Solidarity with Defend the Sacred Alaska
Artwork from defend the Sacred AK
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
6 January 2021
Contact:
Julia Bernal, Alliance Director
julia.f.bernal@gmail.com
***MEDIA ADVISORY***
Pueblo People Stand in Solidarity with Defend the Sacred against Arctic Refuge Lease Sales
Coordinated by Defend the Sacred Alaska and Native Movement, a banner drop will take place in Alaska and across the world, opposing lease sales in the Arctic Refuge.
Albuquerque, NM – On January 6, 2021, at 2 pm MST, Pueblo Action Alliance will virtually drop banners with the following message: “Sacred Lands Not For Sale: Stop Arctic Oil Extraction.”
Members of Pueblo Action Alliance in Tiwa Territory will join Defend the Sacred Alaska allied protectors in Alaska and around the world responding to Alaska Native leaders’ call for an International Day of Solidarity opposing lease sales in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Alaskans will join the efforts of Indigenous leaders and allies in calling on corporations and the Trump administration to put a stop to this fast-tracked sham of a process to extract Arctic oil with a blatant disregard for Indigenous human rights. Planned actions to express solidarity with the Gwichʼin and Iñupiat peoples include: a virtual banner drop as we continue facing rises in COVID19 cases. Pueblo Action Alliance with the Greater Chaco coalition have been fighting against land lease sales in New Mexico that have put our sacred cultural landscape under attack by oil and gas exploitation. Much like the Alaska Native leaders, our Pueblo leaders have called on the Trump administration to stop fossil fuel extraction near Chaco Canyon. Our sacred lands are not for sale and we demand a fossil fuel free future.
WHAT: Pueblo Action Alliance in Solidarity with Defend the Sacred Alaska
WHEN: Wednesday, January 6, 2021, 2pm MST
WHERE: Online: Instagram and Twitter
Background: With harmfully short notice, the BLM announced on December 7th that they will sell oil leases in Iizhik Gwats’an Gwandaii Goodlit — ‘The Sacred Place Where Life Begins’ — also known as the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. On November 17th the Call for Nominations, asked companies to submit their leasing interests following the Record of Decision (on the Final Environmental Impact Statement) which was released August 17th, selecting Alternative B, the most egregious and harmful option and opens the entire coastal plain, the birthing grounds of the Porcupine Caribou, to oil extraction.
At the recent hearing held by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA), 98 percent of public comments opposed the state-owned corporation bidding on Arctic Refuge Leases.
Please continue to put pressure on these corporations. The goal is to convince them not to bid on leases or have any involvement with Arctic oil extraction. Keep up the pressure!
Hilcorp: @HilcorpEnergyCo, CEO: glalicker@hilcorp.com, Phone: 713-209-2400
ConocoPhillips: @ConocoPhillips. Email, Phone: 907-276-1215
Exxon Mobil: @ExxonMobil, CEO: darren.w.woods@exxonmobil.com, Phone: 972-940-6000
Liberty Mutual: @LibertyMutual. CEO: David.Long@LibertyMutual.com, Phone: 907-276-1215