Suzanne Senger from Gibsons on the Sunshine Coast BC Canada cares so much about the future of the planet, she and Brad Benson packed their bags and traveled 4611km to Ottawa for a Tar Sands Protest calling for a clean green sustainable energy future. Here is her amazing first hand account.
What a day. So much to say. Overwhelmed by the force of solidarity. Not in jail.
Over 200 people crossed the police line. RCMP informed us that as soon as we crossed the fence we would be arrested and wave after wave we came over the fence to sit in on parliament hill.
RCMP erected a 10 foot fence between us and the actual building. We did not attempt to cross that fence as it was dangerous and could have escalated the protest in a negative way. deterred from the message. we sat in illegally for 5 hours while people were “processed” on parliament hill – ticketed for trespassing and instructed not to come back to parliament hill for a year.
Some people will be challenging the fines, others will pay them. After 5 hours in the blazing sun the RCMP got tired of processing us and escorted the last 50 or so people off the Hill.
800 people came out to support this peaceful act of civil disobedience.
I am at once in awe of the magic in our solidarity and humbled by the stark human reality of the indigenous people affected by the Tar Sands and when and where we will meet again – to stand together to stop the monster killing our planet and our people.
Tar sands protest in Ottawa, Canada
Brad Benson and i flew to Ottawa where we joined about 20 organizers and 200 citizens at Ottawa University on Sunday Septebmer 25th for a 9 hour training session to prepare for the action on Monday and to build solidarity among our group.
We covered everything from the logistics of the scene we would face including climbing the fence, de-escalation techniques, arrest scenarios and after a delicious meal – and of course, a legal briefing.
Our legal counsel was a young man who had been arrested 20 times for civil disobedience, had never been convicted and had gone on to become a lawyer.
No one was entirely sure how the police would respond to us, so we hoped for the best and prepared for the worst. Since we expected to spend the night in jail, the Polaris institute held bail monies ($100-$500) for those of us without contacts in the area.
On Monday we rallied at the centennial flame and were met by approx 800 supporters.
First Nations led with ceremony and prayer. Indigenous leaders from across Canada spoke alongside Union leaders, Environmental leaders, Nobel laureates. Maude Barlowe went over on the first line with the head of the tar sands workers union, native elders and youth, Greenpeace CoC and on and on. AMAZING!!!
Hard hitting messages at once utterly heartbreaking and profoundly inspiring. a call to the men behind closed doors to communicate with us. a call for free prior and informed consent – (UN indigenous rights) a call for climate justice for the world, for our descendants future and specifically for our native brethren in northern Alberta who are losing their families and their culture to the tar sands – now.
TAR SANDS – Ottawa action Sept 26 2011 first arrest
Description: On September 26th over 200 people crossed a police barricade and risked arrest to send the message to our government that we oppose expansion of the Canadian tar sands and the pipelines. We speak out for climate justice, indigenous rights, green jobs, protection of the land, the air , the water, the people – the generations to come on this planet who deserve to live a healthy life here. Thank you Roland, Fort Chipewan elder for crossing the line. SHARE the video on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=171973176218142
So, those of us risking arrest went over in “waves” or lines of 5-10 people at a time. Algonquin drummers carried us on their rhythm. wave after wave we clasped hands and crossed the line – recognizing a higher authority than the Harper regime.
Over 200 people crossed the police line. RCMP informed us that as soon as we crossed the fence we would be arrested and wave after wave we came over the fence to sit in on parliament hill.
RCMP erected a 10 foot fence between us and the actual building. We did not attempt to cross that fence as it was dangerous and could have escalated the protest in a negative way. deterred from the message. we sat in illegally for 5 hours while people were “processed” on parliament hill – ticketed for trespassing and instructed not to come back to parliament hill for a year.
Ottawa Action
September 26, 2011 – More than 200 people risked arrest on Parliament Hill in the largest climate-related civil disobedience action in Canadian history. The rally and the civil disobedience remained peaceful through the day-long event on the Hill. The main message of the action was to urge Prime Minister Harper to turn away from a destructive tar sands industry and start building a green energy future that promotes climate justice, respects Indigenous rights and prioritizes the health of the environment and communities.
We were met on the other side of the fence immediately by RCMP who told us that if we did not go back we would be arrested. We were given the choice to go back. At first, those who crossed the line were cuffed (zap strapped) and walked immediately off the grounds, handed over to Ottawa police who issued trespassing tickets ($65) each and banned from parliament hill for one year.
This went on for a couple of waves but it seems as though the Ottawa police did not commit nearly as many officers to the task as the RCMP did (at least 100 RCMP – i did some counting) and so it took a long time to “process” folks.
So we sat in on the grass, a wall of RCMP between us and a 10 ft fence barricading the steps to parliament hill.
Suzanne Senger and Brad Benson in Ottawa, Canada
We were fore warned not to try to cross this fence. It was a highly organized act of civil disobedience – committed to non-violence. On the other side of the fence the amazing support team brought us food, water, sunscreen… apples!!
Shouted chants, drummed, sang songs gave rousing speeches. It was about 27 degrees and we were in the blaring sun flanked by RCMP in their hot uniforms from 11:30 am until 4:30 pm.
A couple of older folk succumbed to the heat and the paramedics took at least one person away. Two by two people were marched off the grounds, “processed”, put into paddy wagons and scattered – off parliament hill.
On the grass solidarity was strong, moods were solemn but keen and proud. It was frustrating yet at the same time empowering. Mixed emotions and intense conversations. Folks from all over Canada and a few Americans, people from every age group and walk of life, we felt among us a deep sense that this communion of leaders from indigenous people, settlers, union, enviro’s, religious groups, political organizations – was symbolic and potent at this crucial moment in history. First nations guiding the way back to a sustainable future, hands in hands, was very empowering.
So we sat. talked, sang, chanted ( “the people – united – will never be defeated”) engaged the RCMP and pushed the line as far as we could until about 2/3rds of the people had been cited, ticketed and removed. Around 4 pm the RCMP start negotiating with the organizers and by 4:30 the organizing crew rallied the remaining protesters saying that the police were willing to let us go without a fine, if they could escort us off the grounds. Due to the nature of this action, we were encouraged to go peacefully and so police and protesters walked off parliament hill.
Some people will be challenging the fines, others will pay them. After 5 hours in the blazing sun the RCMP got tired of processing us and escorted the last 50 or so people off the Hill.
We met for food and debriefing and emotional support that evening and in the morning we went to retrieve our bail monies and see about fighting the tickets and bans from parliament hill. Not sure yet how many will fight the tickets but at least 5 people began the process immediately that morning.
Some people will be challenging the fines, others will pay them. After 5 hours in the blazing sun the RCMP got tired of processing us and escorted the last 50 or so people off the Hill.
MP John Weston and Suzanne Senger in Ottawa, Canada.
I am at once in awe of the magic in our solidarity and humbled by the stark human reality of the indigenous people affected by the Tar Sands and when and where we will meet again – to stand together to stop the monster killing our planet and our people
Tuesday afternoon Brad and I weaseled our way into MP for West Vancouver – Sea to Sky – Sunshine Coast John Weston’s office too…
Remember the 350 event video?
John Weston was supposed to deliver a petition to the house regarding climate action – he never did it!
On Tuesday we went to ask him why we had to make the trip all the way to Ottawa to deliver the message ourselves. he said it was not in the “proper format” and that if we get it into the proper format he will table it in the house – that is now in the works so will be the next part of this story…
Sunshine Coast Call to Climate Action
VIDEO: http://vimeo.com/8243815
Sunshine Coast Call to Climate Action from 350video on Vimeo.
348 Residents of The Sunshine Coast gather for a 350.org Event Oct 24 2009 in Gibsons, BC Calling for Climate Action. They present a petition to Steven Harper’s Conservative MP, John Weston, in Sechelt, BC on Dec. 12 2009 and ask again, for Climate Action in Copenhagen. There is much discussion on the Tar Sands and disapproval of them. Crowd voicing embarrassment and disillusion regarding Canada’s lack of commitment to represent them on the world stage.
Huge thanks to Suzanne for sharing her courageous story to stand up for our planet’s future. Congrats to both her and Brad.
What do you think needs to be done to get off of using so much fossil fuels and moving towards a clean green eneryg future? I would love for you to share your ideas, thoughts and concerns!!
It’s Always a Good Day on the Sunshine Coast! Duane Burnett
Of course John Weston wouldn’t deliver a petition on climate change. His government’s interest in the matter is only about optics and not about substance on the matter. They have no interest in a course change on carbon emissions, if it were to interfere in any way in the oil economy.
Go Suzy
the world needs more people like you leading by example strenght and integrity