Hundreds of pipeline opponents surrounded Kinder Morgan’s marine terminal in Burnaby on Saturday, calling for an end to fossil fuel projects.
The protest featured an estimated 200 kayakers on water and 800 on land, circling the Westridge Marine Terminal, where tankers fill up with crude from the Trans Mountain pipeline.
“I think the overall message of the day was it was a call on the federal government to begin a transition towards 100 per cent renewable energy,” said Amina Moustaqim-Barrette, Greenpeace communications coordinator.
The event was part of Break Free, a global series of protests targeting fossil fuel projects. Greenpeace and 350.org organized the event with participation from Burnaby Residents Opposing Kinder Morgan Expansion.
Some of the kayakers went as far as crossing a boom around the terminal, while land protesters chained small locks to one of the entrance gates. Both groups left messages on why they were protesting.
The demonstration didn't disrupt work on Saturday, according to Ali Hounsell.
"There was no impact to operations that day," she said. "We respect that there are different views about the project, and people have the right to express those views, which is what we saw Saturday. We have always encouraged people to talk to us directly."
Moustaqim-Barrette expects more protest activity with the National Energy Board’s decision due sometime this week.
“As things progress and the National Energy Board decision is released and the government moves forward with their consultation on the Kinder Morgan pipeline, people will now have the skills to move forward with this kind of work and take action in their own communities,” she said. “They will be there every step of the way to take action to ensure these pipelines don’t get built.”
