Getting the Tar Sands Out of Bellingham:
In May of 2010 a franchise agreement with the Trans Mountain Pipeline was renewed by the City of Bellingham. Along with other passionate members of the community, and our sister organization Fertile Ground, we lobbied to have the council refuse to renew this agreement as a statement of dissent with the Alberta Tar Sands, which supplies a portion of the oil that flows through the pipe. While we were unsuccessful, this was not for lack of sympathy in the council. More recently, at the beginning of June the City Council passed two resolutions that will help us as a community become less dependent on this extraordinarily harmful process.
While these resolutions are almost purely symbolic, they are an important first step. And we have not stopped there; we are already embarking on the next part of the process. When the council members were debating not renewing the franchise agreement, Terry Bornemann claimed that the council did not have the power to affect the Athabasca Tar Sands. In response to that sentiment, a community group has come together to start reclaiming our power to decide what happens in our community. For more information, look at our Dismantling Corporate Rule work group.
While these resolutions are almost purely symbolic, they are an important first step. And we have not stopped there; we are already embarking on the next part of the process. When the council members were debating not renewing the franchise agreement, Terry Bornemann claimed that the council did not have the power to affect the Athabasca Tar Sands. In response to that sentiment, a community group has come together to start reclaiming our power to decide what happens in our community. For more information, look at our Dismantling Corporate Rule work group.
Eco-Tours
This is not your every-day hike in the woods. We provide hands on, face-to-face confrontation with resource extraction in Whatcom County. We tour clear-cuts, mining operations, and other environmentally and socially damaging projects that sustain this utterly unsustainable way of life. Skill shares on topics such as wild edibles may be included in our agenda.
Community and Self Defense:
We train parkour and other conditioning activities on a weekly basis. We are pursuing free self-defense classes. The possibilities for this group seem near limitless, from the formation of a community court or tribunal system separated from the prison industrial complex, to anything else we feel is necessary in keeping Whatcom safe. What is the best plan of action in a collapse scenario? What skills would be most useful to have? The times ahead may be trying, and this group aims to be prepared for the worst.
Public Relations
This group covers a broad range of topics, from public speaking, media campaigns, and propaganda production and distribution, to the long term goal of a mobile free market with an built-in info shop. Currently we are releasing a monthly newsletter (The Howl), and tabling at the farmers market. We hope to expand our reach into the community, and spread the seeds of Deep Green Resistance.
Support and Solidarity
Supporting our incarcerated allies, and other resistance movements is crucial. We send letters as often as possible to political prisoners; however this will be expanded to include any other needs based on prisoner correspondence. These individuals have sacrificed for us all. Providing support and community for those brave enough to take action is our duty as an above-ground group.
We encourage everyone who's interested to take a look at the Anarchist Black Cross Federation to see how they can get involved.
We encourage everyone who's interested to take a look at the Anarchist Black Cross Federation to see how they can get involved.
Directory of Services:
This project focuses on compiling a list or booklet of services provided within the Cascadia region. The purpose of this would be to allow individuals to travel the coast, and plug into activist communities. Locations of food, housing and social services will be included.
