Above: Photo of the banner held in front of Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) while people in the audience laughed out loud at him. Source: Capitalism vs. Climate.
Note: From the press release on the Laugh Riot “Senator Whitehouse’s third largest campaign contributor in 2012 was Goldberg, Lindsay & Co., an investment firm that owns several natural gas distribution and pipeline companies. Goldberg, Lindsay & Co. also contributed $20,000 to the Senator’s “OceanPAC” that distributes money to candidates who support “ocean and environmental issues.”
Pro-Fracking Senator’s Climate Hero Label Undermined By The Truth
Activated citizens of Capitalism vs. The Climate, 350 Connecticut, FANG (Fighting Against Natural Gas), BASE (Burrillville Against Spectra Expansion), We Are Cove Point, Beyond Extreme Energy and other allied organizations “Laugh Rioted” and successfully disrupted the keynote speech of pro-fracking, pro-pipeline, oft-touted “climate champion” Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies “New Directions in Environmental Law” Conference in New Haven, CT.
As Senator Whitehouse was being introduced, crowd-wide snickering could be heard as the announcer continually praised the senator’s public image of being a “climate champion” and an environmentalist; both of which are directly contradicted by his support of Spectra Energy’s ‘Algonquin’ pipeline expansion project in his home state of Rhode Island as well as the fact that Whitehouse’s “third largest campaign contributor in 2012 was Goldberg, Lindsay & Co., an investment firm that owns several natural gas distribution and pipeline companies. Goldberg, Lindsay & Co. also contributed $20,000 to the Senator’s “OceanPAC” that distributes money to candidates who support “ocean and environmental issues.”
After a few gales of laughter every time Whitehouse made reference to his climate-forward claim-to-green-fame, an audience member loudly inquired about the reason for these ongoing disruptive outbursts. One of the demonstrators stood up and replied, “It’s a JOKE! It’s a joke that Senator Whitehouse is an environmentalist. He needs to stop supporting Spectra’s fracked gas pipeline expansion. He’s not a climate champion. He’s a climate clown and climate traitor.”
Two protesters from groups opposing fracking, natural gas infrastructure, liquid natural gas exports, and extreme energy extraction walked to the front of the podium and unfurled a banner that read “Fracked Gas Kills”, eclipsing Senator Whitehouse until security escorted them out of the conference. Rhode Islander and FANG member Nick Katkevich proclaimed: “the senator supports the biggest fossil fuel project in his home state!” To emphasize the laughability and hypocrisy of Whitehouse’s pro-fracking deeds versus pro-climate words, the remaining protesters chanted: “Hey-Hey, Ho-Ho, Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha! Hey-Hey, Ho-Ho, Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha!” before they were all forced from the building.
Whitehouse was noticeably upset and onlookers reported that his answers to later questions from audience members were meandering and evasive when in response to natural gas and infrastructure questions. Whitehouse did agree to finally meet with a member of BASE following these peaceful disruptive actions.
This action was coupled with a demonstration outside of the conference by members of 350Connecticut and Capitalism vs. the Climate, opposing Whitehouse’s pro-fracking realities. There are ongoing direct efforts to hold our elected leaders accountable and transparent as citizens are mobilizing against corporate exploitation, greed-soaked politics, and violations of community sovereignty.
A 28-mile march from the front-line community of Burrillville, RI to downtown Providence, RI is scheduled from March 4th-6th. The march is being done to raise awareness about the expansion of a major fracked-gas pipeline owned by Spectra Energy. As part of the expansion, a toxic gas compressor station in Burrillville would nearly double in size. You can join the march by walking part of the route, playing a support role, or being a part of an action in Providence or elsewhere. The public is invited to participate in this community-friendly walk. Please register here. Please invite Senator Sheldon Whitehouse as well.
Sources:
Laugh Rioter Protesters Interrupt Senator Whitehouse, Capitalism Vs. Climate
New Projects and Our Process, Algonquin Incremental Market (AIM) Project, Spectra Energy