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Texas Man Climbs Tree in Nature Preserve to Stop Keystone XL

October 11, 2012

October 11, 2012

UPDATE Oct. 14th – Kevin Decides to Come Down — Here’s His Explanation

Hey y’all,

This is Kevin, I’m writing to you on the ground a few hours outside of Winnsboro from the site of my tree sit. I wanted to let you know that I decided to come down and I owe you all an explanation for why I’m not in the Nature Preserve right now. Basically upon sitting up there for a few days I learned more about the process of laying the pipe in that area than I was aware of when I first climbed that tree.

TransCanada is using a technique called directional drilling to go under the West End Nature Preserve; directional drilling would allow them to drill 50 feet or more below my tree. When the tree sit was set up, myself as well as the the people who rigged the platform, were under the impression that the process of drilling would be more shallow and the trees would need to be cleared so the root structures would not interfere with the process. Upon learning about the process my tree sit essentially became symbolic in my mind. The lease agreement says that they can clear the trees in the easement if they want; but there is no need to do so.  The tree I was in was not in the easement and I had a rope that was tied into only one in the path. If TransCanada makes the decision to clear-cut then my sit would really only protect one tree and they would most likely cut everything around it.

My intention in climbing that tree was to put myself on the line to stop the pipeline. Saving the trees is important to me, but ultimately I had to weigh the possibility of saving a few trees and getting arrested or actually holding off construction of the pipe at another location and getting arrested. I am willing to go to jail to slow this project but I want my arrest to be as tactical as possible. I want to thank everyone who posted words of support and solidarity on the blog and on facebook, I want to assure you that I am still very much active in this fight and am dedicated to stopping this project.

Onward!

Kevin

____
UPDATE Oct 13th 9:00AM – A Quiet Scene as 2nd Tree Blockade Continues

Police occasionally visit Kevin every now and then as he sits in the West End Nature Preserve, but for the most part, the days are quiet with the exception of the heavy machinery busy digging trenches that can be heard from both ends of the Preserve from his tree. The nights are far quieter and peaceful, filled with the sounds of nature all around.

UPDATE Oct 12th 9:00AM – Two Police Milling Around Below Kevin’s Tree

UPDATE 11:00AM – Three Police Milling Around Under Tree – Situation is Quiet

Looks like we’ve got a good ol’ fashioned Texas standoff on our hands. Life long Texan, Kevin Redding, is up a tree in the pathway of Keystone XL and is refusing to come down to protect the water supply from toxic tar sands. Three police officers are milling around on the ground while TransCanada’s machinery operates at the far edge of the Nature Preserve.

UPDATE 11:00AM – Police Have Cleared the Scene — TransCanada’s Machinery Heard Nearby

UPDATE 10:00AM – Police Escorting Away Ground Blockaders There to Support Kevin

UPDATE 9:45AM – Police Are Threatening to “Climb Up There” and Bring Kevin Down From the Tree 

UPDATE 9:30AM – Police Are Calling Kevin a “Terrorist” for “Endangering a Waterway”! 

Franklin County and Water District police officers are calling Kevin a “terrorist” for “endangering a waterway.” Excuse me?! The real criminal is the multi-national corporation that is threatening to poison the water of 12 million Texans with its a toxic pipeline. Kevin it courageously defending this water way and old growth forest from Keystone XL. 

UPDATE 9:15AM – Two Police Arrive in the Nature Preserve – Patrol Under Kevin’s Tree
____
Moments ago TransCanada’s workers​ arrived in a nature preserve in East Texas to continue clear cutting a swath of old growth forest for Keystone XL — but today they encountered something they hadn’t accounted for: Kevin Redding.

Inspired by the sustained tree blockade near Winnsboro, Texas thats in its third week, Kevin, a lifelong Texan, decided to take action. Early this morning he climbed up a tree in the West End Nature Preserve outside Mt. Vernon, Texas and intends to stay there until TransCanada halts the destruction of the wilderness and stops endangering our drinking water. Check back on this live blog for more breaking updates as this story develops.

Today we tip our ten gallon hats to Kevin and hope that he’ll not only be able to delay clear-cutting today, but for days to come.
We don’t know how long we’ll be able to hold them off here but we know one thing: we’ll continue fighting until we stop this dangerous pipeline — permanently. Sign up now to join one of our upcoming actions.

It is Kevin who best describes his spur of the moment decision to climb the tree: “I want to defend our Texas wilderness from a multinational corporation’s blatant disregard for our landscape and clean water. I’m here to defend my landowner friends and their families from toxic tar sands spills that would poison their drinking water.” Help share Kevin’s story on Facebook and Twitter.

Kevin intends to prevent TransCanada’s clearing crews from cutting a wide scar of destruction through the 455-acre land preserve. Unlike a crude oil pipeline, tar sands sludge has to be pumped at high pressures, which creates extremely high temperatures when pumped through the pipe. The Keystone I pipeline, Keystone XL’s predecessor, has leaked 12 times in its first year of operation alone. Keystone XL would carry a more toxic pipe-corroding substance that could result in upwards of 1.7 million gallons a day of spilled sludge without even triggering TransCanada’s leak detection system.

Keystone XL would cross the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer that supplies fresh water to 10-12 million Texans. The aquifer is essential to the livelihoods of farmers and ranchers across the region that depend on it for survival.  The Preserve is also a sanctuary home to many species of migratory birds, panthers, and even black bear. These terrifying facts are deeply troubling to families living in the region.

“The beautiful Cypress Creek that flows through the preserve feeds thousands of acres of local lakes, including my own,” attests nearby landowner Larry Coleman. “When this pipeline leaks, Cypress Springs Lake will never again be safe for fishing or swimming.” Stopping this pipeline is about the survival of our way of life.

Though Kevin may be the only one up a tree in the Nature Preserve, he’s not alone. His friends are just 30 minutes south in the sustained tree blockade.

Kevin’s brave actions today to defend Texas wilderness and water are admirable. Taking a stand to defend our homes is far less risky than the costs of doing nothing. We need more people like Kevin who are willing to take a stand and put us a day closer to our collective vision for a world free of poisonous tar sands.

Permanent link to this article: http://www.tarsandsblockade.org/8th-action/

31 comments

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  1. Judy Skog

    October 11, 2012 at 3:21 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment

    Thank you, Kevin
    Please be safe in the face of these horrible TransCanada thugs and bullies.

    1. Angi

      October 13, 2012 at 11:35 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment

      I am proud of you. Hang in and on there……R&R

      R

  2. Rae

    October 11, 2012 at 5:35 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment

    Dig it– keep them coming, the whole world is watching and standing in solidarity.

  3. ac

    October 11, 2012 at 7:53 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment

    Kevin, you’re awesome!!!
    Thanks man.

  4. Amy Christiansen

    October 12, 2012 at 6:39 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment

    Solidarity Kevin! From Alaska. Awesome. Keep it up!

  5. Sean

    October 12, 2012 at 7:18 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment

    Solidarity from Portland! You are a world savior.

  6. Peter Jameson

    October 12, 2012 at 3:55 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment

    Solidarity from Austin Texas!!!! We are so proud of you.

  7. Gale Bradford

    October 12, 2012 at 6:26 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment

    Thank you Kevin!

  8. Gale Bradford

    October 12, 2012 at 6:27 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment

    Thank you

  9. Kale

    October 12, 2012 at 6:56 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment

    Solidarity my brother! Thank you for your inspirational dedication! It warms my heart to know there are people in this world who will take the ultimate stand!

  10. MICHELLE BARLONDSMITH

    October 12, 2012 at 7:11 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment

    Thank you from Michigan …. BRAVO !

  11. Betsy Ogle

    October 12, 2012 at 7:12 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment

    Stay strong, be safe, we are watching your actions around the country.

  12. Chet Molandes

    October 12, 2012 at 7:41 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment

    Thank you Kevin for your courage and your bravery…Keep up the good fight..You are in the hearts and minds of many today here in Phoenix Az. As we prepare to celebrate the one year anniversary of Occupy Phoenix. Today and this entire weekend we will be taking your message and others to the streets of Phoenix in protest and assemblies..From one fellow Texan to another “Don,t mess with Texas!”.. Chet Molandes (born in Nacogdoches Tx..)

  13. AwbreyA

    October 12, 2012 at 7:58 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment

    Someone has to protect us. If the protesting voice of a yelling patriot and booming words fails, the democratic process of the worlds climate situation fails, the democratic processes of a nation treading dark waters in testing times fails, if ALL OF THIS FAILS… someone needs to be in a tree standing up for something…. thank you.

  14. Kelly Sid

    October 12, 2012 at 8:06 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment

    Go Kevin!!!! Supporting you all the way from England!!! xox

  15. MARY

    October 12, 2012 at 8:29 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment

    thanx from British Columbia Canada!!! Take Care of yourself PLEASE!!

  16. Adam

    October 12, 2012 at 8:30 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment

    Whoot Whoot from Canadas Capital- Ottawa

  17. Pinkyd

    October 12, 2012 at 8:34 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment

    Thank you Kevin from Nebraska. It makes me proud to see a young man with so much courage and conviction to take this action. You are an inspiration to others. I pray for your safety and success.

  18. giovanni

    October 12, 2012 at 9:53 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment

    thanks to continue …

  19. Jo Sefin

    October 12, 2012 at 10:12 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment

    need more people doing things like these. it´s a pitty and a shame for everyone who gives up bevore hhe even started just course of thinking “it wouldn`t bring something anyway”… so – keep on doing! Greets from Germany

  20. chops

    October 12, 2012 at 10:13 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment

    Solidarity from Santa Cruz California!

  21. Randy

    October 12, 2012 at 10:17 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment

    Good luck Kevin!

  22. Kim Feil

    October 12, 2012 at 11:09 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment

    Kevin, thanks so much….twill be a great story for your grandkids!

  23. Kyle

    October 13, 2012 at 12:54 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment

    This is ridiculous. Your a moron for trying to stop this. I hope you “fort” fails. Hope your tied off.

  24. Bill Arnold

    October 13, 2012 at 2:09 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment

    Good on you Kevin, more people ought to wake up to what our governments are allowing these multinationals do to our lands, all just to grab more money for greedy, unprincipled shareholders. We all ought to be telling them we`re not going to just lie down and let them do it. You`re a champion Kevin

  25. Kat Hay

    October 13, 2012 at 3:30 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment

    Thank you, Kevin – and please know that you’re acting on behalf of so many of us who would, but are not able for any number of individual and collective reasons. You represent us, and I’m so grateful for your conviction and courage. Hang in there, but please take care.

    _/\_ Kat

  26. mudturtle

    October 13, 2012 at 2:41 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment

    Kevin, thank you for standing up to save trees & the water. Water pollution is killing off so much of our wildlife. Huge trees are being destroyed & can’t be replaced. Way to go Kevin!!!!!

  27. Brent

    October 13, 2012 at 7:14 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment

    From the bottom of my heart – Thank you Kevin!
    In solidarity – from Victoria, BC

  28. onion rings

    October 13, 2012 at 10:23 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment

    keep going brother…we are all behind you!!! thank-you for doing this. what can we do to help? xxx

  29. TexasKit

    October 13, 2012 at 11:08 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment

    BLESS YOUR HEART, KEVIN…THINKING OF YOU CONSTANTLY AND GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COURAGE.

  30. Lainie

    October 14, 2012 at 7:12 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment

    I’m so proud of you, Kevin. Thank you so much for your courage. <3

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