Kayaktivists rally on Columbia River against Trans Mountain Pipeline

Photo credit: Tim Newman

Cross-posted from Mosquito Fleet and Portland Rising Tide

Activists protest in front of cargo ship in Port of Vancouver transporting pipe intended for Canada

VANCOUVER, WA — Around 20 kayaktivists with the grassroots network Mosquito Fleet plan to take to the water at 5 p.m. today to protest in front a cargo ship on the Columbia River that is carrying pipe destined for the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion project in Canada. Earlier today, the kayaktivists scaled machinery on a nearby dock and hung a banner that read “#StopTMX: No Tar Sands.”

Tonight, the kayakers intend to raise a 70-foot-long banner that says “Stop Trans Mountain” and bring attention to the growing opposition in Washington and Oregon to the tar sands expansion project, which threatens the shared waters of Canada and the U.S. The expansion would lead to a massive increase in tanker traffic, and many people are worried that an oil spill would threaten the livelihood of waterfront communities and species like salmon and the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales.

The kayakers are protesting in front of a cargo ship docked at the Port of Vancouver that is carrying pipe intended for construction of the pipeline expansion. For the past several months, pipe has been loaded on trains at the port and transported north to Canada. The Canadian federal government, which owns the pipeline, has pledged to begin construction this fall despite widespread opposition.

INTERVIEWS: A kayaktivist with Mosquito Fleet will be livestreaming on Facebook and a spokesperson will be available to take brief media questions from the water.

PHOTO/VIDEO: Photos and video, including drone footage, will be uploaded throughout the evening at https://drive.google.com/…/1OaSk9iHoM57kc6jpUgJO3BDEKgzkUhg…

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Media contact: Ginny Cleaveland, 510-858-9902, media@mosquitofleet.us

Photo credit: Tim Newman

Community Members Blockade Oil Train in Downtown Vancouver, WA

Community Members Blockade Oil Train in the Face of Police Presence in Downtown Vancouver, WA with Pop-up Sunflower Garden

On Site Media Contact: Jessie Braverman, (617) 833-9766
Media Contact: Sophie Scholl, (360) 601-7187
Vancouver, WA — Community members blocked an oil train in downtown Vancouver, WA in a creative direct action calling for an end to oil trains, oil terminals, and all fossil fuels. Community activists erected a pop-up garden of sunflowers on train tracks in Vancouver, WA today, even in the face of police presence, to block an oil train. The blockaders locked themselves to large sunflower pots adapted to serve as blockade devices. Three people arrested. Community members are taking non-violent direct action to demand Governor Inslee reject the Vancouver Tesoro Savage Oil Terminal and all other proposed fossil fuel infrastructure in the State of Washington.
Where: 101 W 11th St, Vancouver WA 98660
The train, BNSF unit 5956, is carrying Bakken Crude Oil, a highly volatile oil notorious for derailments and explosions such as the recent derailment and fire in Mosier, OR on June 3rd, 2016. The Mosier oil train derailment ignited a wave of massive public opposition to oil train traffic, including from government officials and train operators. “Our community and our planet are under attack, yet the political response has been amoral and inadequate. We were here on the tracks a year after the Mosier oil train derailment and nothing has changed,” said Jessie Braverman. “The trains are still coming and new fossil fuel projects are still being proposed; we’re in the midst of a worldwide climate emergency and we’re fighting back.”
The derailment and explosion in Mosier is just one manifestation of our society’s dependence on fossil fuels. This incident is not an anomaly, as fossil fuel extraction, production, and transportation continually present a threat to human life and natural ecosystems; we have been subsidizing them not only with money but with lives. In these early days of the sixth great extinction and a devastating climate crisis, community members are reclaiming their power to confront this rogue industry. “It’s now or never. We’re up against the wire and nobody — no politician, no agency, no industry — is stepping up to resolve the climate crisis,” said Mike, a resident of Portland, OR, who is locked to a flower pot on the rail tracks. “It’s time for the people to step up to resolve this crisis before we run out of time.”
Community members are calling on Governnor Jay Inslee to reject the proposed Tesoro Savage Vancouver Oil Terminal, which would be the largest oil-by-rail terminal in North America. The terminal would ship out 360,000 barrels of Bakken crude oil and bring up to four additional oil trains into the Columbia Gorge each day. 
Governor Jay Inslee, a self-proclaimed advocate for climate action, has overseen a state government that has failed to craft an emissions reductions strategy, despite being repeatedly ordered to do so by the courts. The Governor is flagrantly endangering the people of Washington state. Washington continues to move towards a dizzying array of new fossil fuel developments. “If I can stop an oil train, Governor Jay Inslee can stop an oil terminal,said Chris, one of two individuals locked down to flower pots on the rail tracks.
 
For on site interviews, contact Jessie Braverman, 617-833-9766. 
    
    
    
More information via the Shut Down Fossil Fuels- 
Twitter:@shutdownff 
    
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