Seven people have been hanging beneath the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge above the Burrard Inlet since early Tuesday morning, forming what they're calling an "aerial blockade" to prevent oil tanker traffic from getting in or out of the terminus of the Trans Mountain pipeline in Burnaby, B.C.
The blockade, organized by Greenpeace Canada, is the latest in ongoing opposition efforts against the pipeline expansion project which is projected to lead to a seven-fold increase in oil tankers moving through the Burrard Inlet.
Among those dangling beneath the bridge is Will George from the Tsleil-Waututh Nation. The nation has previously challenged the pipeline expansion through formal regulatory processes, the courts, and through public rallies.
"I'll do whatever it takes to let people know this pipeline won't be built," said George in a telephone interview.
George said he's used to dangling in the air after spending 18 years cleaning the exterior of highrise buildings in downtown Vancouver.
He said by being part of the aerial blockade, he is setting an example of leadership to his son and continuing his community's opposition to the pipeline expansion.
The twinning of the Trans Mountain pipeline will nearly triple its capacity, to an estimated 890,000 barrels a day, and increase tanker traffic off B.C.'s coast to 34 tankers a month from approximately five.
"I don't mind standing in the way and letting people know that tar sands bitumen will not be travelling through my body of water, especially over 400 tankers a year," said George.
The seven people hanging in the hammocks are being assisted by five people on the catwalk above. George said that as he heard the traffic moving on the bridge above him on Wednesday, he thought of all those people driving to work for the day.
"They choose to live here because they love it here. And that's why I'm here. I'm here to protect what they love."
Tanker waiting to leave
The blockade group said it has been successful in preventing one oil tanker from loading up and heading out to sea. Anchored in the Burrard Inlet not far from the bridge is an oil tanker named the Serene Sea. The blockade group said the tanker was scheduled to leave for China on Tuesday.
a large ship in a body of water: The oil tanker the Serene Sea (left) is loaded with crude oil and anchored in the Burrard Inlet. According the a marine traffic website, the tanker is destined for a port in China, just north of Hong Kong.© Chantelle Bellrichard/CBC The oil tanker the Serene Sea (left) is loaded with crude oil and anchored in the Burrard Inlet. According the…
A spokesperson from Kinder Morgan said the tanker filled up with crude oil at the Westridge Marine Terminal and is "waiting for suitable conditions at its Port of Vancouver designated mooring location."
The spokesperson went on to write, in an emailed statement, that the company respects the rights of people to demonstrate peacefully.
" It is unfortunate that the actions of these individuals have caused disruptions to vessels and individuals that transit to and from the waters east of the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge," read the statement.
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The Port of Vancouver said it is monitoring the situation closely, and that it is not safe for deep sea vessels and others to pass under the bridge while the protesters are in place.
The eco terrorist hypocrites strike again.Kind of like when Greenpeace bought 25 plastic kayaks from Costco to "blockade" the oil terminal.....yeah plastic is made from OIL.....fuck why did these assholes do it yesterday instead of the Canada long weekend.....I drove down to Vancouver on Friday and spent Saturday doing stuff including visiting my sister inlaw/neice as well as my brother and I got a few things taken care of with regards to the recent death of my father.I would have fucking LOVED to hack through some ropes with my swiss army knife and send these douchebags for a swim.
The thing that pisses me off is the utter hypocracy of these nut jobs.They consume and consume everything derived from oil and then they say the use of fossil fuels destroys the "sacred mother earth" and at the same time they are paid by foreign money via the Tides Foundation that is USA based and channels money to Canadian special interest groups.At the same time they are undermining and working against the National Interest of their own country.
SR
On a side note I would like to say that the new Port Mann bridge is pretty fucking impressive and fucking HUGE....went over it and my mantra was "look straight ahead and pay attention" as I am scared of heights.....wicked awesome bridge I will say.
The blockade, organized by Greenpeace Canada, is the latest in ongoing opposition efforts against the pipeline expansion project which is projected to lead to a seven-fold increase in oil tankers moving through the Burrard Inlet.
Among those dangling beneath the bridge is Will George from the Tsleil-Waututh Nation. The nation has previously challenged the pipeline expansion through formal regulatory processes, the courts, and through public rallies.
"I'll do whatever it takes to let people know this pipeline won't be built," said George in a telephone interview.
George said he's used to dangling in the air after spending 18 years cleaning the exterior of highrise buildings in downtown Vancouver.
He said by being part of the aerial blockade, he is setting an example of leadership to his son and continuing his community's opposition to the pipeline expansion.
The twinning of the Trans Mountain pipeline will nearly triple its capacity, to an estimated 890,000 barrels a day, and increase tanker traffic off B.C.'s coast to 34 tankers a month from approximately five.
"I don't mind standing in the way and letting people know that tar sands bitumen will not be travelling through my body of water, especially over 400 tankers a year," said George.
The seven people hanging in the hammocks are being assisted by five people on the catwalk above. George said that as he heard the traffic moving on the bridge above him on Wednesday, he thought of all those people driving to work for the day.
"They choose to live here because they love it here. And that's why I'm here. I'm here to protect what they love."
Tanker waiting to leave
The blockade group said it has been successful in preventing one oil tanker from loading up and heading out to sea. Anchored in the Burrard Inlet not far from the bridge is an oil tanker named the Serene Sea. The blockade group said the tanker was scheduled to leave for China on Tuesday.
a large ship in a body of water: The oil tanker the Serene Sea (left) is loaded with crude oil and anchored in the Burrard Inlet. According the a marine traffic website, the tanker is destined for a port in China, just north of Hong Kong.© Chantelle Bellrichard/CBC The oil tanker the Serene Sea (left) is loaded with crude oil and anchored in the Burrard Inlet. According the…
A spokesperson from Kinder Morgan said the tanker filled up with crude oil at the Westridge Marine Terminal and is "waiting for suitable conditions at its Port of Vancouver designated mooring location."
The spokesperson went on to write, in an emailed statement, that the company respects the rights of people to demonstrate peacefully.
" It is unfortunate that the actions of these individuals have caused disruptions to vessels and individuals that transit to and from the waters east of the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge," read the statement.
Advertisement
The Port of Vancouver said it is monitoring the situation closely, and that it is not safe for deep sea vessels and others to pass under the bridge while the protesters are in place.
The eco terrorist hypocrites strike again.Kind of like when Greenpeace bought 25 plastic kayaks from Costco to "blockade" the oil terminal.....yeah plastic is made from OIL.....fuck why did these assholes do it yesterday instead of the Canada long weekend.....I drove down to Vancouver on Friday and spent Saturday doing stuff including visiting my sister inlaw/neice as well as my brother and I got a few things taken care of with regards to the recent death of my father.I would have fucking LOVED to hack through some ropes with my swiss army knife and send these douchebags for a swim.
The thing that pisses me off is the utter hypocracy of these nut jobs.They consume and consume everything derived from oil and then they say the use of fossil fuels destroys the "sacred mother earth" and at the same time they are paid by foreign money via the Tides Foundation that is USA based and channels money to Canadian special interest groups.At the same time they are undermining and working against the National Interest of their own country.
SR
On a side note I would like to say that the new Port Mann bridge is pretty fucking impressive and fucking HUGE....went over it and my mantra was "look straight ahead and pay attention" as I am scared of heights.....wicked awesome bridge I will say.





