True to its name, the Climate Convergence
coalition in Vancouver has continued to stay
busy campaigning for climate justice. One
of the main activities has become regular
“IntersActions” - where participants flood an
intersection on all sides with people crossing
with signs and banners. The flow of traffic
continues, but there is maximum visibility and
many people attracted to an information table
set up adjacent to the intersection.
On March 10, Climate Convergence coorganized
a Day of Action with the Treaty
Alliance Against Tar Sands Expansion to help
launch a new campaign against TD Bank.
The reason for focusing on TD is its principle
role in supporting two pipeline projects which
violate indigenous sovereignty and put the
environment at risk.
TD is one of the main financiers of the Dakota
Access Pipeline project in the U.S., having
issued $365 million in loans to facilitate the
hotly contested pipeline. TD is also acting
as the principal broker for Kinder Morgan,
Struggle for Climate Justice Gains
Momentum in Vancouver
helping it raise the capital it needs to try to
ram through the Trans Mountain Expansion
tar sands pipeline and tanker project over the
very clear objections of indigenous nations.
March 10 saw a noontime rally in front of
the TD Tower in downtown Vancouver
with representatives of Treaty
Alliance Against Tar Sands
Expansion and the Union
on BC Indian Chiefs, as
well as many environmental
organizations. The rally was
also able to attract major news
media and television coverage.
Later that day, the busy
downtown rush hour traffic
heard and saw another
IntersAction as participants
held banners, chanted and
distributed information for two
hours straight in front of the
bank.
The momentum has continued
to build the April 29th Peoples Climate
Mobilization. Climate Convergence is
organizing weekly IntersActions as part of
the buildup to the major demonstration.
The first action kicked off at Broadway and
Commercial with two huge banners reading, “Climate
Justice Now” and “No Kinder Morgan Pipeline! No Consent
No Pipeline!” Organizers again attracted a lot of attention
with the chanting and marching, and distributed hundred of
leaflets promoting the April 29th mobilization.
As Justin Trudeau, Christy Clark and corporations like
Kinder Morgan, Dakota Access and Toronto Dominion
spend millions to promote these pipeline projects, it’s
important that climate justice organizers continue to
organize in public and give voice to our important and
necessary concerns. IntersActions have proven to be a very
effective way to educate, organize and mobilize.
Follow Thomas on Twitter: @thomasdavies59
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