Greenpeace takes action again, blocking Suncor tar sands operations International activists join Canadians in saying no to tar sands

The 23 activists from Canada, France, Brazil and Germany entered the site early this morning. A team went to the open-pit mine and is stopping the conveyor belts that carry bitumen from the mine across the river to the upgrader. The activists are joined by Greenpeace Canada executive director Bruce Cox.

Live streaming video is at www.greenpeace.org/stoptarsands

Today’s action comes two weeks after Greenpeace successfully stopped a mining operation at Shell and just a week after Rajendra Pachauri, head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the world’s leading body on climate science, said that Canada is failing on climate action, and should consider putting the tar sands on hold.

“Greenpeace has taken action here today in the heart of climate destruction to drive the message home to world leaders that we need urgent climate leadership, and that means stopping the tar sands,” said Bruce Cox, Greenpeace Canada Executive Director. “We are here to drive the message home to world governments that we need urgent climate leadership, and that means stopping the tar sands.” —Bruce Cox, Greenpeace Canada Executive Director from the bridge blockade.

“Greenhouse gas emissions are just one element of the crimes happening in the tar sands. Around 11 million litres of toxic chemicals, including carcinogens and other deadly poisons are leaking into groundwater and the Athabasca and poisoning entire communities. Their food is contaminated, their water unsafe to swim in, let alone drink. This is not what the world expects from Canada, but it’s the grim reality.”—Mike Hudema, Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner.