Protest on Burnaby Mountain at this moment. Twitter photo by Shelby Thom.
A Mass Rally to Stand in Solidarity Against Kinder Morgan Pipeline is taking place on Burnaby Mountain at this moment (November 17, 7 pm ET).
The rally is opposed to Texas-based Kinder Morgan doing survey work for their 890,000 barrels per day pipeline in the city-owned Burnaby Mountain conservation area. Those at the rally are also dismayed by a B.C. Supreme Court decision that says the company would face “irreparable harm” if it couldn’t conduct its survey work on its yet-to-be approved tar sands pipeline.Yesterday, Vancouver-based Council of Canadians organizer Brigette DePape wrote, “Kinder Morgan was granted the injunction to remove people standing up to the pipeline. It can be enforced starting 4PM Monday [November 17]. We’re having a mass rally to stand in solidarity with those who have been and are taking a stand against the pipeline.” And this morning, our BC-Yukon regional organizer Leila Darwish wrote, “If you are anywhere near Vancouver today, please join the rally.”
Almost 1,000 people indicated on the Facebook event page that they would be at today’s rally.
And just this hour Burnaby Now is reporting, “Protesters are gathering on Burnaby Mountain as the deadline for Kinder Morgan’s injunction looms, but the RCMP are not planning to arrest anyone. That’s the message Burnaby RCMP shared with media at a press conference today.” Community organizer Harsha Walia comments, “Breaking news – as predicted injunction won’t be enforced today given massive people power!! But are likely waiting people out. Keep the struggle going!”
DePape has previously stated, “How we react to this is critical for setting a precedent for how we react to Harper’s dirty energy and pipeline agenda across the country. We can show oil and gas companies that whether it be on the ground with our bodies, or in the courthouse with our right to protest, we refuse to let these pipelines pass.”
Stay tuned by checking #BurnabyMountain on Twitter and this live webcast of the rally by Sea Shepherd Vancouver.
Further reading
Court ruling seeks to quash resistance to pipeline on Burnaby Mountain
