A group of activists in kayaks surrounded Kinder Morgan’s drilling barge on Sunday at the Westridge Marine Terminal. They sang and chanted in protest against the oil company’s ongoing geo-technical work.
Seven people took part, according to organizer Ariel Martz-Oberlander, and they are willing to put their bodies on the line to stop the pipeline expansion.
“We are not interested in being violent or aggressive, but we are going to use any means necessary to stop the pipeline being built, and that may come down to standing in the way - that may look like what happened on Burnaby Mountain last year,” said Martz-Oberlander.
On Sunday, the group paddled up to the barge, where Kinder Morgan is drilling for geo-technical work in anticipation of expanding the Westridge Marine Terminal.
The paddlers, or “kayakivists,” circled the barge, sang songs, chanted and spoke with the workers.
“It was a friendly, joyful action. It was non-aggressive. There was no malicious intent. We just wanted to be close to the barge so they had to stop drilling,” Martz-Oberlander said.
The 23-year-old Vancouver resident is opposed to Kinder Morgan’s pipeline expansion because of concerns about greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. She also pointed out that the City of Burnaby and the Tsleil-Waututh Nation are opposed to the project.
“I’m really scared about the world we’re going to leave for future generations. It became clear in order to win the fight against climate change, we need to engage with the people who are the original stewards of the land,” she said, referring to First Nations.
Martz-Oberlander said the kayakers got close enough to stop the drilling, but Kinder Morgan spokesperson Lisa Clement said they didn’t affect the geo-technical work.
“We understand there are varying opinions about the project, and we believe in peaceful protest,” she said.
The company secured a permit for the drilling from Port Metro Vancouver, but work should wrap up by the end of this month. In January, several kayakers were arrested after boarding the barge.
On Tuesday, the kayaktivists were planning to head out on the water again.
