Tag: direct action

Canadian Police Arrest 24 Resisting Kinder Morgan Pipeline on Burnaby Mountain

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burnabyRCMP arrests 24 on Burnaby Mountain
Caretakers call for ongoing solidarity presence, say “This pipeline will not be built”

VANCOUVER – RCMP have arrested at least 24 Burnaby Mountain caretakers and supporters today, as police moved in to remove a long-standing protest presence against Kinder Morgan’s pipeline survey crews.

Arrests include
– Sut-lut, a S?wx?ú7mesh elder who started the sacred fire onsite
– Kaleb Morrison and Erin Flegg who have been at the site for months
– Adam Gold, a named defendant in Kinder Morgan’s injunction and civil law suit
– A tree sitter who has been camped out on top of Borehole 1 drill site
– Tamo Campos, David Suziki’s grandson who has been supporting the site for weeks.

Fourteen of those arrested have been released on civil contempt charges, the other ten remain in-custody.

Kinder Morgan crews, escorted by RCMP, are currently at the clearing and have begun work. The Burnaby Mountain caretakers are calling for an ongoing presence at the mountain, as well at the RCMP detachment at 6355 Deer Lake Avenue.

“We are sending a clear message that the pipeline will not be built on unceded lands without the consent of Indigenous nations and the approval of all those who love these lands,” the group gathered has declared.

For photos and updates on the situation: https://www.facebook.com/burnabymountain

Keystone XL Pipeline Case Faces Jury in Oklahoma

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alecjohnson1-615x411

Alec Johnson spoke at a gathering last month about his 2013 act of civil disobedience against the Keystone XL and his upcoming trial. (Tar Sands Blockade)

Media Advisory

Press Contact:

Ron Seifert, Tar Sands Blockade, 940-268-5375, kxlblockade@gmail.com

Stephen Warner, Great Plains Tar Sands Resistance, 405-863-2888, gptsrmedia@gmail.com

Keystone XL Pipeline Case Faces Jury in Oklahoma

Man who blockaded Keystone XL construction argues threats of climate change and environmental harm justify his actions

On April 22, 2013, Alec Johnson disrupted construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline near Tushka, Oklahoma by chaining himself to heavy equipment and effectively halting work. Eventually the police were called and Mr. Johnson was removed from the site and arrested. Now, more than a year after his arrest, Alec Johnson will attempt to make US history becoming the first to argue that he was justified in breaking the law to prevent a greater harm: the urgent threat of climate change. This kind of ‘necessity’ defense rooted in climate justice could have national implications for the growing movement of resistance to the fossil fuel industry across the US.

Mr. Johnson will argue that enforcing future generation’s rights to a stable climate and livable environment is not a crime. His defense will introduce a commanding consensus of climate science, including that of renowned climate scientist Dr. James Hansen who is preparing written
testimony for the consideration of the court which will make clear that effective action to address the climate crisis is urgent and can no longer be delayed. Mr. Johnson will also draw attention to imminent health and safety risks posed by Keystone XL. He will address contamination threats to people living near the 1,700 mile pipeline route, the health problems experienced by First Nations communities from the extraction of tar sands, which is the product that flows through the KXL pipeline, as well as the toxic refinery emissions that it is forcing upon Gulf coast communities.

WHO: Alec Johnson, a 62 year old father of two and resident of East Texas, and dozens of supporters from across Oklahoma and Texas many of whom are directly impacted by the Keystone XL pipeline.

WHAT: A rally outside the Atoka County Courthouse featuring the voices of defendant Alec Johnson and community supporters from Oklahoma and Texas, followed the next day by a jury trial featuring the unprecedented use of a climate change necessity defense.

WHEN: Rally begins on Wednesday, October 22nd at 6:30pm. Trial begins the following day on Thursday, October 23rd at 9:00am.

WHERE: Both the rally and criminal trial will take place at the Atoka County Courthouse on 200 East Court Street, Atoka, Oklahoma, 74525.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:

Visuals: The rally will feature striking banners and signage, as well as color coordinated attire.

Interview Opportunities: Alec Johnson, impacted KXL landowners, grassroots supporters

 

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Mass Climate Protest Disrupts NYC Financial District — Hundreds Risk Arrest

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Thousands Flood Wall Street With Mass Sit-In for Climate Justice

For immediate release:

Thousands ‘Flood’ Financial District Following Sunday’s Historic March

Interviews available upon requests

Photos available here

New York, NY — 3,000 people dressed in blue are currently between Exchange Place and The Bull in Manhattan’s financial district, sitting down to interrupt the business day and targeting corporations and businesses financing and fueling the climate crisis.

“Communities that are first and most impacted by storms, floods and droughts are also on the frontlines of fighting the dig-burn-dump economy causing climate change,” said Michael Leon Guerrero of the Climate Justice Alliance. “We are flooding Wall Street to stop its financing of planetary destruction, and to make way for living economies that benefit people and the planet.”

“Many of us were also involved with Occupy Wall Street,” said Michael Premo, an organizer of Flood Wall Street and a Brooklyn-based artist. “Just like the financial crisis, the climate crisis is a product of an underlying political crisis. It’s the result of policies that serve the shortsighted interests of the few over the survival and well being of everyone.”

Yesterday’s historic 400,000-person march showed widespread support for action on climate change, and Flood Wall Street is confronting those who stand in the way of change and connecting the climate movement with a long tradition of nonviolent direct action.

“Throughout history, people have engaged in nonviolent civil disobedience in response to moral crises, when political leaders have failed to act,” said Vida James, a Flood Wall Street organizer. “What could constitute more of a moral crisis than the health and survival of our planet, our communities, and our grandchildren?”

Art, music, and giant visuals are prominent features of the festive demonstration, beginning the day with the Rude Mechanical Orchestra, a local activist marching band. Nearly a hundred people carried a 300-foot banner that read: “Capitalism = Climate Chaos — Flood Wall Street,” among many other visuals.

The day began with speakers from around the world that have been impacted by climate change, emphasizing that leadership on climate justice must come from below.

“The real solution to global warming is organizing workers worldwide for the construction of a new model, with justice, equality and respect for life,” said Elisa Estronioli, a Brazilian land-rights activist.

More updates coming.

MEDIA ADVISORY
September 22, 2014
Phone: (406) 356-6316
floodwallstreet@riseup.net
http://floodwallstreet.net

Mass Sit-in to Draw Connection Between Climate Change and Wall Street

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IFloodNYMedia contact
Bessie Schwarz
Phone: (406) 356-6316
floodwallstreet@riseup.net

Mass Sit-in to Draw Connection Between Climate Change and Wall Street

Protesters Wearing Blue Hope to Shut Down Financial District After Climate March

New York, NY — A “flood” of people from across the globe, dressed in blue, will take to the streets of New York’s Financial District on Monday to highlight the role of capitalism in fueling the climate crisis. Coming a day after the historic People’s Climate March, #FloodWallStreet will show that the next step for the climate movement is to target polluters and those profiting from the fossil fuel industry. #FloodWallStreet participants expect to be arrested in droves as they carry out a sit-in near Wall Street. Speakers will include acclaimed author-activists Naomi Klein, Chris Hedges and Rebecca Solnit, as well as members of communities at the front lines of the climate crisis.

WHEN: Mon Sept. 22, 11:00 a.m. (March to Wall St. & sit-in begins – full schedule below)
WHERE: Battery Park
WHO: Hundreds of concerned citizen in blue marching in the streets with expected arrests

Speakers – 9am:
-Naomi Klein
-Chris Hedges
-Rebecca Solnit
-Members of front-line communities around the world.

VISUALS: Hundreds of activists wearing blue, sitting-in, risking arrest, and accompanied by a marching bands, large puppets, a 300-foot #FloodWallStreet banner and other large-scale art pieces.

#FloodWallStreet is a response to the Climate Justice Alliance’s call for non-violent direct action.

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Auxiliary Events

The full schedule of events following The People’s Climate March is available at: http://www.beyondthemarch.org/

Photos

Images available for use.

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0BzJeebkqbirEMktlX3pyVV9lQ2c&usp=sharing_eid&tid=0B1ROsbfXH_GiYXlfVkdPLVpndzA

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0BzJeebkqbirEMktlX3pyVV9lQ2c&usp=sharing_eid&tid=0B1ROsbfXH_GiYXlfVkdPLVpndzA