Street blockade in Toronto’s financial district by anti-Tar Sands activists

Over a hundred actions in global day of protest in solidarity with COP 16 climate justice mobilization

by EJ Toronto and the Indigenous Environmental Network

"Tar Sands Kill, Pipelines Spill" photo by Alex Felipe

In solidarity with the La Via Campesina’s International day of a 1000 Cancun’s, Environmental Justice Toronto and allies, in partnership with the Indigenous Environmental Network, shut down Bay Street in the heart of Toronto, Canada’s financial district. Climate Justice activists erected tri-pods in the middle of the intersection effectively stopping traffic. A banner was hung between with the statement, “Tar Sands Kill, Pipelines Spill,” drawing attention to Canada's greatest greenhouse emitter.

“The Carrier Nation is opposed to Enbridge pipeline corporations bid to build the Northern Gateway pipeline which would move dirty Alberta Tar Sands to the port of Kitimatt, British Colombia,” says Jasmine Thomas of the Carrier Nation. She went on to say, “As elected Canadian delegates arrive with the intention of blocking climate negotiations in an effort to promote the Canadian Tar Sands industry- civil society, Indigenous peoples, social and environmental justice groups will be building upon the growing global resistance against unsustainable fossil fuel developments.”

"To supply destructive tar sands developments with billions of cubic feet of natural gas each day, industry and government want to build a 1,200 kilometer pipeline from the Beaufort Delta to northern Alberta. When first proposed over 30 years ago, my uncle called the executives who wanted to build this pipeline the '20th century General Custer’s,' and told them 'money has become so important to you that you are losing your own humanity.' These words still hold true today." Said Daniel T’seleie, Dene from Fort Good Hope First Nation.

This direct action was in response to Canada’s attempts to stop a progressive post Kyoto climate deal from manifesting in Cancun, greedily motivated by the dirty Tar Sands industry. Moreover, Canada's leading role in the international mining industry means that Canadian companies are engaged in energy and water-intensive projects around the globe, poisoning environments and communities.

Dozens of cities across the world have responded to the call out from the global social movement La Via Campesina’s to mobilize climate justice actions in their local communities. The Indigenous Environmental Network sponsored a delegation of Tar Sands pipeline impacted First Nation and American Indian community leaders to travel to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Cancun, Mexico to expose Canada and the United States as global climate criminals.

For Interviews:
In Toronto, Canada: Maryam Andrangi– Environmental Justice Toronto – 416 996 3478
In Cancun, Mexico: UNFCCC – COP 16:
Clayton Thomas–Muller: IEN Tar Sands Campaigner 00 52 1 998 108 0758
Melina Laboucan-Massimo: IEN Media Team 00 52 1 998 108 0748
Follow IEN in Cancun: http://redroadcancun.com/

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Sakura Saunders (Sakura Saunders)
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