The protest against the TMX pipeline and planned sevenfold increase of tanker traffic, as well as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s planned $4.5B buyout of the project, is entering its second day. The protest has attracted the attention of people around the world, including Oscar-winning actor, Jane Fonda, who tweeted early this morning.

4 July 2018 (UNCEDED COAST SALISH TERRITORIES/VANCOUVER) – The tar sands oil tanker, Serene Sea, has now pulled away from Kinder Morgan’s Westridge Marine Terminal and is sitting at anchor as the 12-person blockade launched by Greenpeace Canada yesterday reaches its 30-hour mark.

It’s now been 30 hours since the climbers began their ascent yesterday and almost 25 hours since seven of them rappelled down into mid-air to prevent the Serene Sea from leaving the terminal. The Serene Sea is fully loaded and set to travel out of Vancouver. Five climbers remain on the bridge’s catwalk, supporting and reinforcing the blockade.

“It’s always a beautiful day to stand up and protect the water but waking up this morning with 12 other brave defenders as we enter hour 30 of our aerial blockade of a tar sands oil tanker to protest the Trans Mountain and its expansion, is truly breathtaking. Seeing these beautiful waters and watching that gorgeous sunrise, you know that people will never stop fighting to protect them. Prime Minister Trudeau: you’re currently on the wrong side of history on this one. It is time to live up to your promises on climate change and Indigenous reconciliation,” said Mike Hudema, a Greenpeace Canada climber from Alberta currently suspended in mid-air for the blockade.

“Hundreds of thousands have lent their voices from around the world, hundreds have been arrested, and now seven incredibly courageous activists and Indigenous leaders hang from a bridge for the second day. Our future hangs in the balance if we don’t stop fossil fuel extraction, as does the health of these precious waterways, and the communities and wildlife depending on them. Mr. Trudeau, this resistance will only grow: do the courageous thing and stop this pipeline,” said Joanna Kerr, Executive Director of Greenpeace Canada.

The multinational climbing team forming this unity blockade hails from the Indigenous Coast Salish community, B.C., Alberta, Quebec, Ontario, the U.S.A (Washington state), Mexico and the U.K.

Among the climbers is Will George, a spokesperson and leader of Kwekwecnewtxw (the Watch House) built next to Kinder Morgan’s tank farm in Burnaby, B.C. to guard against construction of the new pipeline. Coast Salish unceded territories include the B.C. coast and Salish Sea at the end of the proposed TMX pipeline.

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Photos:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/greenpeace_canada/albums/72157698142848584

More hi-res photos, video and b-roll to be added later in the day:
https://media.greenpeace.org/collection/27MZIFJWLMBUH

For more information, visual assets, or to book interviews with the climbers, please contact:

Jesse Firempong, Communications Officer on site: 778-996-6549
Loujain Kurdi, Communications Officer: 514-577-6657, [email protected].