SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Twelve Greenpeace members rappelled from a bridge in British Columbia for 35 hours this week, blocking an oil tanker from leaving Vancouver. (Photo: Greenpeace Press Desk)
Vowing to Continue 'Fierce Opposition,' Protesters End 35-Hour Aerial Blockade of Trans Mountain Oil Tanker
"The prime minister still has a chance to make the right decision and stop this pipeline. Whether it's by his pen, in the courts, or the global resistance the pipeline won't be built—this movement of people isn't going anywhere."
Jul 05, 2018
Twelve protesters who spent nearly two days suspended from a bridge in British Columbia, blocking the path of an oil tanker, vowed Thursday to continue fighting Canada's plans to buy Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline, after police forced them to end their demonstration.
\u201cBREAKING: All 12 climbers are down from the bridge after 40+ hour blockade of a tar sands oil tanker.\n\nRCMP say all will be charged with Mischief & Section 121 of the Canada Shipping Act and released on PTA\u2019s.\n\nThank you for all your support! Together we will #StopPipelines\u201d— Greenpeace Canada (@Greenpeace Canada) 1530756170
\u201cThe blockade of tanker traffic that 12 people carried out over the past 35+ hours is over. \n\nAll 12 climbers were arrested & charges to be determined. \n\nBut the work to #StopPipelines doesn't end here.Tell @JustinTrudeau to stop this pipeline buy-out now>> https://t.co/idMpsHxdw4\u201d— Greenpeace Canada (@Greenpeace Canada) 1530759551
"I will remain the fierce opposition. It is in my blood to protect the water. Our Indigenous rights are being completely ignored, the safety of our water is being ignored, and most of all my son's future is at stake. I will do whatever it takes to protect the water and my family and your family," Will George, an Indigenous Coast Salish member, said in a statement after the protest ended.
George was among the Greenpeace members--from all over Canada as well as the U.S., Mexico, and the U.K.--who rappelled from the Iron Workers Memorial Bridge for 35 hours to form a blockade preventing a Trans Mountain oil tanker from leaving Vancouver with tar sands oil.
\u201cThe "aerial blockade" organized by Greenpeace Canada is now on day 2. Seven people remain suspended beneath the Ironworkers memorial bridge here. Demonstration is in opposition to the #TransMountain pipeline. Group is blocking tanker traffic from passing below.\u201d— ChantelleBellrichard (@ChantelleBellrichard) 1530721399
\u201cSun setting over the peeps hanging under the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge in Vancouver. They're calling it an aerial blockade against #TransMountain #KinderMorgan. Not sure who is up there this eve. Demonstration organized by Greenpeace Canada.\u201d— ChantelleBellrichard (@ChantelleBellrichard) 1530678167
\u201cGreenpeace Canada's, aerial bridge blockade in the path of a #TransMountain tar sands oil tanker, has ended. \u201cNo one should need to spend almost two days suspended from a bridge trying to protect something as essential as water" >> https://t.co/0gnhxXpvPO \n#StopPipelines #NoTMX\u201d— Greenpeace Africa (@Greenpeace Africa) 1530773463
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plans to purchase the existing Trans Mountain pipeline and Kinder Morgan's expansion project, which carries crude and refined oil from Alberta to Canada's western coast, costing taxpayers $4.5 billion.
More than 200 people have been arrested in British Columbia for protesting the plan, which opponents say will put coastal communities at grave risk of oil spills and will threaten the area's dwindling orca population with extinction. The plan also violates the U.N. Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
"No one should need to spend almost two days suspended from a bridge trying to protect something as essential as water but that's exactly what Prime Minister Trudeau has driven us to do," said Mike Hudema, a Greenpeace Canada spokesperson. "The prime minister still has a chance to make the right decision and stop this pipeline. Whether it's by his pen, in the courts, or the global resistance the pipeline won't be built--this movement of people isn't going anywhere."
As outcry over the financing of fossil fuel projects has grown, Europe's two largest banks, BNP Paribas and HSBC, have announced they would not support the Trans Mountain pipeline.
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Twelve protesters who spent nearly two days suspended from a bridge in British Columbia, blocking the path of an oil tanker, vowed Thursday to continue fighting Canada's plans to buy Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline, after police forced them to end their demonstration.
\u201cBREAKING: All 12 climbers are down from the bridge after 40+ hour blockade of a tar sands oil tanker.\n\nRCMP say all will be charged with Mischief & Section 121 of the Canada Shipping Act and released on PTA\u2019s.\n\nThank you for all your support! Together we will #StopPipelines\u201d— Greenpeace Canada (@Greenpeace Canada) 1530756170
\u201cThe blockade of tanker traffic that 12 people carried out over the past 35+ hours is over. \n\nAll 12 climbers were arrested & charges to be determined. \n\nBut the work to #StopPipelines doesn't end here.Tell @JustinTrudeau to stop this pipeline buy-out now>> https://t.co/idMpsHxdw4\u201d— Greenpeace Canada (@Greenpeace Canada) 1530759551
"I will remain the fierce opposition. It is in my blood to protect the water. Our Indigenous rights are being completely ignored, the safety of our water is being ignored, and most of all my son's future is at stake. I will do whatever it takes to protect the water and my family and your family," Will George, an Indigenous Coast Salish member, said in a statement after the protest ended.
George was among the Greenpeace members--from all over Canada as well as the U.S., Mexico, and the U.K.--who rappelled from the Iron Workers Memorial Bridge for 35 hours to form a blockade preventing a Trans Mountain oil tanker from leaving Vancouver with tar sands oil.
\u201cThe "aerial blockade" organized by Greenpeace Canada is now on day 2. Seven people remain suspended beneath the Ironworkers memorial bridge here. Demonstration is in opposition to the #TransMountain pipeline. Group is blocking tanker traffic from passing below.\u201d— ChantelleBellrichard (@ChantelleBellrichard) 1530721399
\u201cSun setting over the peeps hanging under the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge in Vancouver. They're calling it an aerial blockade against #TransMountain #KinderMorgan. Not sure who is up there this eve. Demonstration organized by Greenpeace Canada.\u201d— ChantelleBellrichard (@ChantelleBellrichard) 1530678167
\u201cGreenpeace Canada's, aerial bridge blockade in the path of a #TransMountain tar sands oil tanker, has ended. \u201cNo one should need to spend almost two days suspended from a bridge trying to protect something as essential as water" >> https://t.co/0gnhxXpvPO \n#StopPipelines #NoTMX\u201d— Greenpeace Africa (@Greenpeace Africa) 1530773463
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plans to purchase the existing Trans Mountain pipeline and Kinder Morgan's expansion project, which carries crude and refined oil from Alberta to Canada's western coast, costing taxpayers $4.5 billion.
More than 200 people have been arrested in British Columbia for protesting the plan, which opponents say will put coastal communities at grave risk of oil spills and will threaten the area's dwindling orca population with extinction. The plan also violates the U.N. Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
"No one should need to spend almost two days suspended from a bridge trying to protect something as essential as water but that's exactly what Prime Minister Trudeau has driven us to do," said Mike Hudema, a Greenpeace Canada spokesperson. "The prime minister still has a chance to make the right decision and stop this pipeline. Whether it's by his pen, in the courts, or the global resistance the pipeline won't be built--this movement of people isn't going anywhere."
As outcry over the financing of fossil fuel projects has grown, Europe's two largest banks, BNP Paribas and HSBC, have announced they would not support the Trans Mountain pipeline.
Twelve protesters who spent nearly two days suspended from a bridge in British Columbia, blocking the path of an oil tanker, vowed Thursday to continue fighting Canada's plans to buy Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline, after police forced them to end their demonstration.
\u201cBREAKING: All 12 climbers are down from the bridge after 40+ hour blockade of a tar sands oil tanker.\n\nRCMP say all will be charged with Mischief & Section 121 of the Canada Shipping Act and released on PTA\u2019s.\n\nThank you for all your support! Together we will #StopPipelines\u201d— Greenpeace Canada (@Greenpeace Canada) 1530756170
\u201cThe blockade of tanker traffic that 12 people carried out over the past 35+ hours is over. \n\nAll 12 climbers were arrested & charges to be determined. \n\nBut the work to #StopPipelines doesn't end here.Tell @JustinTrudeau to stop this pipeline buy-out now>> https://t.co/idMpsHxdw4\u201d— Greenpeace Canada (@Greenpeace Canada) 1530759551
"I will remain the fierce opposition. It is in my blood to protect the water. Our Indigenous rights are being completely ignored, the safety of our water is being ignored, and most of all my son's future is at stake. I will do whatever it takes to protect the water and my family and your family," Will George, an Indigenous Coast Salish member, said in a statement after the protest ended.
George was among the Greenpeace members--from all over Canada as well as the U.S., Mexico, and the U.K.--who rappelled from the Iron Workers Memorial Bridge for 35 hours to form a blockade preventing a Trans Mountain oil tanker from leaving Vancouver with tar sands oil.
\u201cThe "aerial blockade" organized by Greenpeace Canada is now on day 2. Seven people remain suspended beneath the Ironworkers memorial bridge here. Demonstration is in opposition to the #TransMountain pipeline. Group is blocking tanker traffic from passing below.\u201d— ChantelleBellrichard (@ChantelleBellrichard) 1530721399
\u201cSun setting over the peeps hanging under the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge in Vancouver. They're calling it an aerial blockade against #TransMountain #KinderMorgan. Not sure who is up there this eve. Demonstration organized by Greenpeace Canada.\u201d— ChantelleBellrichard (@ChantelleBellrichard) 1530678167
\u201cGreenpeace Canada's, aerial bridge blockade in the path of a #TransMountain tar sands oil tanker, has ended. \u201cNo one should need to spend almost two days suspended from a bridge trying to protect something as essential as water" >> https://t.co/0gnhxXpvPO \n#StopPipelines #NoTMX\u201d— Greenpeace Africa (@Greenpeace Africa) 1530773463
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plans to purchase the existing Trans Mountain pipeline and Kinder Morgan's expansion project, which carries crude and refined oil from Alberta to Canada's western coast, costing taxpayers $4.5 billion.
More than 200 people have been arrested in British Columbia for protesting the plan, which opponents say will put coastal communities at grave risk of oil spills and will threaten the area's dwindling orca population with extinction. The plan also violates the U.N. Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
"No one should need to spend almost two days suspended from a bridge trying to protect something as essential as water but that's exactly what Prime Minister Trudeau has driven us to do," said Mike Hudema, a Greenpeace Canada spokesperson. "The prime minister still has a chance to make the right decision and stop this pipeline. Whether it's by his pen, in the courts, or the global resistance the pipeline won't be built--this movement of people isn't going anywhere."
As outcry over the financing of fossil fuel projects has grown, Europe's two largest banks, BNP Paribas and HSBC, have announced they would not support the Trans Mountain pipeline.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.