The Tar Sands Blockade is a direct action campaign aimed at stopping the construction of Keystone XL pipeline. Presenters will speak about tar sands and the extraction process, the KXL, tar sands spills in Kalamazoo, Michigan and Mayflower, Arkansas, how they resist and how other folks continue to resist.

TransCanada, a multinational corporation, is building the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline through Oklahoma and Texas to the Gulf. But this is no ordinary pipeline. It would pump toxic tar sands which is extremely dirty and dangerous from extraction to combustion. If burned, tar sands spells “game over” for a livable climate and would harm community drinking water and farmers’ livelihoods across the region. From day one TransCanada has lied and trampled on the rights of honest landowners trying to defend their homes. After years of struggle they are left without options and so they turn to the proud tradition of nonviolent direct action.

Tar Sands Blockade is a coalition of affected Texas and Oklahoma residents and climate justice organizers using peaceful and sustained civil disobedience to stop the construction of TransCanada’s Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. They intend to force the termination of this dangerous pipeline. It isn’t going to be easy, but inaction is far more risky than taking a stand.