A pair of Greenpeace Canada activities have occupied a Kinder Morgan tunnel boring machine at a storage facility in Delta’s Tilbury Industrial Park Thursday morning.
Just before dawn the two women climbed atop the machine, chained themselves and dropped a banner reading: “Protect Water, Stop Pipelines.”
Greenpeace Canada say they tracked the drill all the way from Germany on its cross-continental journey to the storage facility where it awaits transport to Kinder Morgan’s Burnaby facility.
The protesters include Mary Lovell, a dual citizen of Canada and the United States who resides in Washington State, and Laura Yates, a long-time Vancouver resident and activist.
“We’re here in solidarity with Indigenous water protectors and land defenders who do not consent to the Kinder Morgan tar sands pipeline in their territory,” said Lovell. “We’re here because this pipeline poses too great a threat to the land, air, and water.”
The pair have indicated they intend to stay in place atop the drilling machine for as long as possible.
“Enough is enough. Right now, we need leaders who are brave visionaries, who are willing to take the leap, leave dirty oil projects behind and choose a path to a better future,” added Yates.
Delta police were at the site monitoring the situation.
“Our role is really just to ensure public safety because police are neutral in these types of issues,” said DPD public affairs coordinator Cris Leykauf. “So we have a few officers on site to essentially ensure public safety. Delta police respect the right to lawful and peaceful protest.”
Leykauf said she could not speculate as to if or when the protesters will be removed from the site.
“There are so many things that could happen, but I can say we have been in discussion with the demonstrators and they have been respectful and cooperative,” she said.
