Title: Heathrow campaigners – heading for a historic victory?

Authors: John Stewart

Addresses: HACAN 13 Stockwell Road, London SW9 9AU, UK

Abstract: The article assesses the reasons why the government may be heading for a historic defeat over its plans to expand Heathrow. It shows how the people and organisations campaigning to stop the expansion learnt vital lessons from past defeats. It highlights three key tactics the campaigners have used: building a wide-ranging coalition encompassing such diverse groups as local authorities and direct action activists, running a high-profile, pro-active, agenda-setting campaign and a willingness to challenge the government|s economic arguments. The campaign is set against a background of peak oil, a deep economic recession and the threat of climate change.

Keywords: Heathrow campaigners; historic victory; campaign against expansion plans; coalition building; economic case for expansion; pro-active campaigning; climate change; crumbling globalised markets; airport expansion; UK; United Kingdom; green economics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGE.2009.031335

International Journal of Green Economics, 2009 Vol.3 No.3/4, pp.462 - 468

Published online: 31 Jan 2010 *

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