Protest and Blockade at Chevron Headquarters
The Mobilization for Climate Justice West – a coalition representing more than 30 social justice, environmental, labor, and human rights groups- organized a protest and a non-violent blockade at Chevron headquarters in San Ramon, CA to coincide with the opening day of COP15. Protestors blocked the main entrance and two additional entrances to Chevron’s corporate campus for several hours. “By working to derail effective climate change policy in the U.S., Chevron is undermining the UN climate negotiations where other nations are looking to the U.S. to make binding commitments to reduce emissions,” said Cathy
Kunkel of Mobilization for Climate Justice. “Chevron’s opposition to significant action on climate change is in line with its history of environmental and human rights abuses in communities all over the world.”
Among these abuses are the deleterious effects of Chevron’s refinery in Richmond, Ca on nearby communities. In addition to global warming pollutants, this refinery emits toxic air pollution responsible for driving up rates of cancer and asthma in surrounding communities. “Chevron has to know that we’re not going away. We’re breathing and feeling the effects of Chevron’s pollution every day. While we go to the graveyard, Chevron goes to the bank. We’re determined let Chevron know that they’re killing us in the process of making money. This has to change,” said Reverend Kenneth Davis from North Richmond, one of 31 people arrested in the course of the protest.
The Mobilization for Climate Justice West and allied groups are calling on Chevron to take these immediate actions:
1. Support equitable, science-based emissions reduction targets and climate solutions in international climate change negotiations and domestically.
2. Pledge not to support fake “grassroots” campaigns against national climate change legislation.
3. Cap the crude and stop expanding into heavier, dirtier sources of crude oil.
Outbound Links
- Climate Justice Action International Network of Climate Justice
- Climate Pledge of Resistance Go beyond talk, take the pledge of climate resistance and get connected!
- Indymedia Denmark Danish Independent Media Center with coverage of the COP15 talks
- Mobilization for Climate Justice North American Mobilization for Climate Justice Network
- Rising Tide North America Confronting the Root Causes of Climate Change