travellers interrupted.
“The Fly Today, No Tomorrow action will involve a ‘Hong Kong style’ occupation of the terminal building, lying, sitting or glueing-on in front of the departure and arrivals gates,” Extinction Rebellion said in a statement.
On Thursday 10 October, #ExtinctionRebellion will shut down London city airport 🛬
— Extinction Rebellion London (@XRLondon) October 9, 2019
We will occupy & lock on to different parts of the terminal building, such that it cannot operate normally.
This is not a drill.https://t.co/bUr81THXf8 https://t.co/H0b80QoNj1
“Hundreds of participants have already signed up to nonviolently use their bodies to close the airport, and are willing to sacrifice their liberty to achieve this aim.”
It comes as dozens were arrested in Melbourne this morning as Extinction Rebellion protesters interrupted the city for a fourth day in a row.
The group said it was targeting London City Airport because the airport was planning a $3.64 billion expansion. The airport’s website says it has started an $873 million project to quadruple the size of its only terminal, AFP reported.
But people have pointed out the “reckless” and “self-serving” nature of the airport protest after Extinction Rebellion tweeted its plans.
Reckless, insufferable, self-regarding.
— Jacqueline Benson (@JacquelBenson) October 9, 2019
Reckless, insufferable, self-regarding.
— Jacqueline Benson (@JacquelBenson) October 9, 2019
Your irresponsible and ruining ordinary people’s daily lives , you should be ashamed of yourselves
— Michael Berg (@shoreditche2) October 9, 2019
Idiots
— Sam Robert. (@SamHard93202079) October 9, 2019
Great.
— Paddy Fern (@paddy_fern) October 9, 2019
Further damage your message.
London City is the fifth-biggest airport in London and is popular with business travellers, bankers and politicians on short-haul and regional flights. Some 18,000 passengers are due to fly on 286 scheduled flights on the day of the protest, according to Reuters.
London City Airport is working with police as it braces for the protests.
“Our shared priority is the safe operation of the airport and to minimise disruption for passengers using the airport over the coming days,” an airport spokesman said.
Extinction Rebellion, a year-old group supported by climate poster child Greta Thunberg, wants governments to adopt policies to cut harmful emissions to a net level of zero by 2025.
“Air travel is an icon of our fragile ‘just-in-time’ economic system. That system will break, as climate chaos hits,” group spokesman Rupert Read said in a statement.
“By nonviolently shutting down this airport … we are demonstrating the utter frailty of the transport systems that countries such as ours, unwisely, have come to depend upon.”
The planned shutdown on Thursday at 8am (7pm AEDT) follows protests in London where more than 500 people were arrested in the first two days, London police said.
Extinction Rebellion has carried out multiple rallies as part of a two-week global campaign.
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