The Bad-ass Activists of Texas put their ropes where their hopes are.
Yes! In Winnsboro, Texas, eight people climbed 80 feet into trees in the path of Keystone XL construction, and pledged not to come down until the pipeline is stopped for good. Construction cannot proceed until tree-sitters descend and TransCanada clear-cuts through hundreds of trees to make way for the toxic tar sands pipeline.
The blockade is carefully organized to ensure that everyone sitting in the trees can remain safe as long as TransCanada does not attempt to continue clear-cutting the trees.
These hardcore advocates of landowner’s rights and climate justice have the safety equipment and food supplies to last indefinitely. Help spread this breaking story on Facebook and Twitter.
Treesit Timeline:
UPDATE: 6:00PM – Workers Have Stopped For the Day — Tree Village Blockade Day 1 Was A Success!
From the moment that eight people scaled trees this morning TransCanada’s heavy machinery has roared and ripped at the trees and landscape to clear-cut a pathway for their Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. Despite the din the eight blockaders held strong all day — marking the first of what we hope to be many days of maintaining the tree village blockade.
UPDATE: 4:00PM – VIDEO: Footage From Two Hours Ago of Heavy Machinery Approaching Tree-Sitters
Our fearless videographer stealthily shot this intense footage two hours ago. Watch as a feller buncher rips up trees as it cuts its way toward our eight brave blockaders defending a timber scaffolding as part of the tree village. Blockaders refuse to be intimidated by these heavy machines and pledge to remain in their aerial perches until Keystone XL construction has halted.
UPDATE: 3:00PM – Heavy Machines Are No Longer Advancing Toward Tree Village
The advancement of heavy machinery toward our tree village has slowed significantly. Clearing crews are now chopping up logs they have left in the wake of their feller buncher’s destruction. Our eight blockaders remain quietly patient in the trees 80 feet off the ground.
UPDATE: 12:00PM – Tree-Thrashing Machine Cutting its Way Toward Tree Village
Tree-thrashing heavy machinery is cutting its way toward our tree village. Eight people are on the tree platforms and have refused to come down until TransCanada stops construction on its dangerous Keystone XL tar sands pipeline.
UPDATE: 11:45AM – TransCanada’s Surveying Crews Turned Away
After TransCanada’s surveying crews arrived at our 40 foot timber scaffolding occupied by three brave blockaders they turned away and left. You Shall Not Pass.
UPDATE: 11:25AM – TransCanada’s Surveying Crews Have Arrived at Our 40 Foot Tall Timber Scaffolding
TransCanada’s surveying crews have arrived at our 40 foot tall timber scaffolding that is currently being occupied by three brave blockaders intent on not coming down until they stop Keystone XL – permanently.
PHOTOS: See more photos in our flickr album.
UPDATE: 11AM – Heavy Machinery Has Arrived at the Construction Site Near the Tree Village
TransCanada workers have unloaded a heavy machine known as a feller buncher used for clear-cutting any trees in the path of the Keystone XL pipeline. On Saturday these machines leveled a “road” through thick East Texas forest to get closer to our tree village.
UPDATE 10AM – TransCanada Workers Begin Arriving to Construction Site
Three pickup trucks of TransCanada’s Keystone XL construction workers are arriving on Highway 2088 near the Blockade outside Winnsboro, Texas. Workers are currently less than a mile from the blockade site, but no sight of heavy machinery yet. Stay tuned.
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- KBOO