Greenpeace - The Heathrow Contest

Airplot is the piece of land in the middle of the proposed third runway site at Heathrow airport, owned by Greenpeace. The Airplot is a fundamental part of the campaign by Greenpeace and other groups to block construction of a new runway.

Description
In January 2009, the government announced its support for BAA’s plans to build a third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow airport. A third runway at Heathrow is the jewel in the crown of an out-of-date government aviation policy which would see nearly 30 airports expand across the UK. It is also onthe frontline of climate changing infrastructure. The government’s aviation policy is completely inconsistent with its wider climate change commitments. A third runway would make Heathrow airport the UK’s largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions and undermine all other efforts to reduce our emissions. In a carbon constrained world, where greenhouse gas emissions must be massively reduced if we are to protect the planet and people around the world, carbon-intensive infrastructure like new runways have no place.
Airplot is the piece of land in the middle of the proposed third runway site at Heathrow airport, owned by Greenpeace, Emma Thompson, Alistair McGowan, Zac Goldsmith and tens of thousands of people from around the world. The Airplot is a fundamental part of the campaign by Greenpeace and other groups to block construction of a new runway. A new runway would destroy communities, increase noise and air pollution, and contribute significantly to climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions. The winning design will gain international attention. Its aesthetic and cultural power will help us win the moral and political campaign before construction is even attempted. But above all it will be a practical solution, facilitating resistance to the development of the runway if full scale non-violent direct action is necessary.
Of course, we hope that the winning design will never actually need to be built. No new government will be able to justify continued support for the third runway. However, as we know, governments can break promises. If BAA’s third runway plans are pushed towards construction, whenever that may be, then preparations for non-violent resistance will escalate and steps towards building our winning design will start.

Jury
Sarah North (Campaigns Director, Greenpeace)
Alistair McGowan (Comedian and Airplot co-owner)
Peter Clegg (Senior Partner, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios)
Oli Rodker (environmental activist)
Rachel Whiteread (artist)
Professor Neil Thomas (Founder of Atelier One)

Prize
Exhibition

Entry Fee
None

Entries
A CD/DvD or memory stick containing 1 A1 or 2 A2 portrait and an accompanying design summary (maximum A4 4pp 12pt)

Submission Address
The Heathrow Contest
Greenpeace
Canonbury Villas
London
N1 2PN

Timetable
Judging period: 3-14 May 2010
Shortlisted entries notified: 17 May 2010
Exhibition of submissions: Summer 2010 tbc

Organizer
Greenpeace UK Ltd.

Official Website
http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/airplot/contest/heathrow-contest