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.
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.
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!!