The “Week of Respect and Resistance” is a New England-wide campaign against Spectra Energy’s proposed expansion of the “Algonquin” gas pipeline (“Algonquin” Incremental Market Expansion, or AIM).
On Wed., 12/17, protesters shut down Spectra’s office in Waltham, Mass. blockading the entrance and playing music, while deploying a 24-foot-tall tripod and a balloon banner.
On Thurs., 12/18, there were two more actions in Massachusetts.
- At noon in Waltham, local residents and representatives of several environmental organizations gathered at Spectra Energy’s New England Regional Headquarters at 890 Winter St to protest the Texas-based company’s plans to locate a high pressure natural gas line through a densely settled residential neighborhood. (See info about the proposed pipeline.) Organized by SWRL.
- At 4 p.m. in Boston, activists were scheduled to perform “climate theater” outside the State Street Corporation at 1 Lincoln Street to debunk incorrect information about natural gas that has been disseminated by the fossil fuel industry. The aim of the “climate theater” is to expose State Street’s investments in Spectra Energy as a driver of climate change. Participants planned to meet at Chinatown Park at 3 p.m. with puppets and banners before heading to the plaza at the intersection of Essex and Lincoln. More info: Flood Boston or FANG.
On Fri., 12/19, SWRL members met with the staff of Senators Markey and Warren to urge them to join other elected leaders – notably Congressman Stephen Lynch and Mayor Marty Walsh – in opposing the West Roxbury proposal. The meeting was scheduled to be held in Sen. Warren’s office in the JFK Building in Boston with Sen. Warren’s staffer Chris Lange and Sen. Markey’s staffers Kayla Scire and David Brade.