Flash mob protest to land at the DfT (From Your Local Guardian)

Flash mob protest to land at the DfT

7:00am Thursday 3rd July 2008 in News By Michelle Curran

Campaigners fighting the expansion of Heathrow airport will turn paper into planes today and protest at the headquarters of the Department for Transport (DfT).

The flash mob is expected to strike at 11am at the DfT offices in the capital.

At 11.03am some will reveal red t-shirts with anti-expansion slogans, and then everybody will throw a paper plane at the DfT offices.

The specially-made planes will be covered with the face of Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly and contain the message "No Airport Expansion".

Click play to see the flash mob in action

“The difference between us and Ruth Kelly is that we will clear our mess away. We have pledged to pick up the planes afterwards so there will be no litter left. Ruth Kelly, by contrast, will cause irreversible damage to the planet if she gives the go-ahead to the expansion of Heathrow.”

The mob will form part of a day-long search for Ms Kelly, who campaigners say appears to be in hiding from anyone opposed to the expansion proposals being pushed by BAA and the Government.

A spokesman for the flash mob, which was also behind the protest on the opening day of Terminal Five, said: "Despite the fact that she is proposing just about the biggest-ever expansion of Heathrow, Ruth Kelly refuses to talk with residents and campaigners. So we are bringing our messages to her in our own special way."

The spokesman added: "The difference between us and Ruth Kelly is that we will clear our mess away. We have pledged to pick up the planes afterwards so there will be no litter left.

"Ruth Kelly, by contrast, will cause irreversible damage to the planet if she gives the go-ahead to the expansion of Heathrow."

The Government and BAA want to see a third runway and sixth terminal built over the villages of Sipson and Harmondsworth, increasing the number of flights from 480,000 to more than 700,000 a year.

• Are you attending the flash mob? Email your photos to newsdesk@stainesguardian.co.uk or let us know what you think of the proposed expansion.