Tonight at 6:30, listen in about Spectra Pipeline info and OTP upcoming actions!

Incredible fracktivist comrades Monica Hunken and George Pingeon from Occupy the Pipeline will be on OWS WBAI radio tonight with the lovely Eve Silber about the current situation with Spectra pipeline, George's recent blockade at the site and upcoming actions. 630pm. Please tune in and share! 

~~~Let's educate, escalate and shut it down!~~~

http://wbai.org/index.php?option=com_events&Itemid=130

George, the Caterpillar Slayer

Sometimes you just can’t take it anymore.

On Tuesday October 23, George Pingeon, a 27 year old bike tour guide from New York City with no prior arrests, was taking pictures of the construction site of the Spectra pipeline (located on the Gansevoort Pier in the West Village along the highway), and decided to lock himself to a backhoe in order to stop construction from going any further. Construction stopped for two hours and George was taken into police custody. He was peaceful throughout the arrest.

What brought this on?

The Spectra pipeline that is currently being constructed will bring hydro-fracked gas from the Marcellus Shale into New York City. According to a report released in January 2012, gas from the Marcellus contains in some places 70 times higher radioactivity than average. The Spectra pipeline will bring radon into the homes of every New Yorker, and presents an explosion risk to the West Village – high pressure gas pipelines such as the one under construction have a history of explosions, from the San Bruno explosion in 2010 that killed 8 people to the explosion last month in northern Mexico.

Despite receiving a record 5000 comments against the pipeline and only 22 for it during the comment period, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission still approved the project. Radon risks were not even considered by the commission. Sane Energy Project has been battling the pipeline via outreach and lawsuits, while our group Occupy the Pipeline has been engaging in flashier tactics to bring attention to this issue, from painting ourselves green and marching through the village to staging dances in bank lobbies. We began meeting two months ago and have launched an escalating direct action campaign to stop the pipeline from being built.

Council Member Christine Quinn, the council member for the district where the pipeline is being built, has remained silent on this issue. Many believe that Quinn’s mayoral ambitions have made her unwilling to cross the Mayor on any issue, and the pipeline is no exception. Given the risk that the pipeline presents to New Yorkers, and given that our elected officials aren’t doing anything, is it any surprise that people start to take things into their own hands?

George, having chained himself to an excavator.

George, having chained himself to an excavator, is paid a visit by ESU.

George, having chained himself to an excavator and been paid a visit by ESU, is arrested. 

George Pingeon, having chained himself to an excavator, been paid a visit by ESU, and then arrested, smiles as he is taken to the 6th precinct

 photos courtesy of Eric Walton

Occupy the Pipeline Shuts Down Spectra Construction in NYC

via Tree Hugger

© Minister Erik McGregor

As part of a nationwide day of action against fossil fuel pipelines fromPennsylvania to Texas, several hundred New Yorkers succeeded Monday in halting construction of a radioactive pipeline threatening the West Village--after unrelenting daily vigils at the Spectra pipeline site over the past several weeks.

Concerns over fracking have received high profile attention in recent months, attracting stars such as Scarlett Johansson and Sean Lennon, who will be presenting the film Gasland at the International Film Center in Manhattan this Thursday the 18th.

Since the Texas gas company, Spectra, received federal approval to crack into the New York City waterfront this summer, construction has persisted day and night, rain or shine. Yet a simple call for civil disobedience by Occupy the Pipeline was enough to halt construction: at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, the company locked its gates and sent workers home for the rest of the day.

Wednesday, September 12th, had marked the first economic losses for Spectra as a result of civil disobedience at the site.

Despite a rush-hour downpour, a hundred West Village residents and their supporters gathered under the cover of the High Line Park–directly beneath which the Spectra Pipeline will run. They painted themselves like skeletons and shook glow sticks to highlight the risk of radon leaks accompanying exposure to fracked gas (in recognition of the Surgeon General's declaration of “Radon Week”). The scene was less sombre than humorous, as all boogied across the West Side Highway to the tune of a New Orleans jazz-funeral sax. Finally, they bound themselves together with "Caution" tape in order to illustrate our common fight against the dirty fossil fuel pipelines tearing across the planet--from the Middle East to Eastern Europe, and from the Midwest to the West Village.

Yesterday's disruption by Occupy the Pipeline follows a series of actions directly targeting Chase, Citibank and Wells Fargo, the big banks responsible for financing the fracked gas pipeline. As investment banks scramble to present oil shale and fracked gas extraction as “the next big thing” in clean and profitable energy, even the Securities and Exchange Commission, along with independent analysts such as Deborah Rogers and Jeannette Barth, have been calling attention to the shaky assumptions underlying their marketing campaigns.

The protest comes days after pipeline construction caused a sewage leak along the West Side Highway. The same interests which stand to benefit financially from expropriating our Commons and snaking pipelines under our feet, are the ones that assure the public that the pipeline will be safe.

Monday's victory builds on momentum rising across North America in recent days. Less than a week ago,Puerto Rican activists prevailed in securing the cancellation of a permit for a proposed pipeline in Via Verde. And in Canada, after the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board requested more information from an Alberta fracking company about hydraulic fracture stimulation -- after hundreds of concerned Yukoners complained – the company withdrew its request to drill. Not a week and a half ago, Darryl Hannah attracted media attention to the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline when she engaged in civil disobedience in defense of a feisty 78 year old great grandmother in East Texas who was arrested for “trespassing” on her own land.

This guest post was written by Rebecca Manski, with research by Dave Publow of Occupy the Pipeline.

O15 (October 15) National day to resist all pipelines!.

If you are in New York, join us on #O15 (October 15th) at Gansevoort and Washington St 

in the Meatpacking District at 5:30 PM. 

Across our nation, we are connected by a web of toxic pipelines powering the fossil fuel industry. But more importantly we are connected by our need and hope for a truly sustainable and renewable future. We have watched the Summer of Solidarity inspire brave acts of resistance: the ongoing Tar Sands Blockade in Texas, the RAMPS shutdown of one of the largest mines on the East Coast, the first blockade of a fracking rig by EarthFirst in the Marcellus Shale, the first national mobilization against hydraul ic fracturing in DC, the coal mining sit-ins in Montana, The Schlumberger, Watkins Glen and Spectra pipeline blockades in New York. These are not isolated incidents. We are growing an environmental justice movement. At their core, these struggles are all a fight against an economic system that puts profits before people and the planet. But this system is reaching its limits. Our lives are on the line, and we are fighting back. We are putting out a call to action, a day of solidarity against all pipelines that threaten our communities and homes. Next month, we are escalating to an international call. Join us on this day. Take action in your hometown against dirty energy. Your action might be: -a peaceful sit-in at an industry target -a blockade of a pipeline -a call-in to a local politician or maybe Obama to demand an end to investing in the extraction industry -a vigil at a drilling site -a dance party at drilling site -a teach-in about the extraction industry, fracking, a local pipeline -a panel discussion about renewable energy alternatives -so many possibilities! Be creative! Post your actions and ideas here! Share with the national community! Join these amazing training camps with our brothers and sisters: Anti- Frack Action Camp in the Fingerlakes http://fingerlakesearthfirst.wordpress.com/ Tar Sands Blockade training: http://tarsandsblockade.org/actioncamp/ We are a united front. We will build a sustainable world together. Come out of the Summer of Solidarity & fire up an Autumn of Unity! If you are in New York, join us on #O15 at Gansevoort and Washington St in the Meatpacking District at 5:30 PM. Ahead of #O15, the New York City campaign against Spectra will host non-violent direct action training on Saturday the 13th 2pm at Brecht forum courtyard. 451 West St. and Bank st. Dress warm and prepare for the revolution! Join the resistance! Shut Down all Pipelines!

Christine Quinn rejects radon gas hearing for West Village

Christine Quinn rejects radon gas hearing for West Village

A spokesperson from City Council Speaker Christine Quinn's office, on Friday announced, in response to repeated and widespread requests for a hearing on radon in natural gas, "not to expect anything in the next few months." Her explanation: The state health impact study will cover it.

Our response: F*** that. 

For one thing, this issue disproportionately affects city residents. Rural residents may cook with electric or propane. Fracked gas carrying radon will be piped into NYC homes whether residents know it or not. Con Ed has contracted with Spectra and Williams-Transco to provide shale gas to city residents in Manhattan, the Bronx, and other parts of the city; National Grid is about to build a pipeline in Rockaway to supply fracked gas to much of Brooklyn and Queens. 

For another: We have no faith in what the state is doing. The state is not holding hearings or accepting public comments on the health study.The "Health Impact Study" that Cuomo has approved is an inside job--as per Sandra Steingraber, it is NOT an independent study, does not follow the guidelines set up by The World Health Organization or The Center for Disease Control. We won't be surprised at all when Cuomo appointee, Dr. Shah, declares radon a non-issue. 

Thirdly: Quinn has ignored thousands of petitions calling for action on Spectra, and on radon. Over the past 2 years, multiple groups have been politely lobbying her staffers for attention to these issues. They've been asked for one simple measure: that City Council conduct a hearing, something completely within their authority, no sweat off their noses, to allow residents and experts an opportunity to explain and explore the issue. And THAT's been too much for Chris Quinn. 

So now we have to ask, why isn't someone who wants to be mayor of this town looking after our well being? Why isn't the city council rep of the West Village looking out for the residents of her own district, who've not only lost a hospital under her watch, but include a population of immune-compromised residents who are even MORE at risk from fracked, radon-laden gas. 

Time to take off the gloves.

Listen up, Chris Quinn: Protect our health, or you won't be our next mayor.

A burning issue about pipeline: Will gas pack radon?

A burning issue about pipeline: Will gas pack radon?

HOT OFF THE PRESS! Naomi Wolf Article in the Guardian PLUS News of 2 other pipelines SHUT DOWN!

Way to go Fractivists! We are feeling the momentum of our energy to ban the Spectra Pipeline!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/oct/12/occupy-pipeline-battles-fracking-threat-new-york

Also in the news!

***2 fracked gas pipeline were shut down because the people said NO-NO-NO. 

Gasoducto del Norte in Puerto Rico 

&

Northern Gateway in Canada

ARE SHUT DOWN

We can shut down the Spectra and Rockaway Pipelines in NYC. We can do this. We can.

Back to the Spectra Site last night to inform the public!

Last night, 7 of us stood in the chilly rain to make sure we told the passers-by that their beautiful bike and jogging path, their playground, their river, their neighborhoods, their homes, their entire city and state PA, NJ and NY is in DANGER of FRACKED GAS AND RADON INTO YOUR HOMES FROM THIS PIPELINE with a big arrow pointing to the site. At red lights, several of us scurried out and handed out postcards filled with information about the Spectra Pipeline. 

I saw every face turn & slowly drive and stare at the site. Great news. This is not just "some construction site". This is a MASSIVE DESTRUCTION site.

We need to do this every single day! We need more volunteers to help hold signs for this action! This will be the way to stop this pipeline from carrying fracked gas and radon into your home.

Michele, Dave, Maureen (from CARP-Coalition Against the Rockaway Pipeline), Kim & Monica holding the signs. Photos by Erik McGregor.

Monica posing with employees of the Department of Sanitation who are having their workplace turned upside down from Spectra nosing its way into our city.

Butoh Ballet of a Pipeline

Dear Fractivists!

Please enjoy this incredibly powerful video of our Frack Mob on Saturday.

Love,
Occupy the Pipline


PS Check out the Village Voice article about the #FrackMob:
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/10/naked_green_peo.php

FRACK MOB!

On Saturday, 30 Fractivists paintied their bodies Green & Choreographed a Frack Mob at the entrance to Spectra Energy's radioactive pipeline construction site. 

This Public Spectra-cle was a performance art statement about the public health and safety risk that the Spectra Energy Pipeline will bring to NYC if it is allowed to continue it's construction on the site at the end of Gansevoort and the Hudson River. 

We are using public spectacle as part of our direct action campaign to shut down the Spectra Energy pipeline. This pipeline will be bringing "Natural" Gas from the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania to the shores of our great city after passing underneath New Jersey. The process of Fracking is how the Gas is extracted from the shale formation. It is highly detrimental to the water table and the entire ecosystem. It also destroys local economy, effecting farming, tourism & recreation. The process of Fracking releases 100's of chemicals into the water system, causing water to become flammable.

The Marcellus Shale contains a higher concentration of radon gas then other Frack Well Sites.

This radon, which is a radioactive carcinogen is released with the natural gas and will be transported to us through the pipeline. Con-Ed has plans to sell this gas to you and I to use in our homes for cooking and heating. A study by Radioactive Waste Management Company showed that use of this radon tinged Gas in our homes will result in 30,000 new cases of Lung Cancer a year in NYC alone.

There is also danger that the pipeline could explode. If and when it does explode, it could take out one of three NYC Fire Boats plus a Children's Playground, not to mention countless homes and businesses and killing thousands.

We say NO FRACKING WAY.

Frack Mob:

photo: Owen Crowley

photo credit: Owen Crowley

We say NO WAY. 





Frack Mob by OccupythePipeline is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Danger Radioactive Pipeline!

     We pondered what the best way to alert the public was. We are flyering, talking to people out in the community, hosting non-violent direct actions and training to proceed with those actions, performing "frack mobs" to make people *LOOK* at the atrocity that is the Spectra pipeline. But, what about the numerous amount of cars that drive by daily? How do get them information? 

     Dave Publow, from Occupy the Pipeline, decided to design a set of realistic looking street signs, teamed up with the People's Puppets of Occupy Wall St. to make them - and voila, SOLIDARITY! We produced five 40" x 40" signs for cars passing by, who most likely ~fly~ by, unaware of what this construction site is about.
     DANGER --- FRACKED GAS AND RADON --- INTO YOUR HOME --- FROM THIS PIPELINE --- with an arrow pointing directly at the construction site (or shall we begin to call this... a DESTRUCTION SITE)
     We had a team of 3 folks handing out postcards explaining what is going on when they were stopped at the traffic light. !!! People were incredibly receptive and concerned !!!
     Would YOU like to get involved with stopping this pipeline? We need volunteers to hold these signs and hand out literature as often as possible! Contact us if you want to get involved! STOP SPECTRA!

 Photo Essay by Minister Erik R. McGregor!
Signs courtesy of the OWS Puppet Guild!

Toxic Bank Dance FrackMob NYC

Video by Owen Crowley and Sandra Koponen

Last Friday,September 28, 2012, over a dozen New Yorkers delivered a message to the big banks funding a dangerous energy project in the heart of Manhattan: "No fracked gas pipeline in the West Village and no fracking in New York." Wearing gas masks and hazmat suits they danced in the lobbies of Chase, Wells Fargo, and Citibank while singing the Britney Spears song "Toxic" with the slightly modified lyrics: "Where's the money from? The big banks. Take the money out of the fracking game..."

The practice in question — known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking for short — is a process by which over 500 chemicals -- many of them known carcinogens, undisclosed, or unregulated chemicals--- are pumped deep into the earth to fracture the bedrock and extract methane gas. These chemicals and the fractured bedrock pose a threat to our drinking water. When the gas reaches its final destination, it is burned, releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere — further exacerbating global warming. 

From start to finish, fracked gas is bad news. But politicians seeking big profits are pushing for gas development. New York's Mayor Bloomberg is allowing Spectra Energy to build a gas pipeline in New York's West Village. New York's Governor Andrew Cuomo wants to open the state up to fracking.
Last Friday,September 28, 2012, over a dozen New Yorkers delivered a message to the big banks funding a dangerous energy project in the heart of Manhattan: "No fracked gas pipeline in the West Village and no fracking in New York." Wearing gas masks and hazmat suits they danced in the lobbies of Chase, Wells Fargo, and Citibank while singing the Britney Spears song "Toxic" with the slightly modified lyrics: "Where's the money from? The big banks. Take the money out of the fracking game..."

The practice in question — known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking for short — is a process by which over 500 chemicals -- many of them known carcinogens, undisclosed, or unregulated chemicals--- are pumped deep into the earth to fracture the bedrock and extract methane gas. These chemicals and the fractured bedrock pose a threat to our drinking water. When the gas reaches its final destination, it is burned, releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere — further exacerbating global warming. 

From start to finish, fracked gas is bad news. But politicians seeking big profits are pushing for gas development. New York's Mayor Bloomberg is allowing Spectra Energy to build a gas pipeline in New York's West Village. New York's Governor Andrew Cuomo wants to open the state up to fracking.

Thanks to the thousands of people who stepped up to take action, we've delayed Cuomo from approving fracking in NY. But we're going to need more support if we're going to stop fracking for good.

We invite you to fight fracking with us. Get involved in NYC at http://saneenergyproject.org/

Not in NYC? Check out United for Action to find a group near you:http://unitedforaction.org/