To say that May was a busy month for the
movement to defeat the Kinder Morgan
pipeline would be a big understatement.
Groups across British Columbia, Canada,
and even the United States made sure
their public opposition was well known in
the weeks leading up to Kinder Morgan’s
self-imposed deadline on whether to move
forward with the controversial pipeline
project. Climate Convergence Metro
Vancouver was incredibly active as part of
this, organizing at least one action a week
and participating in many others as well.
On May 12 Climate Convergence
organized the largest Divestment action
ever in Vancouver. 1000 people hit
up six banks with large “Community
Declarations” demanding they divest from
the Kinder Morgan pipeline, the Law
Courts where 200 water protectors are
being charged with criminal contempt, and
finished up at the offices of Kiewit-Ledcor
- the primary contractor for building the
pipeline in the Lower Mainland. Energy
was incredibly high the entire time, and
the “Kinder Morgan Pipeline? Don’t Bank
on It!” action received national media
coverage as well.
This was also the first action for the
reusable protest umbrellas which Climate
Convergence members had painted in two
previous "art builds". With each umbrella
having its own large letter, “STOP
KINDER MORGAN” stretched for
more than 70 feet!
Following that, on May 16 BROKE
(Burnaby Residents Opposing Kinder
Morgan Expansion), 350 Vancouver
,and Protect the Inlet worked together to
organize a “Die-In” blocking the gates of
the Kinder Morgan Tank Farm – complete
with sirens, hazardous material suits and
stretchers. This was part of almost daily
actions at the gates of the facility organized
by Protect the Inlet, highlighting the
diverse risks as well as opposition to
the pipeline project. The Wilderness
Committee also
organized four
lunch hour actions
at different Liberal
Party MP offices
while high school
students walked
out of classes in a
national day of action
on May 24
.
As well, there was
a large “land and
sea” action blocking Kinder
Morgan’s marine terminal
in Seattle on May 21 and a
Montreal rally of 1000 people
led by Mohawk Chief Serge
Simon and Innu Chief Jean-
Charles Pietacho was held in
Montreal on May 27.
When the Canadian
government announced it
would buy the pipeline and
expansion project outright on
May 29, 1000 people rallied on
hours notice in Vancouver. The
next day Climate Convergence
organized three simultaneous
banner drops during the busy
afternoon rush hour. To say
the response was enthusiastic
would be an understatement.
That night, young Albertans
also disrupted a $200 a plate
dinner Finance Minister Bill
Morneau was speaking at with
large banners opposing the
government’s bailout of the
pipeline project.
There are already many
actions announced, and many
more being planned in the
coming months. It’s going
to be a long, hot summer of
resistance and the Canadian
government seems to have
underestimated our resolve.
Climate Convergence will
continue to promote and organize
grassroots mobilizations to defeat the
pipeline once and for all.
Hey Trudeau – Your Pipeline Has Got
to Go!
Money for Housing, Education and
Clean Energy – Not Bailouts!
Follow Climate Convergence on Twitter: @climate604
Follow Thomas Davies on Twitter: @thomasdavies59
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