Q&A: Camp for Climate Action
Updated on 13 August 2007
Why have climate change protestors set-up camp at Heathrow airport?
What's the protest about?
The Camp for Climate Action is a mass camp in protest against Heathrow's expansion plans and the extent to which airports contribute to climate change in general.
How big will the camp be?
Organisers expect up to 3,000 people will set-up camp near Heathrow for a week from Tuesday. Today around 150 people had already set up near the villages of Sipson and Harlington between the M4 and the airport.
What will the campers do while they're there?
To begin with there will be around 100 workshops for campers. They'll be picking up campaigning skills and direct action training.
There will also be talks from environmental campaigners, demonstrations on how to build compost toilets and the latest sustainable technology and there'll be activities for children. A day of action against the "root causes" of climate change is planned for Sunday, 19 August.
What do local residents make of the camp?
Campaigners have forged links with local residents who are themselves resisting the third runway at the airport.
And what about people passengers?
Around 1.5m passengers will pass through Heathrow during the week of the climate camp. Campaigners say they have no intention to disrupt flights or affect passengers' holidays.
How will the protest be policed?
1,800 officers from Surrey police, Thames Valley police, the Metropolitan police and British Transport Police will oversee the event in a security operation codenamed Operation.
BAA They're expecting protesters will use 'lock-ons' - attaching themselves to vehicles and fences, dropping banners over buildings and carrying out sit-down protests on major roads.
What does Heathrow say about it all?
The British Airport Authority (BAA), won a limited High Court injunction banning anydirect action that could interfere with air travel.
But this injunction applies only to the group Plane Stupid, which has a history of direct action, and protesters from two other groups. It does not stop the setting up of the camp.
BAA has also suggested that some forms of protest could be dangerous if they distract security during a time of heightened security fears.
Commander Jo Kaye, who is responsible for the policing of the protest, Operation Hargood, says policing the protest will not affect day-to-day counter terrorist operations at Heathrow.
