Lines, Pipelines, and Fossil Fuel Resistance in the Pacific Northwest
Community Contribution: Supporting Essay
University of Oregon
By Erin Moore and Ellie Wood
Illustrations by Karianna Muller
2024
In this chapter, we use architectural section drawing and relational maps to study the spatial nature of fossil fuel resistance in the Pacific Northwest. Our purpose is to uncover new understandings of the relationship between the space of fossil fuel transportation and the space of fossil fuel resistance. Our project focuses on the period from 2010 to 2022, when massive amounts of coal, oil, and gas traveled across the region in train cars and existing pipelines; when global markets incentivized the construction of new fossil fuel export infrastructure; and when regular acts of resistance to fossil fuel transportation and infrastructure construction were documented in popular media. Like other forms of essential work, the labor of fossil fuel resistance is in service of human and ecosystem health, rather than in service of individual or corporate profit. The anti-fossil fuel activists whose resistance we map are essential workers, engaged in labor that will shape regional and global climate futures.
The Pacific Northwest ecoregion is uniquely positioned for regional control of intercontinental fossil fuels transportation, as it is positioned between the fossil tar sands, gas shales, and coal mounts of the North American continental interior on one side, and the west coast Pacific Ocean ports where fuels from these sites are exported to markets in Asia. Climate-shifting quantities of equipment and fossil fuels are moved from east to west through the region via pipelines, rail lines, and waterways. This means that communities in the Pacific Northwest are positioned to exert resistance to emissions-driven global climate change, resistance to regional ecocultural harm, and resistance to infringements on indigenous sovereignty. In this region, the inherent linearity of these pipelines, rail lines, and waterways—and the necessary topographical locating of pipe, rail, and ships to specific mountain passes, river crossings, and shipping channels—presents functional “pinch points” where acts of resistance can have outsized strategic impact.
Resistance to fossil fuel industry activity during the study period included resistance to the movement of fuels on existing rail lines, resistance to the movement of construction and drilling equipment along existing waterways, and resistance to the construction of new pipelines and export facilities. Acts of resistance—in the form of protests, direct actions, community organizing, and civil disobedience—took place in existing space (rail lines, waterways), in proposed spaces (along surveyed routes of proposed new pipelines), and in related spaces (civic space, corporate space).
Spaces of Essential Work
in the Fight Against Fossil Fuels
Fuel Pipeline Projects Space
Corporate / Private Space
Civic Space
Water Space
Rail Space
In this project, we map specific acts of resistance relative to the spaces they are meant to engage. In the case of actions like the blockade of coal trains, the act of resistance is on the rail line itself and the area of impact is the rail space between the blockade and the train’s origin. This is similar to blockades on waterways, where the area of impact is even more literally “upstream” or “downstream” of the action. In actions, such as trespassing or direct action in corporate or civic space, the action may be geographically disconnected from the protest target. In these cases, the actions are targeting power structures such as governance, banking, or insurance, as the undergirding of new pipeline construction. Other actions, such as community organizing along a full route of a proposed pipeline, take on the specific shape of the proposed new infrastructure.
Pipeline Space
Pipeline construction and resistance are inherently spatial practices. Energy companies and climate change activists vie for spatial control of the linear—often very remote—spaces of pipeline routes, associated pumping stations and construction camps along with associated watersheds, territories, and ports. North American indigenous leadership in resistance to pipeline construction is currently visible and powerful. This is particularly notable in western Canada where First Nations, especially hereditary tribal leadership, are leading resistance to expansion of the Transmountain and Coastal GasLink pipelines.
Pipeline Protest Case Study
GIDIMT’EN CHECKPOINT
Gidimt’en Checkpoint: In 2020, protesters constructed a gate blocking vehicles seeking access to the construction of the Coastal GasLink Pipeline.
A watch tower was constructed atop a parked bus to allow protesters to surveil the threatened territory.
Police arrived on the site to arrest the protesters occupying the tower and barricade. In response to the arrest, others established their own blockades, an effort that remains active through 2024.
Pipeline Protest Case Study:
Gidimt’en Checkpoint
Pipeline_Section_Highlight
Protest location: Huston area
pipe_axon
In 2020, protesters constructed a gate blocking vehicles seeking access to the construction of the Coastal GasLink Pipeline.
pipe_section
A watch tower was constructed atop a parked bus to allow protesters to surveil the threatened territory
pipe_detail
Police arrived on the site to arrest the protesters occupying the tower and barricade. In response to the arrest, others established their own blocades, an effort that remains active to through 2024.
Corporate Space
In dozens of the most recent actions in this study, protestors directed public attention to the role of banks and insurers in fossil fuel industry development with occupations of the physical space of banks and corporate headquarters. Some of these actions used the territory of the corporate buildings to strategically disrupt workday activity. Protesters blocked doors with their bodies, glued their hands to the glass lobby doors, staged “die-ins” in the streets in front of the buildings, and occupied the customer space of the banks with drumming and singing. All of these actions were spatially strategic as they engaged the layers of public (street), customer (foyer), and private (bank) space of corporate buildings in urban areas. Many of these actions were youth-led and/or indigenous-led.
Interactive Map of Corporate Protests
Corporate Resistance Case Study
GLUED TO ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
Glued to RBC:
In 2022, two protesters glued themselves to the front door of the Royal Bank of Canada located in downtown Vancouver to protest the construction of the Coastal GasLink Pipeline.
The action was part of a larger movement—#GlueYourself ToAnRBC—a decentralized, grassroots effort largely organized online. Protestors demanded that the RBC cease funding for the Coastal GasLink Pipeline.
The downtown location drew press attention, allowing the two protesters to explain their efforts and highlight the negative impacts the pipeline would have on the people of the Wet-suwet’en First Nations.
Corporate Protest Case Study:
Glued to the Royal Bank of Canada
Corporate_Section_Highlight_10_30
Protest location: Vancouver
corp_axon
In 2022, two protesters glued themselves to the front door of the Royal Bank of Canada located in downtown Vancouver to protest the construction of the Coastal GasLink Pipeline
corp_section
The action was part of a larger movement – #GlueYourself ToAnRBC -a decentralized, grassroots effort largely organized online. Protestors demanded that the RBC cease funding for the Coastal GasLink Pipeline.
corp_detail
The downtown location drew press attention, allowing the two protesters to explain their efforts and highlight the negative impacts the pipeline would have on the people of the Wet-suwet’en First Nations.
Civic Space
Protestors gathered in civic spaces, sometimes in large numbers, to protest climate change in general and to protest specific developments such as the permitting of a new pipeline. Protestors occupied public spaces such as streets and plazas and spaces of governance such as community meetings and bureaucratic offices. These protests included marches, die-ins, and rallies. The larger gatherings were generally permitted and organized by large umbrella organizations. Others, such as the occupation of the Oregon governor’s office that resulted in trespassing charges, were self-organized. In all cases, these actions were strategically positioned to either gather large numbers of like-minded community members, such as in rallies and community meetings, or to draw the attention of the public and decision-makers, such as demonstrations at state capitals.
Interactive Map of Civic Protests
Civic Protest Case Study
FUNERAL FOR OUR FUTURE
Funeral for our Future:
In 2019, a group of protesters known as the “Sustainabiliteens” held a funeral ceremony on the steps of the Douglas Jung building in Downtown Vancouver, home to the Canadian Environment and Climate Change Officers.
The protesters performed ceremonies, mourning futures threatened by the extractive policies of a fossil fuel-driven economy. They brought with them drawings depicting the futures they felt were lost, assembling the images, along with candles and flowers, around a small casket.
The ceremony ended with the protesters lying on the group in a “die-in”—a dramatic statement to onlookers about the desperation of protesters combatting the climate crisis.
Civic Protest Case Study:
Funeral for our Future
Civic_Section_Highlight
Protest location: Vancouver
civic_axon
In 2019, a group of protesters know as the “Sustainabiliteens” held a funeral ceremony on the steps of the Douglas Judd building in Downtown Vancouver, home to the Canadian Environment and Climate Change Officers.
civic_section
The protesters performed ceremonies, mourning futures threatened by the extractive policies of a fossil fuel-driven economy. They brought with them drawings depicting the futures they felt were lost, assembling the images, along with candles and flowers around a small casket.
civic_detail
The ceremony ended with the protesters lying on the group in a “die-in” – dramatic statement to onlookers about the desperation of protesters combatting the climate crisis.
Water Space
Protestors have regularly used boats, bridges, and their own bodies to impede the shipping of equipment for fossil fuel drilling rigs through Pacific Northwest waterways. In these actions, protestors have obstructed oil industry ships by rappelling from bridges and by paddling individually and in groups in kayaks and traditional canoes. These actions have been especially resonant—including in the popular media—when the scale of the protesters is dramatically dwarfed by the scale of the ships they are obstructing. In many of these actions, the protestors were able to use their own bodies and small boats to obstruct ship movement because of the inherent narrowness of the shipping channels. Faced by protestors, ships could not circumvent obstructions but were forced to wait, under the eyes of the media and the public.
Interactive Map of Water Protests
Water Protest Case Study
RAPPELERS AND KAYAKERS VS. SHELL
Arctic Oil Drilling Protest:
In 2015, protesters dangled from the St Johns bridge while “kayaktivist” protesters assembled a water blockade in an attempt to halt a boat delivering a key piece of equipment to an oil rig waiting to deploy.
The kayaktivist protesters were organized by Portland Climate Activist Group, while the climbers were flown into Portland by GreenPeace. The boat, the Royal Dutch Shell PLC Icebreaker Fennic, managed to slip through the blockade.
Images of the protest captured the scale of this intervention, centered on the Sain Johns Bridge, which serves as both a cultural icon and an important gate through which many ships must pass.
Water Protest Case Study:
Rappelers and Kayakers vs. Shell – Arctic Oil Drilling Protest.
Water_Section_Highlight_2
Protest location: Portland
water_axon
In 2015, protesters dangled from the St Johns bridge while “kayaktivist” protesters assembled a water blockade in an attempt to halt a boat delivering a key piece of equipment to an oil rig waiting to deploy.
water_section
The kayaktivists protesters were organized by Portland Climate Activist Group, while the climbers were flown into Portland by GreenPeace. The boat, the Royal Dutch Shell PLC Icebreaker Fennic managed to slip through the blockade.
water_detail
Images of the protest captured the scale of this intervention, centered on the Saint Johns Bridge, which serves as both a cultural icon and an important gate through which many ships must pass.
Rail Space
In a few carefully planned and highly-visible actions, protestors have strategically used interruptions of a rail line to control coal train traffic. In these cases, protestors have installed difficult-to-remove structures such as a tripod, or the very charismatic vegetable garden, directly on the railroad tracks, creating a visible delay to rail traffic. As with actions on waterways and pipelines, these actions take advantage of the inherent linearity of railways, and use these actions as strategic “pinch points.”
Interactive Map of Rail Protests
Rail Protest Case Study
GARDEN ON THE RAIL ROAD TRACKS
Protests in the railroad space target fossil fuel companies at the point of distribution, where processed fuel brought in from pipelines and oil rigs is exported.
Energy Terminal Expansion Protest:
In 2019, Protesters built a garden on top of the railroads tracks, requesting that the city rezone the space as a public open space instead of allowing the expansion of the existing energy terminal, which exported fossil fuels.
Protesters used their bodies to block the tracks, remaining on the rails overnight to disrupt and protest crude oil exportation from the terminal.
Protesters declared the intervention a “Victory Garden” over the extractive practices of the fossil fuel industry, centering the stewardship of the land through agricultural practices.
Rail Protest Case Study:
Garden on the Rail Road Tracks – Energy Terminal Expansion Protest
Rail_Section_Highlight
Protest location: Portland
rail_axon
In 2019, Protesters built a garden on top of the railroads tracks, requesting that the city rezone the space as a public open space instead of allowing the expansion of the existing energy terminal, which exported fossil fuels.
rail_section
Protesters used their bodies to block the tracks, remaining on the rails overnight to disrupt and protest crude oil exportation from the terminal.
rail_detail
Protesters declared the intervention a “Victory Garden” over the extractive practices of the fossil fuel industry, centering the stewardship of the land through agricultural practices.
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