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WilliamPitt

(58,179 posts)
Tue Apr 9, 2013, 04:30 PM Apr 2013

WOW: Oklahoma grandmother uses u-lock to lock her neck & head to Keystone XL construction equipment

Next time you think you've done enough...

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Oklahoma Grandmother Locks Herself to Keystone XL Heavy Machinery — Halts Construction

ALLEN, OK – Tuesday, April 9, 2013, 9:00 AM – Oklahoma grandmother Nancy Zorn, 79, from Warr Acres, has locked herself to a piece of heavy machinery effectively halting construction on TransCanada’s Keystone XL toxic tar sands pipeline. This action comes in the wake of the disastrous tar sands pipeline spill in Mayflower Arkansas, where an estimated 80,000 gallons of tar sands spilled into a residential neighborhood and local waterways.

Using a bike-lock Zorn has attached her neck directly to a massive earth-mover, known as an excavator, which has brought construction of Keystone XL to a stop. Zorn is the second Oklahoma grandmother this year risking arrest to stop construction of the pipeline, and her protest is the third in a series of ongoing civil disobedience actions led by the Oklahoma-based coalition of organizations, Great Plains Tar Sands Resistance.

“Right now our neighbors in Arkansas are feeling the toxic affect of tar sands on their community. Will Oklahoma neighborhoods be next?” asked Zorn before taking action today. “I can no longer sit by idly while toxic tar sands are pumped down from Canada and into our communities. It is time to rise up and defend our home. It is my hope that this one small action today will inspire many to protect this land and our water.”

Exxon Mobil’s recent Pegasus pipeline spill has forced local residents to evacuate their homes due to life-threatening toxins released into their neighborhood. Local families have experienced episodes of nausea, headaches, and respiratory problems due to acute exposure to deadly chemicals, like benzene, that are mixed in with the raw tar sands. Pegasus was carrying up to 90,000 barrels of tar sands a day before it ruptured and spilled. The Keystone XL pipeline is slated to carry over 800,000 barrels a day; an alarming 10 times the amount of tar sands.

The rest, with pictures: http://gptarsandsresistance.org/2013/04/09/3rd-action/

There is a link to contribute to her bail fund in the caption of the third picture.

35 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
WOW: Oklahoma grandmother uses u-lock to lock her neck & head to Keystone XL construction equipment (Original Post) WilliamPitt Apr 2013 OP
AWhy is this pipeline under construction while it awaiys final approval? Coyotl Apr 2013 #1
One part was approved, one was not nt riqster Apr 2013 #4
It's being piecemealed. That way Obama doesn't have to say "yea" or JDPriestly Apr 2013 #13
Wrong man for the wrong times. SammyWinstonJack Apr 2013 #25
The rich and powerful will always think they'll be cprise Apr 2013 #33
Or maybe... Mr. Evil Apr 2013 #34
Here: pinboy3niner Apr 2013 #5
The southern part doesn't have to go through the same kind of . . . freedom fighter jh Apr 2013 #12
It's a little like invading a country under false pretenses... RufusTFirefly Apr 2013 #16
grandmothers are tough. HiPointDem Apr 2013 #2
I hope the President gets the message. nm rhett o rick Apr 2013 #3
she has more courage in her pinky toe datasuspect Apr 2013 #6
And more courage than many here, too. cliffordu Apr 2013 #14
the people here don't have the authority or power to trash the New Deal datasuspect Apr 2013 #24
Nor does the lady in question. LanternWaste Apr 2013 #29
oh i am sure he has a patronizing joke or two up his sleeve to make light of this if need be. nt boilerbabe Apr 2013 #10
She must be a member of the Professional Left. RufusTFirefly Apr 2013 #17
respect frylock Apr 2013 #7
This brave lady deserves nothing but praise, IMHO. AverageJoe90 Apr 2013 #8
A great role model for her children and grandchildren. limpyhobbler Apr 2013 #9
Direct Action or an online petition...which works better...? NightWatcher Apr 2013 #11
They will pick that lock pretty easily..... cliffordu Apr 2013 #15
GO GRANNIE GO mtasselin Apr 2013 #18
link to the photos and donate. I did. jerseyjack Apr 2013 #19
Good on Granny! Owl Apr 2013 #20
HUGE K & R !!! WillyT Apr 2013 #21
Wow, thats hard core. Warren DeMontague Apr 2013 #22
Thank you Nancy Zorn. Scuba Apr 2013 #23
and keeping this in view. a kennedy Apr 2013 #26
K&R Eyerish Apr 2013 #27
Holy smokes! HappyMe Apr 2013 #28
She has more guts than ALL the politicians. joanbarnes Apr 2013 #30
The photo says it all. Zorra Apr 2013 #31
Needs more people Scootaloo Apr 2013 #32
100 K&R for this very brave act...... midnight Apr 2013 #35
 

Coyotl

(15,262 posts)
1. AWhy is this pipeline under construction while it awaiys final approval?
Tue Apr 9, 2013, 04:32 PM
Apr 2013

Am I missing something here?

JDPriestly

(57,936 posts)
13. It's being piecemealed. That way Obama doesn't have to say "yea" or
Tue Apr 9, 2013, 06:22 PM
Apr 2013

"nay." Obama is a people-pleaser. He wants to make whoever gets to him happy. He dares not say no to the project because of the propaganda about jobs, etc. He dares not say yes to it because it will damage the environment.

So he has sad, well, maybe, somewhat, piecemeal.

Before you know it, the project will be done and Obama will put up his hands and say, "It's not my fault. I never said 'yes'."

SammyWinstonJack

(44,129 posts)
25. Wrong man for the wrong times.
Wed Apr 10, 2013, 09:25 AM
Apr 2013

Wonder, he doesn't care about his children's future?

Perhaps they'll be insulated from the environmental destruction of the Keystone XL pipeline, somehow?




l

cprise

(8,445 posts)
33. The rich and powerful will always think they'll be
Wed Apr 10, 2013, 03:36 PM
Apr 2013

...the houses "up on the hill" while the rest of us get flooded.

They think its impossible to take something like global warming too far.

Mr. Evil

(2,749 posts)
34. Or maybe...
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 12:23 AM
Apr 2013

In some luxury bunker underground for the rest of their lives. Sad existence either way.

pinboy3niner

(53,339 posts)
5. Here:
Tue Apr 9, 2013, 05:00 PM
Apr 2013
Keystone spokesman Jim Prescott said the protests have not interfered with construction of the 485-mile line meant to link the oil storage hub at Cushing with refineries in the Houston area.

The pipeline is expected to be completed by the middle of this year, with plans to have it in service by the end of 2013.

TransCanada opted to build Keystone XL's southern leg after the Obama administration refused to grant a permit for the full transcontinental pipeline last year.

The company has reapplied for a permit after changing the pipeline's route through sensitive wetlands in Nebraska.

http://newsok.com/oklahoma-grandmother-arrested-in-pipeline-protest/article/3781425



freedom fighter jh

(1,782 posts)
12. The southern part doesn't have to go through the same kind of . . .
Tue Apr 9, 2013, 06:15 PM
Apr 2013

. . . approval as the northern part does, because only the northern part crosses an international border.

RufusTFirefly

(8,812 posts)
16. It's a little like invading a country under false pretenses...
Tue Apr 9, 2013, 06:32 PM
Apr 2013

By the time most of us catch on to what they've done, they can always counter with, "Well you don't want us to just cut and run, do ya?"



(Come to think of it: It's exactly like invading a country under false pretenses!)

RufusTFirefly

(8,812 posts)
17. She must be a member of the Professional Left.
Tue Apr 9, 2013, 06:50 PM
Apr 2013

(Actually, there's a good chance that she isn't. Most people -- regardless of their politics -- don't take kindly to having their land and their country stolen and despoiled by avaricious profiteers.)

 

AverageJoe90

(10,745 posts)
8. This brave lady deserves nothing but praise, IMHO.
Tue Apr 9, 2013, 06:00 PM
Apr 2013

It takes a LOT of guts to chain yourself to construction equipment and risk some injury to yourself.

Good luck, Nancy Zorn. Your actions will be remembered fondly for generations to come.

limpyhobbler

(8,244 posts)
9. A great role model for her children and grandchildren.
Tue Apr 9, 2013, 06:05 PM
Apr 2013

Thanks to this lady and to everyone working to prevent this crime against humanity.

mtasselin

(666 posts)
18. GO GRANNIE GO
Tue Apr 9, 2013, 07:15 PM
Apr 2013

This is the type of action it is going to take to stop this insanity that has been going on in America, since these rwnj have taken hold.

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