Above Photo: From 2017acpfast.wordpress.com
This was the scene early this morning on Jones Street as workers and staff arrived at the NC Department of Environmental Quality. They were curious and friendly; we were eager to say hello. For both them and us, it was a bit like meeting new neighbors for the first time. First impressions mean a lot.
We were heartened by many expressions of support from DEQ staff. It was also encouraging to receive emails from several of you who are fasting with us for a time in your own communities. Please be in touch (deqfast@gmail.com)! And if you’d like to share what this imminent Atlantic Coast Pipeline decision means to you personally, we’d like to pass that along to the people we meet here. Our biggest challenge, we believe, is communicating to them just how much is at stake. This is a perilous moment and many of you understand this better than anyone.
Pictured above are Maple Osterbrink of Durham, Steve Norris of Asheville, and Kay Reibold of Raleigh. Steve and Kay have already begun laying groundwork for the construction of a solarized sacred space of some sort in the direct path of the pipeline should that become necessary later this fall. Last week on a conference call, however, Steve made the insightful observation that the first sacred space we’ll build will be the community of fasters and pipeline resisters we develop these two weeks in Raleigh and around the state.
Shortly after the picture was taken, we began making Steve’s words a reality. We lit a few pinches of dried sage on fire which Maple had thought to bring and we placed it down on the sidewalk between us. Then as the smoke rose, we joined hands together as Kay and Maple spoke from the heart about their hopes for the coming days. The moment reminded me of last March during APPPL’s walk along the proposed route of the ACP when the Lumbee invited us into the sacred circle at their spring equinox ceremonies. Sage and Spirit, we learned today, are as powerful on the streets of Raleigh as in the beauty of rural Robeson County.
We hope that you’ll consider joining the Fast To Support DEQ in whatever way you are able. Don’t be put off by the “two weeks, water only” tagline we’ve been using. Everyone’s unique contribution is valued and welcome. Note that limited accommodations are available in Raleigh with us if you’d like to join us here. Contact us at deqfast@gmail.com for more information.