Around 8 am this morning we saw the first video and images of the SWN Resources ‘thumper’ trucks used for fracking-testing moving along Highway 11 near Kouchibouguac National Park in New Brunswick. We sent a message of courage and gratitude to those there doing what they could.
By mid-morning CBC reported, “RCMP have closed Highway 11 in Laketon ‘for public safety’ due to anti-shale gas protests in the area.” And APTN National News added, “RCMP officers have formed a line in front of the trucks and are confronting increasingly angry Elsipogtog residents.”
And then we received this news via a Twitter message from an APTN reporter, “SWN has agreed to pull their seismic testing trucks for the day and return tomorrow.” This was wonderful news, but it does mean the struggle will continue tomorrow.
For this on-the-ground resistance to be maintained, these supplies are being requested – rope, hats, gloves sinew, splitting ax, small hatchets, bottled water, blankets, flashlights. We are looking at how we can help get some of these supplies to them tomorrow. For weeks we have been supporting these protests in numerous ways, including through material aid such as a generator, floodlights, extension cord, tarp, sleeping bags, lanterns, blankets, coolers, ice and wood.
And in related news, the Elsipogtog First Nation was at the Court of Queen’s Bench in Fredericton this afternoon seeking an injunction to suspend all exploration by SWN Resources under oil and gas licenses. It names the Attorney General of New Brunswick, the Minister of Energy and Mines, SWN Resources, and the Assembly of First Nation’s Chiefs in New Brunswick as respondents. There was no decision on the injunction today, but there is speculation that the court’s decision could come tomorrow.
Further reading:
Heavy RCMP presence near fracking-testing in New Brunswick today
RCMP move against fracking protest near Rexton
