This story first appeared on High Country News.
The movement to halt oil and gas drilling on public lands kicked into higher gear on May 12, as more than 250 protestors tried to shut down a government oil and gas lease sale at a Denver Holiday Inn. The rally, which overtook the hotel parking lot and then occupied the lobby, was the latest and largest to target Western lease auctions held by the Bureau of Land Management in recent months.
“This is an escalation of people moving to keep fossil fuels in the ground, and a message that leasing and these auctions need to end,” said Jason Schwartz, an organizer with Greenpeace, which orchestrated the protest with Rainforest Action Network.
Protestors included supporters of climate and environmental groups from several Western states. “Every time we do this, it gets bigger,” said A.J. Buhay, a protestor from Nevada.
The Keep It in the Ground movement staged rallies in Salt Lake City and Reno in February and March, respectively, at lease sales by the BLM, which manages 250 million surface acres and 700 million subsurface mineral acres. In Salt Lake, protestors entered the auction room and disrupted the sales before peacefully exiting. The attention toward lease sales has grown since 2008 when activist Tim DeChristopher successfully bid on 14 parcels for $1.8 million without intent to pay for the leases. DeChristopher eventually served 21 months in prison.
The Denver action was the biggest yet, with organizers and protestors intent on shutting down the entire auction. Activists took over the hotel parking lot, blocked the hotel’s entrance and lobby, and spent more than an hour chanting and singing. A line of local police officers kept protestors from moving past the lobby to the auction room while fellow officials monitored other hotel entrances.
BLM lease sales are typically small and quiet gatherings, and the uptick in protest activity has left the agency scrambling to manage the attention. Industry officials and supporters in Congress have begun calling for and considering online auctions to eliminate the disruptions.
The decision to hold the latest auction at a Holiday Inn instead of at a government office was meant to accommodate the ramped-up turnout at these events, said Courtney Whiteman, a BLM spokeswoman. Initially, agency officials announced they would allow up to 50 non-bidders into the lease sale, but concerns that protestors would overrun the proceedings and exceed legal room capacity led them to restrict attendance at the auction. Protest organizers claim that the location shift to private property makes it easier to call in police for trespassing and to stifle rallies.
The federal government suspended coal leasing on public lands in January, as part of a review process that may raise lease prices or royalty rates and could potentially account for climate impacts and costs from coal burning. Activists are holding out hope President Obama may do the same for oil and gas leasing before leaving office.
“We know the White House is paying attention, but whether it transfers into action, we’ll see,” says Jeremy Nichols, WildEarth Guardians’ climate director.
Sally Jewell, Secretary of the Department of Interior, which oversees the BLM, recently told the Palm Springs Desert Sun that “fossil fuels are part of the problem” of climate change, but added, “It’s going to take a very long time before we can wean ourselves from fossil fuels. To keep it in the ground is naïve. To say we can shift to 100 percent renewables is naïve.”
Several recent BLM lease sales have been cancelled, however, not because of protests, but due to waning interests in leases as oil and gas prices have plummeted. Oil production on federal lands has doubled under the Obama administration — thanks in part to increased and more efficient drilling facilitated by hydraulic fracturing. But last year, the BLM offered more than 4 million acres of lease sales, while industry bid on only 15 percent of those areas, according to Congressional testimony by BLM Director Neil Kornze, this March.
At the same hearing, Kornze also seemingly compared the growing presence of climate and energy protestors at lease sales to antigovernment militia members who recently occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. “We’ve also had an abnormal security situation related to some public agencies, including ours,” Kornze said. “We have had a situation where we have had militia; we’ve had people raising arms at different times. We are on heightened alert and we are concerned about safety. And so a situation that we are not used to — separating out who is a bidder and who is not — gives us pause.”
Not surprisingly, the oil and gas industry has run with the comparison. “It’s not just a protest, it’s an extreme movement,” said Aaron Johnson, communication manager for the Denver-based Western Energy Alliance, which represents the oil and gas industry. Johnson added that halting federal-lands drilling would have disastrous impacts on gas and energy prices and manufacturing costs.
Amid the noise and commotion at the Holiday Inn, the lease sale started just 7 minutes late, down a hallway away from the occupied lobby where protestors continued their chants: “We are unstoppable. Another world is possible.” Maybe that new world wasn’t achieved this week, but the protestors’ voices were clearly heard.
Inside the auction room, about 15 individuals bid on 6 parcels covering 7,000 acres in western Colorado. The proceedings took less than 30 minutes, and the first sale closed at just $2 per acre, the federal minimum price.
Joshua Zaffos is a Fort Collins, Colorado-based HCN correspondent. Follow him @jzaffos.
and we have a governor in the pocket of the Big Oily folks…Like the Koch brothers…and their cronies….We have been sold out by the Blue ribbon commission, we knew they were just another corporate rubber stamp…These Big Oil folks are part of the Killing of Coal Mines, in order to force us to accept their terms…FUCK THEM…
World protesters to stop mining oil, gas, coal and more.
The Americans repeatedly declared the support of ecologists in the struggle against the extraction of coal, oil, gas, iron ore, salt, soil, sand, salt and much more. Opponents of the drilling and production of oil and gas around the world hoping to attract protesters from around the world to block the extraction of oil, gas, coal, ores, soil, sand, salt and more. World happy new year and new hopes for Peace in the World. Of the England, Russia, France, Germany, Canada, USA and World: Save Nature, please save Earth. Earthquakes, causes extraction of oil, gas, coal, iron ore, salt and more. Conservationists held a series of protest actions against the extraction of oil and gas. Residents from different parts of the world I urge all people to forever stop the extraction of soil, gravel, sand, stone, salt, coal . ore, oil, gas, and more: let’s save the World from global environmental disaster. In the world of all diseases and cancer in particular related to from oil, gas, coal, landfill, sewage network and the whole industrialization and urbanization: It carries all the poisoning and destruction of the habitat of all living things in the world. Many countries in the world for the first time in many years, was severely damaged by hurricanes. Environmental disaster from urbanization and industrialization: global climate change around the world increases the risk of environmental disasters. Droughts, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis – all becomes more and more intense. The protection of nature in Russia, USA and all over the world: this is something that should engage everyone. People from international environmental organizations gathered for a rally in protest against mining coal, ore, oil, gas, soil, gravel, sand, stone, salt and more. It is not too late for all of us and for all the world to recover to stop production of soil, gravel, sand, stone, salt, coal. ore, oil, gas and more. Mining salt, coal, oil and gas brings us poverty, disease and death. Tears and pain nivchem innocent – all living things in the world, it is impossible to live on, otherwise all life will perish from human activities. Mother – Earth, where the world we live in. Oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, streams, creeks, springs, forests, meadows, flora and fauna adorn the Planet. World to save natur: Help save mother Earth. The effects of extraction of soil, gravel, sand, stone, salt, coal, ore, oil, gas and so on. On the face: the climate changed for the worse, shallowed and dried up rivers and lakes in different parts of the world, the melting of icebergs and the Arctic ocean, earthquakes, hurricanes, acid rain, and snow disfigured and poisoned the land, air and water, various diseases. All living things in the world breathe polluted air, drink the same poisoned water. We are all sick suffer and die painfully slow. Rid of all misery and destruction, for this we need the entire world once and for all to stop the extraction of soil, gravel, sand, stone, salt, coal, ore, oil, gas and so on. Life in the world is one, it is mother Earth that created us and other animals and plants. And we all the world should live according to the laws of mother nature, so we can get rid of all disease, suffering, and destruction. From mining salt, coal, ore, oil gas and so on: the Glaciers are melting and climate is changing at a rapid pace. We must preserve from environmental disasters. Environmental pollution and the worst environmental disasters in the world are caused by man. We are a child of Nature and we depend on mother Earth, it is better to start taking care of mother Nature. I think you, like me, you live for the sake of peace and for the salvation of mother Earth. I ask you, spread, please, my appeal, which is expressed with a heavy heart and with tears in eyes, because through the fault of mankind crumbling Earth and all living things die around the world. I appeal to all mankind, to the whole world to stop and imagine the scene that floods or drought. Then all will end, so it is urgent to stop the extraction of soil, gravel, sand, stone, salt, coal. ore, oil, gas, and more. Man destroys all living things in the world: Urbanization and industrialization are dangerous to all living things in the world. Chemical hazardous substances deadly to all living things in the world. World production of oil, gas, coal, salt and so on are dangerous for the environment. There are serious problems of environmental pollution in all countries of the world, this occurs when cities, factories, transportation, sanitation, landfill and so on, pollute the air, water and land. Harmful substances are mixed, and the mixture is distributed worldwide in the wind and fall back to earth. Coal, oil and gas brings us poverty, disease and death. Global industrialization and urbanization has led to global climate change for the worst in the world. To recover and permanently terminate mining of soil, gravel, sand, stone, salt, coal. ore, oil, gas and more. So we can prevent global environmental catastrophe. Between us and other animals plants, there is no difference – we are all children of the Earth and we are all one family. We all the world should live according to the laws of mother Nature and save mother Earth from ecological disaster. Pollution (Land, Air and Water Pollution) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP3pbh_-pu8&sns=tw. Exxon Valdez oil spill http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtF-4JvSh8o&sns=tw. Nature can to get rid of all ills, misfortune and razrusheny: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUwnn99YOC0&sns=tw. Profit Pollution and Deception BP and the Oil Spill BBC Documentary http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zGFvzMMO9w&sns=tw. Dakota Access Pipeline Company Attacks Native American Protesters with Dogs & Pepper Spray http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuZcx2zEo4k&sns=tw. Environmental problems of the Earth! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pe-KV6J-uE&sns=fb. Tar Sands Oil Extraction – The Dirty Truth http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkwoRivP17A&sns=tw
A person pollutes the environment with all currently known methods, sewers, landfills, cities, industry, and so on. Pollution is an important problem of our time. It is expressed in the deterioration of the quality of the soil, air, and water. Environmental problems of the United States of America. Air pollution leads to the formation of acid rain, this is a problem not only for the United States, but also for all countries of the world.
US criminal case against oil companies: In the United States, a fire investigation is underway at NuStar Energy. A search warrant was presented at a NuStar Energy plant in Crockett at an industrial company in the oil company of the County of Contra Costa, after a severe fire in an oil tank.
Provide possible evidence of how the explosion and fire occurred. This issue of a search warrant is common practice, said Steve Hill, Nature Defender of the Contra Costa Fire Department.
Save Nature and save mother Earth from ecological disaster.
We all the world should live according to the laws of mother Nature and save mother Earth from ecological disaster.
Environmental pollution in all countries of the world is dangerous for all living things: Terribly poisoned water, poisoned earth and air. The pollution and destruction of Nature is one of the main problems of the whole world: if people continue to live in the same spirit, we are approaching a global catastrophe.
The burning of petroleum products, coal and gases is the most dangerous toxic potent toxic substance: They spread rapidly around the world: Their concentrations in water in soil and air lead to the development of drowsiness and weakness.
when ingested through the respiratory, digestive and skin organs, they cause a sharp deterioration in health and constant pain everywhere.
Toxic substances causes a whole class of diseases of the most terrible and incurable ailments, painful illness and death.
Concentrations of toxic substances in water – water bodies, in the air and in the soil at which suffocation develops, manifested by headache, dizziness and loss of consciousness. When inhaled by gas concentrations, death by suffocation occurs.
World production of oil, gas, coal, salt and so on are dangerous for the environment. There are serious problems of environmental pollution in all countries of the world, this occurs when cities, factories, transportation, sanitation, landfill and so on, pollute the air, water and land.
Harmful substances are mixed, and the mixture is distributed worldwide in the wind and fall back to earth. Coal, oil and gas brings us poverty, disease and death. Global industrialization and urbanization has led to global climate change for the worst in the world.
To recover and permanently terminate mining of soil, gravel, sand, stone, salt, coal. ore, oil, gas and more. So we can prevent global environmental catastrophe. Between us and other animals plants, there is no difference – we are all children of the Earth and we are all one family.
We all the world should live according to the laws of mother.
Environmental problems that USA, Russia, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Argentina, Canada, China, Japan, India, Brazil, Australia, Mexico, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Kenya, the United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, Indonesia, Jordan, Finland, Sweden, Great Britain and all countries of the world. Mining companies and mining industry have turned the whole world into a huge quarry and an underground void, this is a real hell for the whole world.
Europe, USA, Russia, Asia, Africa, Middle East and around the world situation catastrophic: Air, water and soil it around the world is poisoned. Pollution surrounding wednesdays from mankind, around the world all diseases from oil, gas, coal, iron ore, sewage, garbage, cities, industry and transport. Global change climate around the world: Drought, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, a tsunami – all this occurs around the world. Save the planet, to admire the beauty of nature and save the world from ecological disaster.
All of the causes of environmental catastrophe happens all over the world from mining oil, coal, gas, iron ore, salt, diamonds, gold, sand, soil and so on. Environmental pollution around the world poses a serious threat to all worldwide. Live Earth be in great danger.
There are many things that negatively affect the Earth: mining coal, oil, gas and so on, emissions from factories and exhaust gases, deforestation, poisoning of air and water pollution, depletion of the ozone layer and catastrophically global changes of climate all over the world. Environmental pollution is one of the most acute problems of the world. monstrous the behavior of humanity is a catastrophe in the world. Tragic events around the world led to environmental disasters.
World Save Nature Planet, please save Earth. Earthquakes, causes extraction of oil, gas, coal, iron ore, salt and so on. Conservationists held a series of protest actions against the extraction of oil, gas, coal and more. Residents from different parts of the world I urge all people to forever stop the extraction of soil, gravel, sand, stone, salt, coal . ore, oil, gas, and so on:
let’s save the World from global environmental disaster. In the world of all diseases and cancer in particular related to from oil, gas, coal, landfill, sewage network and the whole industrialization and urbanization:
It carries all the poisoning and destruction of the habitat of all living things in the world. Many countries in the world for the first time in many years, was severely damaged by hurricanes.
Environmental disaster from urbanization and industrialization: global climate change around the world increases the risk of environmental disasters. Droughts, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis – all becomes more and more intense.
The protection of nature in Russia, USA and all over the world: this is something that should engage everyone. People from international environmental organizations gathered for a rally in protest against mining coal, ore, oil, gas, soil, gravel, sand, stone, salt and so on. It is not too late for all of us and for all the world to recover to stop production of soil, gravel, sand, stone, salt, coal. ore, oil, gas and more.
Mining salt, coal, oil and gas brings us poverty, disease and death. Tears and pain nivchem innocent – all living things in the world, it is impossible to live on, otherwise all life will perish from human activities. Mother – Earth, where the world we live in. Oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, streams, creeks, springs, forests, meadows, flora and fauna adorn the Planet. World to save natur: Help save mother Earth.
The effects of extraction of soil, gravel, sand, stone, salt, coal, ore, oil, gas and so on. On the face: the climate changed for the worse, shallowed and dried up rivers and lakes in different parts of the world, the melting of icebergs and the Arctic ocean, earthquakes, hurricanes, acid rain, and snow disfigured and poisoned the land, air and water, various diseases.
All living things in the world breathe polluted air, drink the same poisoned water. We are all sick suffer and die painfully slow. Rid of all misery and destruction, for this we need the entire world once and for all to stop the extraction of soil, gravel, sand, stone, salt, coal, ore, oil, gas and so on. Life in the world is one, it is mother Earth that created us and other animals and plants. And we all the world should live according to the laws of mother nature, so we can get rid of all disease, suffering, and destruction.
From mining salt, coal, ore, oil gas and so on: the Glaciers are melting and climate is changing at a rapid pace. We must preserve from environmental disasters. Environmental pollution and the worst environmental disasters in the world are caused by man. We are a child of Nature and we depend on mother Earth, it is better to start taking care of mother Nature.
I think you, like me, you live for the sake of peace and for the salvation of mother Earth. I ask you, spread, please, my appeal, which is expressed with a heavy heart and with tears in eyes, because through the fault of mankind crumbling Earth and all living things die around the world. I appeal to all mankind, to the whole world to stop and imagine the scene that floods or drought.
Then all will end, so it is urgent to stop the extraction of soil, gravel, sand, stone, salt, coal. ore, oil, gas, and more. Man destroys all living things in the world: Urbanization and industrialization are dangerous to all living things in the world. Chemical hazardous substances deadly to all living things in the world.
World production of oil, gas, coal, salt and so on are dangerous for the environment. There are serious problems of environmental pollution in all countries of the world, this occurs when cities, factories, transportation, sanitation, landfill and so on, pollute the air, water and land. Harmful substances are mixed, and the mixture is distributed worldwide in the wind and fall back to earth. Coal, oil and gas brings us poverty, disease and death.
Global industrialization and urbanization has led to global climate change for the worst in the world. To recover and permanently terminate mining of soil, gravel, sand, stone, salt, coal. ore, oil, gas and more. So we can prevent global environmental catastrophe. Between us and other animals plants, there is no difference – we are all children of the Earth and we are all one family.
We all the world should live according to the laws of mother Nature and save mother Earth from ecological disaster.
A Massive Explosion & Fire at an Oil Refinery
in California!!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8lR-y1sFkao