Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco
Issue: Environmental and Social Justice
Key Discussion Points:
a) Hundreds demonstrated at the Conference of the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers in Burlinton, VT July 31st . In the early evening, when a smaller group attempted to peacefully block the road, Burlington police used rubber and pepper bullets against them point blank.
b) Inside the Hilton Hotel conference, the New England Governors, Eastern Premiers and their energy consultants meet on, among other things, what they call “building a clean and cost effective energy future for the Northeast”.
c) Outside, activists from all around the Northeast converged to underscore their opposition to the local and global impacts of a number of proposed regional energy projects. These include Quebec’s $80 billion resource extraction and energy development “Plan Nord” project; the so-called Northern Pass transmission plan to bring energy from Quebec through New Hampshire to New England markets; the proposed private East West Highway which would link Quebec and the Martimes through Maine; and the Trailbreaker pipeline, which is in the process of being reversed to bring tar sands oil from eastern Canada to Portland, Maine, for shipping. Activists from the Innu in Quebec to Mainers living along the the Trailbreaker Pipeline spoke of the community and environmental impacts of these initiatives, including climate change.
Guests:
A) Demonstrators from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Occupy NYC and more
B) Elyse Vollant, Innu First Nations delegation, from Maliotenam indigenous community in Quebec
C) Bill Mckibben, 350.org
www.cutvmontreal.ca
www.towardfreedom.com/americas/2916-connecting-the-struggles-regional-activists-greet-new-england-governors-conference-with-protests
www.350.org
plannord.gouv.qc.ca/english/messages/index.asp
www.northernpass.us/project-overview/route-map
www.workerscenter.org/
vtdigger.org/2012/07/30/environmental-groups-disrupt-governors-conference-cruise/
www.nytimes.com/2012/05/10/opinion/game-over-for-the-climate.html?_r=1
intercontinentalcry.org/tactical-unit-dismantles-innu-blockade-against-controversial-hydro-complex/
fsrn.org/audio/headlines-monday-july-30-2012/10655
rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/behind-numbers/2012/04/plan-nord-really-economic-development-tool-qu%C3%A9bec
climate-connections.org/2012/07/29/breaking-news-police-violently-attack-peaceful-protest-in-burlington-vt/
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