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Greenpeace (Canada) occupies Enbridge office in downtown Vancouver

by Tami Starlight

Greenpeace sets up outside 505 Burrard St. (Bentall tower 1)
Greenpeace sets up outside 505 Burrard St. (Bentall tower 1)
Greenpeace sets up outside 505 Burrard St. (Bentall tower 1)
Greenpeace sets up outside 505 Burrard St. (Bentall tower 1)
Stephanie Goodwin - B.C regional director locked down in van
Stephanie Goodwin - B.C regional director locked down in van
Close up of "mock oil spill"
Close up of "mock oil spill"
Oil soaked "mock Enbridge workers"
Oil soaked "mock Enbridge workers"
The VMC (sneaky *%#@^ we are) gains access to Greenpeace (Canada) activists locked down in Enbridge office (Bentall tower 1 - 505 Burrard St)
The VMC (sneaky *%#@^ we are) gains access to Greenpeace (Canada) activists locked down in Enbridge office (Bentall tower 1 - 505 Burrard St)
Very soon after arriving (Commando style) The VMC is escorted out of the building
Very soon after arriving (Commando style) The VMC is escorted out of the building
Greenpeace members passing out information on Enbridge & the proposed pipeline
Greenpeace members passing out information on Enbridge & the proposed pipeline

Also posted by Tami Starlight:

Greenpeace activists locked themselves to door of Enbridge's head office in Vancouver Wednesday morning in an act of resistance against a pipeline rupture that has released at least three million liters of oil into the Kalamazoo River in Michigan.

While their truck containing equipment and supplies was moved onto the sidewalk outside the building, Christine LeClerc and 3 others entered the office on the 6th floor and announced their intentions to conduct a sit in while chaining themselves to the door and temporarily hanging a banner behind them.
 
At the same that this was happening at about 10 AM, other volunteer activists were busy unloading the truck, hanging another banner and building a fake pipeline.  Greenpeace BC director Stephanie Goodwin and Brian Beaudry were meanwhile ensconced in the truck by sheet metal plating covering the inside of all windows. 

Once all the equipment was in place the group staged a mock oil spill while handing out literature and advising those opposed to the idea of the proposed pipeline to write to the Prime Minister and Enbridge CEO Pat Daniel.   "Don't worry folks, it's just an oil spill.  It happens all the time, Enbridge spills 63 times a year.  They're professionals," said Aaron Laurie-Joice, a Greenpeace member. A tar ball from the Gulf of Mexico was symbolically used to write a message on the glass doors the protesters had secured themselves to.

Enbridge staff were rumored to have vacated the office after the lockdown, leaving security and the police to deal with the problem. They also asked security to lock off elevator access to their floor but we were able to gain access shortly before 2 PM for a few pictures until security demanded that we were not allowed on the floor.  Attempts were made throughout the day by Ms Goodwin to reach Pat Daniel and John Carruthers, President of Northern Gateway Pipelines.  The only response was from Mr Daniel's executive assistant to inform them that the CEO was out of town.

 
VPD Chief of Police Jim Chu had put in an appearance at the protest but there was limited police activity throughout the day and it appeared that they would rather just leave it alone rather than hasten the exit of the activists.  Bentall security maintained their vigil both inside and out of not only the Enbridge office but also the main entrance to the building.

Greenpeace Media and PR Officer Raina Delisle indicated no awareness that the police had any immediate intention to arrest anyone, but an unnamed Greenpeace representative was overheard
shortly after 6 PM to be asking those still doing well despite their self imposed chained status for over 8 hours what the police on the 6th floor had to say to them.

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Comments

my favourite commando media outlet

way to go sneaking past the cops and guards Tammi, getting the story, by whatever means necessary!!

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