PHOTOGRAPHY about Direct ActionEnvironmentGovernanceHealthTransportationposted on December 16, 2013 by flux
'Santas of Anarchy' Deliver Coal to Port Planners
PORT OF VANCOUVER - Several singing Santas dropped in on Port Metro Vancouver this morning to deliver lumps of coal and a message not to develop the massive Fraser Surrey Docks coal terminal.
The reception was frosty. The Santas delivered their lumps of coal, read some public criticism of coal exports and sang some songs before leaving. One Santa was briefly detained by Vancouver police.
From the Santas' release:
"Port Metro Vancouver (PMV) has been very naughty, acting like the coal industry’s best friend instead of listening to the concerns of communities, health authorities and local governments about Fraser Surrey Docks. We want to make sure that PMV listens to the wishes of people today, and of the generations upon generations of children to come who want nothing more than clean land on which to live, clean water to drink, and a climate that all beings can thrive with. Unlike PMV, we Santas read and respond to the wish-lists and letters we receive.
"We, the Anti-Capitalist Santas, are here to deliver coal to PMV, which is responsible for global climate change and injustice. We have come all the way from the North Pole, a place increasingly at risk as the Harper regime and governments and industry around the world seek to profit off of every last drop of oil that may be under the ice. Conveniently for them, the faster the climate changes, the more and faster they can extract the oil and rake in the profits. We are here to tell these naughty profiteers that the earth is not a Consumerist Christmas Tree! You are not entitled to root around underneath for everything you can possibly find and rip it open, leaving a mess in your wake. What you create and leave behind is not simply a crumpled up ball of wrapping paper. From the air quality disaster in China to the floods of Calgary to Typhoon Haiyan, not to mention global food insecurity, climate change affects us all, with the most marginalized people at greatest risk. Coal, oil and gas are not gifts magically left for you. They are not yours to take and you will be stopped.
"May we celebrate this season by coming together to fight for the gifts of the earth. Consumption can’t bring happiness, but collective resistance most definitely can. Raise your voice in a chorus of dissent, of joy, and of militant rejection! Ring in the new year with hope that we all may survive many more, and that the planet’s gifts will remain for generations of creatures to enjoy.
"COAL, OIL, GAS
NONE SHALL PASS"
The action comes one day before a planned Flood the Port phone and email protest calling for a stop to "Big Coal’s last chance " organized by Rising Tide. For more information see: http://risingtide604.ca/?p=1034 and https://www.facebook.com/events/246405662190581
The site for the Vancouver local of The Media Co-op has been archived and will no longer be updated. Please visit the main Media Co-op website to learn more about the organization.
Comments
Bad noise = Good sign
So I heard there's a lot of noise from the moderates and bewildered herd for this action. "Mooo violence, Baah baah black bloc thugs" etc
Fuck every last one of those idiots. Not only is reading their arguments painful for anyone paying ANY attention but I would argue the level of venom indicates that activists have been on the right track for awhile now.
The union brass putting a damn bounty on the protestors shows that they've gained the attention of their enemies and did it without giving them much to throw people in jail with, so accusations of violence and intimidation make them seem like a bunch of sulky whiners (the PMV press releases are laughable)
An escalation of these playful yet slightly confrontational actions is exactly what folks should be doing/supporting to force the dialogue in a lead up to what will undoubtedly be an interesting next few years. I'm personally excited about blockading, since I feel like I can contribute more to that type of action but I had a good laugh when I heard about the santas and I hope they're laughing too, at the weak attempts to intimidate them.
See all you beautiful people at the barricades!
to the Santas of Anarchy
Thank you so much! It is so great seeing folks out there, using creative, collective tactics to bring much needed awareness to these issues. Thank you for the important reminder that these companies, behind everyone's backs, keep doing business during the holidays. Those dirty tricksters.
You are appreciated everywhere, and enjoyed reading your release! Especially this part, "Consumption can’t bring happiness, but collective resistance most definitely can."
Cheers to you on this rock n roll nightmare of capitalism holiday.