June 17, 2015

Tribal Rights Ignored in South Dakota KXL Permit Certification

Tribal Rights Ignored in South Dakota

KXL Permit Certification

SD Public Utilities Commission Precludes Consideration of Aboriginal Title in KXL Permit Certification Hearing

By Indigenous Environmental Network
Censored News

Tribal Nations, traditional treaty council members and grassroots leaders are outraged over the decision to exclude aboriginal rights and off-reservation rights from the discussion on the whether the KXL pipeline permit should be granted re-certification. The nine tribal nations of South Dakota all stand in resistance to the proposed tar sands pipeline. Four tribes and a number of organizations and individuals are intervenors in the certification case. A major contention of the KXL pipeline by these intervenors is based upon legitimate treaty and aboriginal usufructuary rights, rights acknowledged by international law, federal and state policy and Supreme Court decisions; rights now excluded from being heard.

Indigenous Block at the Tar Sands Resistance March

Click to view larger images.

#keepitintheground

Water ceremony preceding the Tar Sands Resistance March - St. Paul, MN - June 6th 2015

#stoptarsands

For Immediate Release: June 17, 2015

Contacts:
Paula Antoine, Shield the People – Rosebud Spirit Camp, 605-828-0740, wopila@gwtc.net
Faith Spotted Eagle, Ihanktonwan Treaty Council, 605-481-0416, eagletrax@hotmail.com
Dallas Goldtooth, Indigenous Environmental Network, 507-412-7609, ienpipeline@igc.org

Tribal Rights Ignored in South Dakota KXL Permit Certification
SD Public Utilities Commission Precludes Consideration of Aboriginal Title in KXL Permit Certification Hearing

PIERRE, SD - On June 11th, the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) granted TransCanada’s “Motion to Preclude Consideration of Aboriginal Title or Usufructuary Rights” from the evidentiary hearing on the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline permit certification at the end of July.

Tribal Nations, traditional treaty council members and grassroots leaders are outraged over the decision to exclude aboriginal rights and off-reservation rights from the discussion on the whether the KXL pipeline permit should be granted re-certification. The nine tribal nations of South Dakota all stand in resistance to the proposed tar sands pipeline. Four tribes and a number of organizations and individuals are intervenors in the certification case.

A major contention of the KXL pipeline by these intervenors is based upon legitimate treaty and aboriginal usufructuary rights, rights acknowledged by international law, federal and state policy and Supreme Court decisions; rights now excluded from being heard.

Furthermore, the PUC has made decisions to preclude testimony on climate change and KXL pipeline easements of the Oglala Sioux Tribe Mni Wiconi water pipeline. The KXL pipeline, if constructed, will drive expansion of the energy carbon-intensive extraction and processing of tar sands from under Canada’s Boreal forest, increasing global carbon and greenhouse gas emissions. The Mni Wiconi water system, over which the KXL pipeline would have to cross in three locations, provides drinking water to thousands of Native and non-native people in western South Dakota.

These recent decisions justify concerns by Tribal Nations, traditional treaty councils, and grassroots leaders that the public permitting process of South Dakota is biased to the wants and will of the oil industry and only serves the interest of TransCanada, a multi-billion dollar Canadian company.

For TransCanada’s Keystone XL permit to be granted re-certification it must show that it can still meet the conditions upon which the permit was granted in 2010. The United States Department of State has not completed its review of the project. Tribal concerns include:

TransCanada’s admission that it has no Emergency Spill Response plan for when the Keystone XL pipeline leaks in South Dakota.
The proposed pipeline route places it through 200 miles of high risk landslide areas in South Dakota and crosses significant waterways, including the Missouri River, a major source of drinking water.
Lack of impact assessment on man-camps and the increased risks of crime, sex trafficking, and sexual violence on vulnerable South Dakota and Native communities.
Incomplete or flawed cultural resources impact assessments and inventory of sacred sites and significant cultural areas along the proposed route.

Grassroots leaders, Tribes and South Dakota landowners will not be bullied by Big Oil or dissuaded by seemingly biased rulings. They remain strong and committed in this fight to protect the Great Plains against Big Oil and the Keystone XL pipeline. Community organizers are planning a large march and rally immediately preceding the evidentiary hearing on the Keystone XL permit certification, starting on July 27th.

Quotes:

Paula Antoine, Chairperson of Oyate Wahacanka Woecun (Shield the People – Rosebud Spirit Camp): “We consider ourselves the stewards of the land, of Mother Earth. Despite the SD PUC’s inability to recognize tribal rights, our unified efforts will continue. The detrimental effects of the project to South Dakota’s land, water and people will devastate our small towns, our agriculture and tourism industries. Our concern for the health and welfare of all residents of our state must be shared by the SD Public Utilities Commission.”

Faith Spotted Eagle, Ihanktonwan Treaty Council Representative: “The South Dakota PUC displays a horrifying historical disregard and disrespect of Oceti Sakowin lands and water. It is a blatant example of “settler colonialism”. This is colonialism which is intended to displace, “take over”, replace and destroy the natural occupants of Turtle Island and their rights to live in a safe manner. We truly live in a state that still lives by 1800’s mentality of conquering in an inhumane way. Canada and the United States are repeating predatory methods in the guise of committees and flawed environmental reviews. We have to name it and it is unacceptable in this day and age. We will not relent in protecting our human rights.”

Dallas Goldtooth, KXL Campaign Organizer for the Indigenous Environmental Network: “The PUC’s decision amounts to a complete disregard for the inherent treaty rights of Oceti Sakowin peoples to address their concerns on how this dirty tar sands pipeline will affect our territories, water, air, and relationship to the sacredness of Mother Earth. Treaties are the supreme law of the land, and not to be broken. This is yet another unjust action by South Dakota ignoring its obligations to recognize the Treaty rights of the Oceti Sakowin and to continue to silence the voices of those on the frontline of this issue.”

Migrants Shot, Others Missing, at Arizona Sonora Border

Attacked and Lost in the Sonoran Desert

Migrants from Guatemala and El Salvador were fired on, some died, others fled to ranch, between Altar and Sonoyta, while as many as 100 remain missing.

By Frontera NorteSur
Censored News

Amnesty International and migrant advocacy organizations are demanding answers to the whereabouts of a group of Central American migrants that reportedly vanished June 2 in the Sonoran Desert.

Scores of migrants, perhaps more than 100, could be unaccounted for in the aftermath of an attack on their group near the Sonora-Arizona border. According to survivors’ testimonies, the aggression took place after a truck carrying migrants broke down in the desert. Several other vehicles also transporting migrants presumably on their way to the United States stopped to check out the situation, but were attacked by two unidentified men wearing military-style clothing who opened fire on the large group.

Three migrants, who remain publicly unidentified, were reportedly killed in the attack, and two vehicles burned. Although 13 of the Central Americans were later found safe at a nearby ranch, the survivors said other migrants scattered in the desert as gunfire was directed at them. More than two weeks later, the fates of many migrants in the convoy are not publicly known.

“It is worrisome, apart from the lack of information about the possible whereabouts of other persons-possibly including various women and a child-that the conditions in that zone of the desert are very extreme,” said a statement this week signed by Amnesty International, the Institute for Women in Migration, Casa del Migrante Saltillo and other Mexican migrant advocacy organizations.

The groups demanded the intervention of the National Human Rights Commission, National Executive Commission for Victim Attention and the Mexican federal attorney general’s office in investigating the June 2 incident, clarifying the migrants’ fates and guaranteeing the rights of survivors.

The statement’s signatories criticized Mexico’s National Migration Institute (INM) for allegedly not informing the rescued migrants of their rights to humanitarian visas and forcing them to sign deportation papers.

In response to pressure from non-governmental organizations, the INM later agreed to issue humanitarian visas with a limited time frame. Nonetheless, an undetermined number of survivors had already reportedly left Mexico in a development that could further complicate an investigation of the June 2 events.

Sources: La Jornada, June 16, 2015. Article by Jose Antonio Roman. Proceso/Apro, June 16, 2015. Article by Mathieu Tourliere.

Frontera NorteSur: on-line, U.S.-Mexico border news
Center for Latin American and Border Studies
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, New Mexico

For a free electronic subscription
email: fnsnews@nmsu.edu

June 16, 2015

Unist'ot'en Camp: Resisting TransCanada!

By Unist'ot'en Camp
Censored News

TransCanada has been relentless at attempting to cross onto Unist'ot'en Yintah. The TransCanada "security guy" keeps asking leading questions that they hope will help them in filing for an injunction. Us and our supporters refuse to answer their entrapment questions and we keep reiterating the fact that we are protecting the Unceded Unistoten Yintah and are following through with Knedebeas' instructions to keep pipeline companies out. TransCanada needs to jump through the environmental assessment circus act before applying for permits. They will not succeed in their plans because our will and integrity outweighs their bankrolls. Humility and self-sacrifice is our chosen path towards a future with a safe and healthy environment for our unborn generations.

We have been operating 2 separate full time blockades for a bit more than a week. We´ve held up helicopter crews and evicted them From the Gosnell Creek Valley as well as turned around survey crews attempting to enter the Yintah from the Chism Forest Service Road. There is a lot of footage of both types of encounters and we are sifting through them to create a video update which will likely surface in a couple of days. An incredibly strong turn of recent events was the return of Freda to her Yintah and chasing out surveyors as well as their Wet´suwet´en sell-out counterparts. In previous days the arrogant and mouthy turds were being confrontational with the volunteers who were assigned to protect the Yintah from Pipeline work. Today as Freda stood at the secondary road block the once-tough sell outs stayed in their truck and left it up to their security pawn to face off with her. The look of defeat and pathetic pitifulness of the surveyors was priceless. Also, tripods are now occupying the spaces where heli crews were landing in previous days. As promised, things are changing with the return of the leaders.

San Carlos Apache Sandra Rambler 'Traditionally Speaking' June 16, 2015

Interior Secretary, Sally Jewel with Apache Elders at the Bylas Older Adult Center

Traditionally Speaking

On Tuesday, July 21, our fearless Apaches joined by Indigenous Peoples from all over the world will be on Capitol Hill sending a strong message to the White House, the Senate House, the House of Representatives that OAK FLAT IS NOT FOR SALE.

By Sandra Rambler

San Carlos Apache

Censored News

There are many people that do what they can to make the lives of our tribal members so much better. Too many times, we don’t reflect on those who unselfishly commit their time and resources to do what they can.

Recently, I sat in on a Suicide Prevention task force training and it was really interesting. The presenters go out of their way to send messages throughout our Apache land and what are we doing to help them?

I spoke to some Mothers Against Meth Coalition and their stories are just as interesting. It becomes frustrating for them, I bet, because there should be more support from our Apache mothers! How can we help?

For our Nnee ba’awolzaa hii’bi’jii (A day made for Apaches) celebration on June 18 also prompted individuals, groups and departments to come up with some creativity and I just received a copy of drawing from the Tribal Wellness Center that has a logo, “Meth is not our Apache Tradition,” and the art work is spectacular. How are we helping as community members?

I heard the pleas of a tribal member who was concerned about lack of law enforcement in helping fighting the growing numbers of meth users, violence and theft on our reservation to support their addiction. How can we help our law enforcement tackle this growing problem?

Just earlier this week, another tribal member informed me that we now have not only meth but heroin on our Apache land. This drug is more addicting and costs more is what I’m told. What can we possibly to do help with this?

As I am around our Apache land, I notice quite a few of our tribal members that lost over 50 pounds! From what? Diabetes? I ask around and then sadly am told, “It’s probably from doing too much glass…” Again, I ask you, what do we do as community members?

Then last week, another parent that enrolled their child at the new Mt. Turnbull Elementary School informs me that some people (non-Apaches) at the Fort Thomas Public School is saying that, “Sandra Rambler said not to enroll your children and grandchildren at the new Mt. Turnbull Elementary School,” to which I was so surprised that my name would be thrown in there. To set the record straight, I totally support our Apache children going to school on our own Apache land rather than being bussed off the reservation like we have been for over 70 years!

Then another tribal member approached me about my position on Chi’Chil’Bilda’Goteel (Oak Flat) and why I support it so strongly. My answer was direct. Oak Flat is our ancestral holy Apache land where our ancestors lived and now our Apache Mountain Spirit Dancers dwell throughout the entire region and at Apache Leap. This land is now on federal land and managed by the U.S. Forest Service and a part of Tonto National Forest. For the first time in history, this holy Apache land was given away to a foreign company, Rio Tinto or BHP or Resolution Company (they are all the same) and they didn’t have to pay a dime but promise jobs. First they promised nearly 5,000 jobs but each time the bill was presented in Washington, D.C., it failed and over a decade later, our Tribe had an independent study done and only 324 jobs would be available for our area covering at least two counties (Gila and Pinal). So our holy Apache land was given away for just 324 jobs? After the mining begins, the work will be over 189 degrees and too hot for any human being to work, so what will happen? Electronic machinery operated ROBOTS will do the job! And what will happen to our Apaches that were promised jobs then?

Not to mention the subsidence that will occur. The poisonous tailings from the mine excavation. The water war that will start because over 25 billion gallons of water will be needed each year the mine is open. The town of Superior will turn into a Ghost Town after all the copper has been taken to China and sold to Iran!

Section 3003 of the National Defense Authorization Act must be repealed. Contact John Barrassao, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs at 838 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510 and Rob Bishop, Chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources, 1324 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515 and contact Jon Tester, Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, 838 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510 and our friend Raul Grijalva, Ranking Member on the House Committee on Natural Resources at 1324 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515.

Let your voices be heard and demand that Section 3003 of the NDAA be repealed! Why would we support a foreign company that has nothing to do with Apaches and have no respect for our culture and Apache way of life? Resolution Copper – BHP – Rio Tinto must remember the days in the early 2000s when the APACHES AGAINST RIO TINTO sent them a strong message that they were not welcome on Apache land and here they come rolling down the road again thinking that they will buy our Apache People out! Don’t let them fool you. They will use and then toss you to the side. What do they care? All they want is the copper ore from the copper belt that sits below our Apache reservation.

On Tuesday, July 21st, our fearless Apaches joined by Indigenous Peoples from all over the world will be on Capitol Hill sending a strong message to the White House, the Senate House, the House of Representatives that OAK FLAT IS NOT FOR SALE.

It will take years for the EIS to be done. Everyone knows that. Thank you to everyone that have been occupying Oak Flat since Day One. May our Creator God continue to bless the members of our SAN CARLOS APACHE TRIBAL COUNCIL for continuing to stand strong in their opposition against such desecration and violations of our of our Apache way of life. Ahi’yihe! Ashoong!

Welcome to all our guests for our June 18 tribal holiday. Congratulations to SCTI—FPO #4 Graduates: Yolanda Bahlen, Ranayia Kitcheyan, Mac John Nosie, Carletta Victor and Ashley Roan Eagle. Celebration includes music by Greywolf at Apache Gold Casino Convention Center on Friday, June 19 from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Everyone invited.

June 15, 2015

Obama approved Arctic drilling on the same day US spun cover-ups before the United Nations

Photo today: Blocking Shell oil rig bound for the Arctic in Seattle

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
English, with Dutch translation below by Alice Holemans, NAIS Gazette

How many networks pointed out that on the same day the Obama Administration approved Shell's drilling in the Arctic -- May 11, 2015 -- the US delegation was seated before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva attempting to cover up its abuses of Native Americans and the environment.

Among those in the spin delegation before the UN was Keith Harper, Cherokee. The US cover-up testimony included spying, torture, rape in the US military, and homelessness. And there was no mention of COINTELPRO, sterilization of Native American women, targeting of Native American lands for dirty coal and uranium mining, political prisoners, or systematic torture and murder of Native American children in US government boarding schools. There was no mention of the ongoing theft of American Indian water rights by the US and Congressmen throughout the west, or Sen. John McCain's theft of sacred Apache land at Oak Flat for copper mining.

And of course there was no mention that while the US was spinning fabrications and cover-ups before the United Nations, during the US Universal Periodic Review, on that same day, the Obama administration was approving drilling in the Arctic.

Today, there is a blockade in the waters off Seattle as Shell's oil rig is bound for drilling in the Arctic.

Indigenous Peoples in the Arctic are calling for help to halt Shell's drilling, and protect the waters, the wildlife and their way of life.

“We are grateful and stand with the protesters in Seattle who are determined to stop Arctic Drilling before it starts. Shell’s Arctic venture is seriously reckless. This company has no capability to address an oil spill in unpredictable ice conditions and has proven in previous attempts that they are not equipped for the harsh and volatile conditions of the Chukchi Sea,” said Faith Gemmill, Executive Director of Resisting Environmental Destruction on Indigenous Lands.

“The future of the Inupiat way of life is on the table, how can this company be so callous with their decisions? Not only is Shell’s plans risky, but also detrimental to all Alaska Natives that share the burden of current climate chaos,” Gemmill said. “We stand with those that want to protect their Inupiat ancestral way of life, and we will continue to support them facing down this giant, we call on all those of conscience to raise their voice in opposition to this insane venture now."

Read more about today's blockade in Seattle http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2015/06/breaking-kayaktivists-in-seattle-block.html

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* OBAMA HEEFT ARCTIC DRILLING GOEDGEKEURD OP DEZELFDE DAG DAT DE VS DELEGATIE COVER-UPS FABRICEERDE VOOR DE VERENIGDE NATIES

Door Brenda Norrell, Censored News: http://bsnorrell.blogspot.be/2015/06/obama-approved-arctic-drilling-on-same.html

Vertaald door NAIS: www.denaisgazet.be

Hoeveel netwerken hebben erop gewezen dat, op 11 mei, dezelfde dag dat de Obama overheid de boringen in de Arctic voor Shell goedkeurde- de VS delegatie voor de VN Mensenrechtenraad zat in Genève en het misbruik van Native Amerikanen en het milieu probeerden verbloemen.

Bij die VS delegatie was ook Keith Harper, Cherokee aanwezig.

De VS cover-ups betrof spionage, verkrachtingen in het US leger,en dakloosheid. Er werd met geen woorden gerept over COINTELPRO, steriliseren van Native Amerikaanse vrouwen, inpalmen van Native Amerikaans land voor vuile kolen en uranium ontginningen, politieke gevangenen of, de systematische martelingen en vermoorden van Native kinderen in de kostscholen van de VS regering. Er werd geen melding gemaakt van de nog steeds voortdurende diefstal van Amerikaans Indiaanse waterrechten door de US en de congresleden in het hele westen, of van senator John McCain’s diefstal van sacraal Apache land op Oak Flat voor koperontginning.

En natuurlijk zwegen ze in alle talen over het feit dat, terwijl ze hier cover-ups zaten te fabriceren voor de Verenigde Naties, president Obama op hetzelfde moment de boringen in de Arctic goedkeurde.

Vandaag is er een blokkade in de waters van Seattle om het Shell booreiland, bestemd voor boringen in de Arctic tegen te houden.

Inheemse groepen roepen op om Shell’s boringen in de Arctic te stoppen en om de waters, het wildleven en hun levenswijze te beschermen.

“ Wij zijn dankbaar en staan samen met de demonstranten in Seattle om Shell tegen te houden voor ze aan de boringen in de Arctic kunnen beginnen. Shell’s Arctic onderneming is heel roekeloos.

Dit bedrijf is niet in staat om olielekken aan te pakken in de onvoorspelbare ijs omstandigheden, en bij vorige pogingen is het bewezen dat zij niet uitgerust zijn voor de harde en veranderlijke omstandigheden van de Chukchi zee,” zei Faith Gemmill, Executive Director van ’Resisting Environmental Destruction and Indigenous Lands.

“ De toekomst van de levenswijze van de Inupiat ligt in de weegschaal, hoe kan dit bedrijf zulke wrede beslissingen uitvoeren? Niet alleen zijn de plannen van Shell riskant, maar ook heel schadelijk voor alle Alaska Natives die nu al de last dragen van de huidige klimaatverandering.”

“Wij staan samen op met allen die hun Inupiat voorvaderlijke levenswijze willen beschermen, en wij zullen hen blijven steunen om deze reus klein te krijgen.

wij roepen nu iedereen met een geweten op om hun stem te laten horen in oppositie van die krankzinnige onderneming

BREAKING: Kayaktivists in Seattle Block Shell’s Alaska-Bound Oil Rig

BREAKING: Kayaktivists in Seattle Blockade Shell’s Alaska-Bound Oil Rig

Media release - June 15, 2015English, with Dutch translation below by Alice Holemans, NAIS Gazette

SEATTLE, WA, June 15, 2015— Thirteen activists in kayaks have blockaded Shell's Arctic drilling rig the Polar Pioneer as it attempted to leave Seattle's Puget Sound. The Greenpeace activists have secured themselves in place with enough supplies to last for hours while additional protests take place on shore. Shell plans to use the Polar Pioneer to drill for oil in the Alaskan Arctic in less than two weeks.

Annie Leonard, the Executive Director of Greenpeace US, said,“Shell wants to haul its 40,000 ton Arctic destroyer to Alaska as soon as possible, but these courageous individuals are saying, ‘Shell No.’ Every minute that brave protesters can delay Shell’s Arctic drilling plans is another chance for President Obama to reconsider his disastrous approval of oil drilling in Alaska. The President’s decision on Arctic drilling will be a dealbreaker for his climate legacy, but it’s not too late for him to stop this catastrophe before it starts.”

In April, six activists intercepted the same oil rig in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, 750 miles north-west of Hawaii and scaled the 40,000 ton platform, occupying the rig for nearly a week. Since then, there has been a broad movement in Seattle and beyond to stop Shell’s rigs from leaving for the Arctic, including a protest of several thousand people, 500 on kayaks.

Paloma Henriques, one of the kayaktivists in the blockade, said: “I’m just one voice out here, but I know I’m not alone. I believe that confronting Shell will encourage more people to take a strong stand against them and other companies who are seeking to destroy this planet for profit. We are here to send a message to President Obama that it’s not too late to stop Shell from destroying the Arctic.”

In May, the Obama administration approved Shell’s plan to drill for oil in the Chukchi Sea in the Alaskan Arctic. Since that approval, both Shell's rigs, the Polar Pioneer and the Noble Discoverer have failed routine inspections.

The Noble Discoverer is one of the oldest drill ships in the world. In December 2014, Noble Drilling, one of Shell’s biggest Arctic sub-contractors and owner of the Noble Discoverer, pleaded guilty to eight felonies related to Shell’s failed attempts to drill in the Arctic Ocean in 2012.

In an environmental analysis, the Obama administration predicts 75 percent chance of a major oil spill if Shell develops its leases in the Chukchi Sea.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/greenpeace_usa/

Photos will be available here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/greenpeace_usa/

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KAYAK(C)TIVISTS IN SEATTLE BLOKKEREN SHELL’S BOOREILAND BESTEMD VOOR ALASKA

Bron:Censored News: http://bsnorrell.blogspot.be/2015/06/breaking-kayaktivists-in-seattle-block.html

Vertaald door NAIS: www.denaisgazet.be

Seattle, WA, 15 juni 2015

Dertien activisten in Kajaks hebben de ‘Polar Pioneer’, het booreiland van Shell geblokkeerd toen het de Puget Sound in Seattle wou verlaten.

De Greenpeace -activisten hebben zich stevig verankerd met genoeg voorraden om de blokkade urenlang vol te kunnen houden.

Ondertussen hadden er op de kust protestdemonstraties plaats.

Shell wil in minder dan twee weken tijd olie gaan boren in het noordpoolgebied in Alaska.

Annie Leonard, uitvoerend directeur van Greenpeace US zei: “ Shell wil zijn 40.000 ton wegende verwoester van het noordpoolgebied zo vlug mogelijk naar Alaska vervoeren, maar deze moedige mensen zeggen, ”Shell No”.

Iedere minuut dat deze dapperen Shell’s boorplannen kunnen vertragen geeft Obama de kans om zijn rampzalige beslissing voor olieboringen in Alaska te heroverwegen. De beslissing van de president zal een ‘dealbreaker‘ zijn voor zijn klimaatnalatenschap, maar het is nog niet te laat om deze catastrofe te stoppen voor het begint.”

In april hebben zes activisten hetzelfde booreiland in het midden van de Stille Oceaan, 750 mijl ten noord-westen van Hawai, kunnen onderscheppen en een week lang bezet gehouden.

Sindsdien is er een brede beweging gegroeid in Seattle om Shell’s booreiland te beletten Seattle te verlaten.

Duizenden mensen, waaronder 500 kajaks, hebben geprotesteerd.

Paloma Henriques, een van de Kajak(c)tivisten in de blokkade zei: “ ik heb maar één stem, maar ik weet dat ik niet alleen ben. Ik ben ervan overtuigd dat de confrontatie met Shell meer mensen zal aanmoedigen om een sterke stand tegen hen en andere bedrijven die de planeet naar de verdoemenis willen helpen, in te nemen.

Wij zijn hier om een boodschap te sturen naar President Obama en hem te zeggen dat het nog niet te laat is om Shell tegen te houden van het verwoesten van het Noordpoolgebied.”

In mei ll. ondertekende Obama de goedkeuring voor olieboringen in de Chukchi Zee in het Arctic gebied van Alaska.

Sinds die goedkeuring zijn beide Shell’s installaties, de ‘Polar Pioneer’ en de ‘Noble Discoverer’ gefaald in de routine inspecties.

De ‘Noble Discoverer’ is een van de oudste boringschepen in de wereld.

In december 2014 heeft ‘Noble Drilling’, een van Shell’s grootste Arctic onderaannemers en eigenaar van de ‘Noble Discoverer’, schuldig gepleit aan acht misdrijven gerelateerd aan Shell’s mislukte pogingen om te boren in de Arctic oceaan in 2012.