MEDIA ADVISORY

June 25, 2013 MEDIA ADVISORY MEDIA ADVISORY MEDIA ADVISORY

June 25, 2013

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#SwampLine9 #SovSummer

Cross-Canada actions in 12 cities on June 25 in support of Tar Sands blockade in Ontario.

TORONTO SOLIDARITY ACTION “SWAMP THE COURTS”: 12PM, June 25, 2013, 361 University Avenue.

Direct Action occupation of Enbrige’s Line 9 construction site sparks solidarity actions #swampline9 #sovsummer

TORONTO – Protest actions are planned outside Enbridge offices and other key locations in a dozen cities across Canada in support of activists who took over a pumping station north of Hamilton, Ontario early Thursday morning.

This action, dubbed Swamp Line 9, aims to prevent construction on Line 9 and block the transport of Tar Sands through Ontario and Quebec. This action is also part of the Idle No More campaign Sovereignty Summer.

Torontonians will rally at the Provincial Court Office to show that when governments, courts, and industry fail, the people will stand in solidarity and defend the land!

Line 9 is an existing pipeline that currently runs east to west from Montreal to Sarnia; however Enbridge has applied to reverse the direction of the pipeline in order to ship tar sands oil from Alberta to the East Coast.

This pipeline crosses the territories of 18 Indigenous nations along its route, including the Six Nations of the Grand River who have not given free, prior, informed consent to the project.

Only the first leg of the reversal has been approved by the National Energy Board, and public consultations for the second section are scheduled for the fall. However, Enbridge has already begun construction on this project.

Line 9 crosses dozens of major rivers draining into Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, including Beverly Swamp in the headwaters of Spencer Creek, Hamilton’s largest watershed, putting the drinking water of millions of people at risk of an oil spill.

Swamp Line 9 participants anticipate that Enbridge will try to obtain an injunction to remove them through the courts.

Recently, Hamilton activists called out Enbridge for donating $44,410 to the Hamilton police service. It appears the government and justice system are serving the interests of corporations at the expense of the people and with total disregard for lands and communities.

For quotes: http://www.mediacoop.ca/newsrelease/18046

More cities will be updated, please keep checking www.swampline9.tumblr.com

Media contacts

Lana Goldberg, Rising Tide Toronto, 416-257-0123

Clayton Thomas-Muller, Defenders of the Land, 613-297-7515

Elysia Petrone, 905-865-6819 (at Swamp Line 9 Occupation)

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Krystalline Kraus

krystalline kraus is an intrepid explorer and reporter from Toronto, Canada. A veteran activist and journalist for rabble.ca, she needs no aviator goggles, gas mask or red cape but proceeds fearlessly...