Greenpeace Protesters Scale Parliament Buildings

Source: The Canadian Press

Posted: 12/07/09 11:16AM

Filed Under: Environment

Police Arrest 20 People After Public Stunt

OTTAWA - Police have arrested 20 people after a morning protest that saw activists scale two Parliament Hill buildings and unfurl climate-change banners.

The arrests included 19 climbers and an organizer on the ground. No details on charges have been released. No one was hurt, nor were there any altercations with police. Christy Ferguson of Greenpeace said the group considers the protest a success, since it has attracted attention and sparked conversation on the Hill.

See Also: Why You Should Be Skeptical About 'Climategate'

"It really seems like the message has gotten out," she said.

MPs have been Twittering about the incident since just after it began.

"They seem to be talking about it and I believe Canadians are going to be talking about it. It has been pretty successful," Ferguson said.

The RCMP are investigating how protesters in blue jumpsuits and white climbing helmets were able to reach their goals undetected and hang huge banners.

It's believed the 14 who climbed the West Block used scaffolding at the back of the building to gain access at about 7:30 a.m. Monday.

The last of them, dangling from ropes at the edge of the steeply pitched roof, were removed by an aerial fire ladder at mid-morning.

But the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, who are responsible for security outside of the Parliament buildings, would not immediately confirm anything.

"Right now it's still under investigation," said spokeswoman Caroline Poulin.

Security on Parliament Hill has been increased in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 2001. RCMP will no doubt face tough questions about how a group of protesters could easily gain such access to Parliament Hill buildings in broad daylight.

Five protesters were escorted off an entrance-way tower to the Senate in the Centre Block about one hour after staking their ground and unfurling a large banner saying "Stop the Oil Sands." Police used a fire truck-mounted ladder to get them down.

But it took more than two hours before police were able to make their way to the West Block roof, where protesters had hung massive banners that targeted both Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff for their climate-change policies.

The activists rappelled from a wrought iron fence which rings the roof of the West Block and unfurled banners saying "Harper-Ignatieff: Climate Inaction Costs Lives," in English and French.

Dozens of officers from Ottawa police, Parliament Hill security and the RCMP swarmed the ground beneath the dangling protesters. Fire trucks and ambulance were also on hand, while police fretted about bystanders slipping on the ice. A helicopter and an airplane circled overhead.

When authorities did finally gain access to the roof, their first action was to take down the banners and signs.

The activists have been targeting the oil sands operations in Alberta, but now they want to highlight the government negotiations in Copenhagen this week. There, world leaders are meeting to broker out a new global pact on climate change.

"We thought it was time to bring the message home," said Ferguson.

The Ottawa protest targets both Harper and Ignatieff for their inaction on climate change, said Greenpeace activist Jessica Wilson.

"Climate inaction costs lives," she said, echoing the message.

A recent international report quoted by Greenpeace concludes that climate change kills 300,000 people every year, and leads to economic losses worth US$125-billion.

Bookmark