‘Stupid’ group crashes Parliament

Hoping to draw more attention to their battle to keep the world’s busiest airport from expanding, environmentalists from the group Plane Stupid managed to dodge security and hang huge banners from the roof of British Parliament.

The demonstration last week stemmed from a plan to add a new runway to London’s Heathrow Airport. Protesters say the new flight path would cause noise pollution and increase the airport’s number of flights from 480,000 to 800,000 per year. In addition, construction of the runway itself will mean the demolition of 700 homes in a neighboring village.

Reuters reported that government officials, airlines, businesses and the airport’s owner, British Airports, contend the facility will help the local economy keep pace with new rivals in India and China.