Protesters hoping to block authorization for the construction of an oil pipeline from Alberta to Texas defiantly continued their sit-in outside the White House for a fifth day on Thursday as the first rains from Hurricane Irene hit the nation’s capital.
Middlebury College professor and climate change activist Bill McKibben of Ripton led the effort, which is expected to include about 2,000 people from all 50 states. McKibben, the author of the seminal book on climate change, “End of Nature,” was arrested over the weekend for civil disobedience actions. He was released after two days in jail.
The total number of arrests is now more than 300 after 45 more sit-in protesters were detained on Thursday. Time in jail – and even Hurricane Irene – hasn’t deterred the activists so far. A busload of Vermonters is slated to travel to Washington this weekend.
The activists oppose the proposed 1,700-mile tar sand oil pipeline called Keystone XL that runs from Alberta, Canada, to the eastern part of Texas. According to Reuters, the pipeline would double tar sands production in Canada to 1.8 million barrels a day. Environmentalists say the extraction of oil from the tar sands would contribute carbon emissions to the atmosphere and destroy 740,000 acres of boreal forest.
Construction of the pipeline is pending an executive decision from President Barack Obama. Protesters are asking the president to kill the project, while oil companies are pushing Obama to help create new jobs.
The activists have been protesting outside of the White House since Saturday, and they plan to lay siege to the White House through Sept. 3. With severe weather reports on the horizon with Hurricane Irene, some members expect the storms might put the kibosh on the sit-ins for a few days.
McKibben sees the unprecedented weather as further evidence that the environment is in trouble.
“I imagine a couple days will be upset from the hurricane coming through,” McKibben said. “It’s just raining now, but the hurricane will underscore our point. Everybody’s tough here, we got no problem with the weather.”
According to the National Hurricane Center, Irene is to hit just below the capital with wind levels ranging between 74 and 110 mph at 2 p.m. Saturday.
McKibben was one of the protesters arrested on Saturday. He was released Monday afternoon.
“It was grim,” McKibben said, describing the couple of nights he spent in prison. “The block was hot and a little scary with no beds, just metal slabs, to sleep on.”
McKibben shared a cell with Gus Speth, Vermont Law School professor, and environmental writer Chris Shaw. All charges were dropped for the group of 65 activists. McKibben was thrilled to see more people being arrested as he was released from jail.
“It’s really amazing to see that people were untroubled by that move (the original arrests), and it’s also amazing to see that there are many more old people than young,” McKibben said. “The oldest person incarcerated that day was 77-years old.”
McKibben said that all individuals being arrested now are being treated humanely and professionally by the police. The police come to the protesters, give them three warnings to move and then arrest them. No one has been detained for as long as McKibben and company.
The protesters were dressed up for the occasion — in suits and ties and dresses.
“It’s amazing to see everyone from ever part of the country in jackets and ties being arrested, handcuffed and put in the back of a paddy wagon.” McKibben said.
There has been no word from the White House. McKibben said he will stay with the protesters until Sept. 3.
