Author: sparki

Mountain Valley Pipeline Fighter Locks Down, Stops Work on Construction Site

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Cross-posted from Appalachians Against Pipelines

Update from AAP: “He was locked to equipment on site for nearly 5 hours before being arrested. He has been charged with 3 misdemeanors (trespassing, obstruction, and tampering with equipment) and 1 felony (threat of terrorism); bail has been set at $8,000. This is the first felony charge in our nonviolent direct action campaign against the Mountain Valley Pipeline.”

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This morning, pipeline fighter Holden Dometrius locked himself to welding equipment at a Mountain Valley Pipeline construction site, stopping work.

“All the science suggests that fossil fuels are killing us,” states Holden. “A 42-inch gas pipeline is the complete opposite of an appropriate response to the greatest threat our planet has faced. Climate change is not something we can keep putting off; it needs to be dealt with immediately.”

Yesterday, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) modified the state’s water quality certification standards in such a way that will inevitably allow MVP to construct the pipeline across water bodies using a method that had previously been deemed illegal (and which remains extremely dangerous to impacted waterways and communities). In other words, when the WVDEP was “called out” in 2018 for having approved a pipeline construction plan that violated their own regulations regarding river crossings, their response was to rewrite the rules to allow construction to continue. The notice of this most recent rule bending by regulators to ease pipeline approvals was issued yesterday, April 24.

The banner on site today reads “TO HELL WITH YOUR PERMITS” in reference to this endless, thinly veiled corruption that is embedded in the pipeline approval process.

Holden continues, “We could just let capitalism run its course, sell environmental permits to Mountain Valley Pipeline and let extraction destroy the planet. That doesn’t make any sense to me. If it doesn’t make sense to you either, then make some moves. Get in the way. If everyone steps up, things could change, so here I am.”

SUPPORT HOLDEN & RESISTANCE TO THE MOUNTAIN VALLEY PIPELINE! Show up, and donate: bit.ly/supportmvpresistance

Read more on the WVDEP modified water certification permits (under “Public Notices”).

Mountain Valley Pipeline: Yellow Finch Tree-sits Hit 213 Days!

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Cross-posted from Appalachians Against Pipelines

The Yellow Finch tree sits have a new resident! Scott Ziemer, a 69-year-old grandfather from Virginia, has relieved one of the sitters and is occupying one of the tree sits to protect some of the last remaining trees in the path of the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP). This blockade outside of Elliston has been blocking the MVP for 213 days and counting.

Scott says: “I have decided to take action to address the urgent issue of climate change and encourage others to do so as well. By occupying a tree sit in the path of the Mountain Valley pipeline, I am adding my voice to those who are fighting to slow down and stop the burning of fossil fuels, which are the primary cause of climate change.”

Scott’s home is close to the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP), which he has been fighting for many years. He is taking a stand with the communities of southwest Virginia as an act of solidarity with all those being harmed by MVP construction.

We’re so excited that Scott has joined us at the Yellow Finch sits, and that he is harnessing his privilege by putting his body on the line to continue blocking MVP construction. While many tree sitters must remain anonymous to protect themselves, Scott has chosen to use his name, voice and identity to draw attention to the fight against MVP. His action reminds us that we need a diversity of tactics, strategies and individuals to resist ALL pipelines and fight ALL fossil fuel extraction.

This time last year, a banner hanging from a monopod read “The Fire Is Catching”. Today, a banner hanging from Scott’s tree sit reads “No Prisons No Pipelines”. We must work across movements and struggles and support each other’s actions to fan the flames of resistance so that fire will continue to spread.

Donate to support continued resistance to the MVP: bit.ly/supportmvpresistance

Or, join us! Email appalachiansagainstpipelines@protonmail.com.

 

2019 Earth First! Rendezvous Announced! July 3-10, Colorado Plateau

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Cross-posted from Canyon Country Rising Tide

ANNOUNCING THE 2019 ROUND RIVER RENDEZVOUS!

2019 Rendezvous || July 3rd-10th || Colorado Plateau || www.2019rrr.org

Save the Date, Smash the State!
The 2019 Round River Rendezvous (RRR) will be held July 3rd-10th somewhere in or around what is colonially known as the State of Utah—occupied land of the Shoshone, Goshute, Southern Paiute, Ute, and Diné peoples.

Join us as we build relationships, up our skills, take action, and build power as we support a regional campaign. The RRR will feature rad workshops and presentations–direct action, climbing, blockades, ecology walks, campaign strategy, local land and water struggles, and more!

Visit www.2019rrr.org or email rrr2019@riseup.net for more information!

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Alaskans Disrupt Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s Budget Cuts Talk in Anchorage

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Cross-posted from Alaska Rising Tide

Good people in Anchorage yesterday disrupted Gov. Dunleavy’s Koch Brothers sponsored “Public Discussion” with a large banner that read “Recall Dunleavy”.

Hundreds of others protested outside with concerns around Dunleavy’s budget cuts from Medicare to environmental protection to public ferries.

The rallies are part of a state-wide movement targeting Dunleavy’s roadshows selling his budget cuts.