The Tar Sands Blockade

Back in the summer of 2011, I met with a group of organizers who were thinking about a prolonged action to block the Keystone XL Pipeline in eastern Texas. It was a good conversation and the bold young group kicked off what became the Tar Sands Blockade. They sat in the trees for over a month, forcing the pipeline to find a new route and launching a new chapter in the history of environmental resistance. They also offered a current alternative to the popular model of orchestrated civil disobediences rooted in cooperation with the state.

The Tar Sands Blockade captured the imagination and hearts of many young people and more who traveled to Texas, Nebraska and other state impacted or threatened with pipeline to add their support to the residents who are standing up and saying no.  From community organizing, public education, legal strategies, corporate campaigns, direct action, and more, TSB has been doing all they can to thwart these destructive pipelines. ACT has been able to support TSB with a strategy training and another strategic planning retreat in early 2013.  The fight is far from over, but the passion, wisdom and talent of these young people may in fact turn this around!