LONDON, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The environmental protest group Extinction Rebellion threatened on Friday to shut down Heathrow Airport with drones on June 18 if the British government does not cancel the airport's expansion plans.
According to a statement published on the group's website, Extinction Rebellion wants the government to "act on its declaration of a Climate and Environment Emergency by cancelling all Heathrow expansion."
It plans to stage a one-day "nonviolent direct action" to ensure that Heathrow authorities close the airport for the day. The group wants to "create a 'pause' in recognition of the genocidal impact of high carbon activities, such as flying, upon the natural world." Should the government fail to cancel its airport expansion plans, "Extinction Rebellion will act to shut down the airport for up to 10 days from July 1."
"This is not about targeting the public, but holding the government to their duty to take leadership on the climate and ecological emergency. The addition of the planned third runway would make Heathrow the single biggest carbon emitter in the UK; to expand the airport at this critical point in history would be madness," the statement said.
"We understand the action will cause disruption to a great number of holiday makers, however, we believe that it is necessary given the prospect of far greater disruption caused by ecological and societal collapse if we don't act now. Holiday makers are being given advance notice to change travel plans," it said.
Extinction Rebellion held a 10-day protest in central London in April, causing major traffic disruptions. Over 1,000 protesters were arrested for various offences.
Heathrow Airport said the protest plan was "reckless" and could "endanger lives."
A Heathrow spokesman said: "We agree with the need to act on climate change, but that requires us to work together constructively -- not commit serious criminal offences just as hard-working people prepare to spend a well-earned holiday with their family and friends."
As the world's second busiest airport, Heathrow's connectivity helps London and the southeast of England compete with other European cities for business investment, which in turn produces economic benefits for the rest of the country. The government estimates that building a third runway would allow Heathrow to increase its capacity. However, the expansion plans face opposition due to projected increases in noise and air pollution.
