The opposition to the Tar Sands XL pipeline just heated up a notch. Leading environmentalist & founder of 350.org just got arrested, as well as about 70 other folks. Here’s more from the 350.org Facebook page:
NEWS FLASH: Bill McKibben was just arrested, alongside over 70 other brave souls, for peacefully stepping up/sitting down for our future. Today begins a two week wave of civil disobedience at the White House, to stop a nearly 2,000 mile oil pipeline from Canada’s Tar Sands to the shores of Texas (aka the Keystone XL). If you’re inspired, add your name:http://350.org/take-a-stan
d & send your solidarity: http://350.org/dc-solidarity this is just the beginning.
Protests are scheduled from today until September 3. As I wrote last night, Obama’s decision on the Tar Sands is going to be his make-or-break with a lot of (maybe most) environmentalists.
I first got the news about McKibben’s arrest from a writer over on one of our sister blogs, EcoLocalizer, who did a good job of summarizing the growing momentum against the Tar Sands:
The event is powered by a simmering movement that includes scientists, celebrities, and environmental activists. Jason Box, a climate scientist, is taking part. He has said: “I couldn’t maintain my self-respect if I didn’t go”. He will take part in a three-day block of activism toward the end of the event run. Activists have signed up for scheduled stays at the protest, of which Bill McKibben said: “Our currency for these two weeks is our bodies, our spirit and our creativity.” He admitted a willingness to endure arrest for this cause.
I’ll keep you updated if any more big news breaks on this front.
Zachary Shahan
If you couldn't guess, I spend most of my time on CleanTechnica and Planetsave. I'm the director/editor of both sites and am a little obsessed with them. I'm also Publishing Services Manager at Important Media, which means that I do everything I can to support other Important Media writers, editors, and directors (as well as the network as a whole) in the good work they are engaged in. You can also find my written work on Scientific American, Reuters, Change.org, and most of the sites in the Important Media network. For a full list of my author pages on sites around the internet, or to connect with me on common social networks, go to zacharyshahan.com
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The Green Life
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[...] $5 Billion Drought Caused By Deadly Combination Of Climate Variability And Carbon PollutionBill McKibben & ~70 Others ArrestedAfter 12 Oil Spills in One Year, TransCanada Says Proposed Keystone XL Pipeline Will Be Safest in [...]
[...] below, and re-posted the original announcement of McKibben’s arrest (from our sister site, Planetsave) below, as well. Check out some of the links, and do what you can – maybe hit up the White [...]