Earth Day was celebrated in Delta today by the creation of a protest camp and the replanting of some of the forest that has been clear cut on the right of way of the South Fraser Freeway
"We are trying to build a movement to turn up the heat on politicians so we can turn down the heat in the planet's climate," Eric Doherty told The Tyee this afternoon, as he and a group of over 200 demonstrators prepared to execute what was promoted as a day of "mass direct action against climate crime."
Rallying at the Annieville store in a historic North Delta fishing community, the crowd was preparing to march to the right of way of the South Fraser Freeway, a controversial road building project that is part of the larger Gateway project. Doherty is a member of Stop the Pave, the organizers of the Earth Day direct action. Stop the Pave describes itself as "…a movement for better transit, not freeways."
The day’s activity, Doherty told The Tyee, would include digging up the right of way of the disputed freeway and planting over 200 fir and cedar seedlings and 25 larger trees where the highway pavement is supposed to be poured. Other sponsors of the day include the Council of Canadians, GatewaySucks.org, and the Critical Criminology Working Group.
Some of the demonstrators are prepared to risk arrest to plant the trees, Doherty said. The leaflet that was circulated throughout the Lower Mainland to promote the direct action argues:
"Despite these negative impacts and a high level of resistance from affected communities, construction is now beginning. Our action will emphasize the need to shift resources from climate crimes like freeways to solutions like public transit."
The organizers of the Earth Day action say the freeway expansion will be costly, at over $2 billion; will increase greenhouse gas emissions and thus climate change/global warming; will pave over valuable farmland; and will destroy Burns Bog, the "lungs of the Lower Mainland."
Reached later in the afternoon at the protest site, local beekeeper PJ Lilley told The Tyee she was supporting the protest because she is concerned about the devastating health and environmental impacts of the freeway.
"We're concerned about air pollution, the destruction of salmon streams, the choking off of Burns Bog and the loss of access to our riverfront," Lilley said."“We've got to stop this."
Another protest organizer, Carmen Mills, told The Tyee that some of the protesters were pitching tents as a police helicopter hovered overhead.
"We intend to stay here until they carry us away," she declared.
Tom Sandborn welcomes feedback and story tips at tos@infinet.net
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Meme Mine
1 year ago
Courts and CO2
Court Action Will Come Sooner Than Later:
There is now a solid grass roots effort by the masses of former climate change believers to have the leading scientists and leading news editors subjected to criminal charges for knowingly sustaining the false CO2 death threats to billions of children for the last 25 years of the climate blame mistake.
Scientists made environmental protection necessary in the first place when they supposedly polluted the planet with their evil chemicals and cancer causing pesticides and so how ironic is it that we bowed like fools to our Gods of science for 25 years of “unstoppable warming”?
Scientists are not gods and don’t forget that scientists also produced cruise missiles, cancer causing chemicals, land mine technology, nuclear weapons, germ warfare, cluster bombs, strip mining technology, Y2K, Y2Kyoto, deep sea drilling technology and now climate control. Proof of consensus not being real is the fact that scientists did not march in the streets when IPCC funding was pulled, the EPA was castrated and Obama’s not even mentioning the “crisis” in his state of the union speech. Consensus was a myth because if it were true, the consensus scientists declaring a climate emergency would act like it was an emergency and demand their CO2 mitigation be taken seriously. We believed a handful of lab coat consultants who said we could CONTROL the planet’s temperature and prevent it from boiling. Pure insanity as history will call this modern day witch burning. The new denier is anyone still believing voters will vote YES to taxing the air to make the weather colder. Not going to happen.
REAL planet lovers don't hold scientists as Gods and bow to politicians promising to make lower the seas and scare kids with such doomsday glee.
Stay tuned. We missed getting Bush for his false war and a wave of former believer rage will get this one right. Call the courthouse.
southdeltawalker
1 year ago
Come out to the occupation!
The camp can be found at 10739 River Road in Delta-a few min. east of the Alex Fraser Bridge. Take the #640 bus from Scott Road Station or Ladner Exchange.
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=116458755098130&index=1
If you can bring some food to share but most of all we need to see you there!