Denver: Rally Against Suncor, Tar Sands AND Keystone XL Pipeline!

Saturday, December 31, 2011 – 1:00pm

Come join us as various activist groups (from around the Denver/Boulder area) and community members come and stand together in solidarity to raise awareness of Suncor Tar Sands Refinery’s recent oil leak in the Sand Creek and South Platte River at Commerce City.

BACKGROUND:

It was reported in late November that oil has been discovered in the South Platte River. Very little coverage from the media was published at the timeof the discovery, but, until recently, it has been confirmed that gas-like sludge has been found on the edges of the river. It is unknown how long this leak has been present in the water. This water is a major source for drinking water, wild-habitat and agricultural uses for the Midwest, but the water is now contaminated and is non-usable for everyone and everything.

**Suncor refinery is the oldest tar sands producers, up to 90% of its production comprised of tar sands bitumen. The company uses its Colorado refinery to process some of the heavy tar sands coming from the Express and Platte pipelines. At a time when companies like TransCanada and Enbridge are proposing to build tar sands infrastructure through our rivers and water resources—and some in Congress are trying to speed up the process by skipping environmental review—this spill provides another sad example of what can go wrong with these projects.**

As stated above, the leak is just one of many examples of what will inevitably happen if the Keystone XL pipeline, which is backed by TransCanada and powered by the tar sands, is approved. As many know, the tar sands operation has been catastrophic for the Cree Nation in Alberta, Canada. Their lands are threatened to be stripped down and will forever be destroyed to obtain the very same thing that is currently in the South Platte River. Suncor needs to be held accountable for the leak and not properly informing the public about this leak to its communities in Commerce City!

So, this is where we, as a people, take action and demand clean water, a clean livelyhood and just a clean start! We can not prolong this anymore, as this can not wait any longer! The public need to be informed!

THE EVENT:

A march and rally has called and arranged by the activist groups of Colorado to be taken place in downtown Denver to help create greater public awareness of the most recent ecological disaster created by Suncor Tar Sands Refinery! We will gather at Skyline Park at 1pm and march to the Pavillions Mall and hold a demonstration.

THE SPEAKERS:

On Saturday, December 31st, we will host a gathering in protest against Suncor’s reckless operations. Speakers include:

Scott Denver Jacket of American Indian Movement of Colorado

Deanna Meyer of Deep Green Resistance

John Zapian and Salvador Arieta, organizers and residents of the communities of Commerce City,

Jeremy Nichols of Wild Earth Guardians and more!

Please join us in making a collective New Year’s resolution to bring an end to this giant polluter, and its partners!

Denver: Tar Sands Action Solidarity March and Rally

From 350 Colorado:

Next Sunday, Nov. 6th over 4,000 people are participating in a Tar Sands Action protest encircling the White House and urging President Obama to reject the dirtiest project on earth – the Keystone XL Tar Sands Oil Pipeline – and live up to his promise to “free us from the tyranny of oil”. In doing so, we want to remind him of the power of the movement that he rode to the White House in 2008.

In Denver, we will march in solidarity from the Occupy Denver event at the Denver Federal Reserve Building at 1020 16th Street (Occupy Denver will move locations for Veterans Parade activities at Civic Center Park) to rally at The World Trade Center (1625 Broadway) – office location of the Canadian Consul, which has been lobbying hard for the pipeline.

Please join us! Event schedule:

• 11am-12noon: Occupy Denver Rally and Tar Sands Action sign making at the Federal Reserve Building (1020 16th St.). Meet at the corner of 16th and Curtis to help make signs.

• 12noon-1pm: March with Occupy Denver by banks and the World Trade Center. Stop to rally in solidarity outside the Canadian Consul office at the World Trade Center (1625 Broadway – on 16th St. Mall).

• Tar Sands Action Teach-in: We’re not sure what time we’ll arrive at the World Trade Center, but we anticipate rallying there for about 10-15 minutes. We’ll have great speakers from the American Indian Movement and Indigenous Resistance to the Tar Sands Denver and more. Then we’ll offer a 20-minute Tar Sands Action Teach-in on site for anyone wanting to learn more and get active.

Please invite your friends! Want to volunteer? Email micah@350.org. To learn more, visit http://tarsandsaction.org/.

Denver Tar Sands Protest during Obama’s Visit

Delegation of Oglala Sioux to join protests in Denver Tues., Oct 25, and Wed. Oct. 26

By Glenn Morris, Censored News

There will be two political protests in support of our relatives to the north who are resisting the tar sands exploitation, and in opposition to the Trans-Canada, Keystone-XL oil pipeline, which will be constructed across the indigenous treaty territories of the northern plains. Of course, the reason that we are targeting our message to Obama during his visit is that the permit (which requires presidential approval) for the Keystone-XL pipeline is on Obama’s (and his State Department’s) desk, right now. We need to take this opportunity to send a strong statement to Obama in support of our relatives in Canada, at Fort Peck, Standing Rock, Pine Ridge, Rosebud, and several other reservations, who will be directly affected by this pipeline. In addition, a delegation from the Oglala Sioux Tribe (OST), including OST Vice-President Tom Poor Bear, will be traveling to join us. There is concerted opposition to Keystone-XL, from Pine Ridge and other members of the Lakto/Dakota/Nakota Nations, who will be directly affected by this environmental disaster. Please join us; surely, if people can travel hundreds of miles from Pine Ridge and Rosebud, we can travel across town to send a loud message to Obama. The weather might be a little sketchy during these actions, so dress in clothes that will keep you warm and dry. To get some additional background on this issue, visit: http://oilsandstruth.org/  and http://www.ienearth.org/stop-keystone-xl/index.html

In Struggle,

Glenn

The actions are as follows:

Tuesday, October 25th, 2:00 pm. Meet outside the Tivoli Student Union, on the Auraria campus, downtown Denver. There is an open-air stage between the Tivoli and the PE/Events building. We will meet there, and march to near the Pepsi Center where Obama will be attending a $5000 per person reception and dinner. If you cannot come until later because of work or school, come when you can. In addition, a delegation from the Oglala Sioux Tribe (OST), including OST Vice-President Tom Poor Bear, will be traveling to join us. There is concerted opposition to Keystone-XL, from Pine Ridge and other members of the Lakto/Dakota/Nakota Nations, who will be directly affected by this environmental disaster. Please join us, surely, if people can travel hundreds of miles from Pine Ridge and Rosebud, we can travel across town to send a loud message to Obama. We will be staged outside the Pepsi Center, either on Auraria Parkway or on Speer, until the dinner is over — probably until 6 pm. Brings signs that oppose the tar sands, and Keystone-XL pipeline, or other signs in support of indigenous peoples’ rights. Bring rain gear.

Wednesday, October 26th, 8 am, Auraria Events Center, Auraria Campus, downtown Denver. This will be the closest that any of us will actually get to Obama before his administration makes a decision on the Keystone-XL pipeline. It is important to send him a clear, loud message in support on indigenous peoples’ rights to a clean environment, respect for our treaty rights, our right to self-determination and control of our natural resources. It might be snowing on Wednesday morning, but do not let a little snow deter us — the light-rail runs right to the campus, and just dress warmly!

If you are bored on Monday night, feel free to come by DU for a discussion on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

24 October 2011, Monday at 6:00 pm, DU Korbel school – U.N. Day observance. Host: United Nations Associations-USA /Denver Chapter UN Seminar Program committee. Program: UN & YOU Series : Indigenous People’s Rights at Home and Abroad. Speakers – Prof. Glenn Morris (Univ CO Denver) will introduce us to the historic developments leading up to the United Nations’ Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People and then we will discuss the impact of the Declaration on the situation of Native American indigenous peoples in the U.S.  When: October 24 6:00 -8:00 pm (United Nations Day) Where: University of Denver, Josef Korbel School of International Studies Cyber Café (2201 S Gaylord St.; Cherrington Hall, building just west of Iliff School of Theology)