March 30 Global Day of Action Sees Climate Crime Circus Come to Town

Media Release:
For Immediate Release

Rising Tide, Vancouver, Coast Salish Territories

MARCH 30 GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION SEES CLIMATE CRIME CIRCUS COME TO TOWN

Vancouver, March 30: Chevron’s north Burnaby refinery was blockaded for three hours today by activists who occupied the access road and prevented tanker trucks from entering or leaving the site.

Over 150 concerned residents, First Nations, artists and climate justice activists took part in today’s circus-themed demonstration outside the refinery, organized by Rising Tide Vancouver, Coast Salish Territories in opposition to the oil giant’s involvement in the proposed Pacific Trail Pipeline (PTP) project.

The protest marks a global day of action against Chevron and the PTP,which saw events take place simultaneously in towns and cities across Canada and the United States. (1)

Chevron recently became equal partners with Apache in the PTP pipeline project, which if built would transport gas from fracking operations in northeastern BC to Kitimat for processing and export by tanker. (2) Theproject faces stiff opposition from some indigenous groups, and a continuous blockade of the pipeline site has been in place since November 2012 when PTP surveyors were evicted from the traditional territory of the Unist’ot’en Clan, who actively oppose the project.

Freda Huson of the Unist’ot’en Clan, who attended today’s protest in Burnaby, said: "If Chevron tries to install unsanctioned pipelines through unceded lands, they will meet complete and utter defeat”. She continued, "We will resist all of their plans. We act to protect our lands, and the increasingly unstable climate, to do what is best for future generations".

“Our action was a fun and inclusive spectacle”, said Eric Doherty of Rising Tide Vancouver, Coast Salish Territories. “But our point is dead serious: We do not need fracked gas and we will not stand by as big oil pushes us over the climate catastrophe cliff”.

Today’s actions also highlighted concerns about the climate and water pollution threats associated with fracking, the method used to extract the gas that would be carried by the PTP pipeline if it were to be built. Cody Kolenchuk, of Rising Tide, said: “Chevron’s Pacific Trail Pipeline would massively expand the fracking industry in BC at a time when the climate crisis demands that we leave fossil fuels in the ground, not plough ahead with ever more risky and carbon intensive extraction methods like fracking. As politicians put economic growth and industry interests ahead of carbon common sense and indigenous rights, it’s up to us to change the course of BC’s energy future”.

Kolenchuk continued: “The Pacific Trail Pipeline is not a done deal. Today we sent a clear message to Chevron: we won’t stop until you do”.

Media Contacts:
Maryam Adrangi, 604 762 0536
Cody Kolenchuk, 778 994 3306
Eric Doherty, 604 346 6994

Notes
1. Events were held in locations including Calgary, Edmonton, Hamilton, Montreal, Smithers, Toronto, Vancouver and Victoria in Canada; and Chico, Great Plains, San Francisco and San Ramon in the United States.
2. More information on the PTP project: www.pacifictrailpipelines.com

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NEWS RELEASE publié le mars 31, 2013 by edoherty

March 30 Global Day of Action Sees Climate Crime Circus Come to Town