As the Sky Train pulls up to the VCC-Clark Station a small cluster of activists in life jackets filter out of the train and onto the platform.

Gathering into a small circle, the group put snorkels over their faces and towels over their shoulders. One young man took off his jacket to reveal tight spandex shorts and an extra-small tank top, and, just as the group burst into laughter, he added a swimming cap and nose plug to his attire.

“Are you ready?” said a large cardboard sign as the group began displaying their cause, while people on the platform laughed and asked what was going on.

“Today is Fossil Fools Day,” said a female member of the group.

“What?” asked a dark haired woman.

“We are here to protest RBC’s support in the Tar Sands Development in Alberta,” said the girl. “We need to stop climate change. Show them who the real fossil fools are.”

RBC is the main financial supporter in the Tar Sand Development in Alberta, Canada’s largest source of oil, and, according to this group, “the single most environmentally destructive project on earth.”

The SkyTrain arrived at the station, and everyone got on board. Someone turned on a boom box, and the dancing began. Travelling the full length of the Millennium Line, the group handed out information to giggling passengers and talked about their concerns with global climate change.

At each station, the group  exited the train and ran to another section of the train. People laughed and pointed as they watched the spandex-wearing man jump from train to train, followed by a group of girls in lifejackets chanting and cheering. While many passengers shied away from them, the protesters wished everyone a “Happy Fools Day.”

The group danced their way to Burrard Station, where they exited the train and began their march to the Royal Canadian Bank. Strutting through the streets in their swimming attire, the group stopped to flash signs at moving cars, and to explain their cause to passersby.

After finally arriving at the bank, the group spread out a large orange banner that read “Unite for Climate Action,” as the leader of the group grabbed her megaphone and explained “RBC’s effect in Climate Change.”

After making speeches, and presenting RBC with the “Fossil Fool” award, the group cranked up the music and dancing resumed.

In front the RBC building, protesters pretended to swim through the air, as security guards and RBC officials stood nearby, warning them to stay away from the front steps of the building.

When the music finished, the activists gathered one last time to thank everyone for coming out. Then they melted back  into crowds of people on the streets of Downtown Vancouver.

Audio slide show at top by Kimberly Ytsma

The protest was one of eight “Fossil Fools Day” protests at RBC branches across Canada. For the last five years, activists around the world have adopted April Fools Day as a day of pranks and protest against fossil fuels and climate change.

Those present report that Corbiere was joined by 10 supporters chanting and holding banners in front of the bank branch during the protest. After an hour of negotiations, police removed Corbiere from the roof and confiscated his banner.

photo credit: Tristan Glenn Cyclists at an oil refinery in East Montreal

In the spirit of April Fools day, 13 Cities in Canada have pulled creative pranks on fossil fuel industry supporters, or “Fossil Fools,” pleasantly confusing security guards, police, and the general public. People for Climate Justice, a national coalition of concerned residents in Canada, announced 6 nominees for the dubious Fossil Fool of the Year Award: Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Opposition Leader Michael Ignatieff, Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach, Environment Minister Jim Prentice, Royal Bank of Canada CEO Gordon Nixon, and Shell Canada President Brian Straub. All nominees have a history of supporting Canada’s tar sands industry and related projects such as pipelines and refineries, with no consideration for the human rights violations and environmental atrocities associated with tar sands developments. In the spirit of Fossil Fools day, 13 Cities in Canada have taken action and pulled creative pranks and tricks on tar sands supporters.

7 communities in Canada: Toronto (ON), Waterloo (ON), Peterborough (ON), London (ON), New Westminster (BC), Duncan (BC), and Victoria all targeted RBC as the top financier in dirty tar sands projects. In Waterloo, one indigenous activist was arrested after a banner drop at a local branch of Royal Bank of Canada. This is the second day of action in which RBC was targeted. On March 3^rd, the same day as the bank’s Annual General Shareholders Meeting where 11 communities in Canada held rallies and actions at RBC branches. “This is the second year that Royal Bank of Canada is receiving the Fossil Fool of the year award,” says Taylor Flook, organizer with the Rainforest Action Network Toronto.

In Montreal, 70 people staged a bike bloc protest shutting down the roads in and out of Montreal’s oil refining sector with clean, green people power. A banner was hung in front of the Enbridge Trailbreaker Pipeline stating “Changeon le System, Pas le Climat. Trailbreaker=Tar Sands” where cyclists blockaded the road to draw attention to the downstream, destructive effects of the Athabasca Tar Sands. “The east end of Montreal is a seldom seen and discussed region, but it is the largest urban oil refining center in Canada,” says Cameron Fenton, a member of Climate Justice Montreal. ”It is a vast wasteland of oil, gas and chemical storage tanks, threatening the health of local residents and all Montrealers. If completed, the Trailbreaker would bring the direct effects of the Tar Sands right here.”

In Edmonton and Calgary, local residents delivered “awards” in the shape of Black and Gold ducks to Premier Ed Stelmach and Environment Minister Jim Prentice respectively. In Halifax, local youth called out Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Environment Minister Jim Prentice and Finance Minister Jim Flaherty in front of CBC radio for failing to respect the rights of first nations communities affected by tar sands development, and suspending the popular ecoEnergy retrofit program yesterday. “Harper doesn’t grasp the science [of climate change] let alone the moral issues,” says Emily Rideout, student at Dalhousie University. “I’d like to see Canada adopt a science-based target, pull out of the tar sands – or at least put a moratorium on development. Instead, we’re cutting eco-energy programs and funding.”

“Fossil Fools Day is an international day of action to hold dirty politicians and industries accountable for expanding a fossil fuel industry that is fast destroying our planet and our communities,” said Fenton. “In Canada, the biggest Fossil Fools are tar sands developers, investors and political supporters. It’s time they stop the foolery, stop the tar sands, and start building the green economy we want to leave for the next generation.” The group is calling for a global response to ensure that we respect Aboriginal title and peoples and avoid catastrophic climate change.

“Tar sands projects are destroying our forests, our water systems, and are endangering people in Canada,” says Skye Augustine, student at the University of Victoria. “As a member of the G8 and the G20, we have the resources to look for alternatives and create a clean, green energy economy that protects people and the planet.”

Worldwide, Fossil Fools Day is promoting strong, just climate legislation, corporate responsibility and a clean renewable energy future. “It is time that Canada cleans up its dirty energy addiction,” said Kimia Ghomeshi, National G20 and Climate Organizer for the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition. ”People in Canada are ready for change. We need to stop providing subsidies to dirty fossil fuel industries, make substantial investments into the renewable energy sector, and provide a just transition for workers in the tar sands. This is what real climate justice looks like.”

Victoria residents award RBC "Fossil Fool of the Year"

In the lead up to the G8 and G20 meetings taking place in Canada in June 2010, climate justice activists are raising the profile of the tar sands industry in Canada as the key reason the Canadian government is refusing to do its fair share to set deep and binding greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, and tarnishing Canada’s international reputation as a result. For details of days of action leading up to the arrival of the G20 in Toronto, visit http://g20.torontomobilize.org

For photos, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/climatejusticecanada/

For nomination and action videos, visit www.youtube.com/canadaclimatejustice

For more information on Fossil Fools Day actions, visit http://canadaclimatejustice.wordpress.com/ and www.fossilfoolsday.org

http://tiny.cc/i1ckh

Protesters boasting signs that read “Break America’s Oil Addiction” and “Coal is Dirty” crowd around Bank of America in downtown Asheville shouting and chanting slogans like: “What do we want? No Coal! When do we want it? NOW.” They are also asking people to close their accounts with Bank of America, asserting that the bank supports mountaintop removal, coal mining and fossil-fuel consumption.

April 1st marks Fossil Fools Day, a day of environmental demonstration. Here are a few photos taken at the scene:

In the spoof initiative, Xcel Energy agreed to pay for the transition to renewable energy out of its own deep pockets.  The letter assured Colorado ratepayers: “While, over the past several years, we have raised rates for our customers numerous times, our new approach will put the burden on Xcel’s executives rather than our loyal and hardworking customers.  And, rest assured, we can afford it.  With an annual profit of nearly $700 million and CEO pay in the millions each year, our ‘responsible by nature’ executives are volunteering to take pay cuts to ensure the success of our plan.”

The press release was sent to a wide variety of media outlets, including business and financial journals around the country.  In addition, the press release was sent to politicians and public agencies throughout Colorado, as well as to to various fossil fools, including coal and gas companies and lobby groups such as Americans for Clean Coal Electricity, to remind them which way the wind is blowing.

Beyond that, activists throughout the state distributed thousands of copies of a “letter from Xcel” to ratepayers and renewable energy companies, who were encouraged to email Xcel Energy’s Board of Directors to thank them for their “bold renewable energy proposal.”

The press release was sent out by “Simon Grunwasch.”  Grunwasch is German for “greenwash,” indicating that Xcel Energy is masking its environmentally destructive reliance on fossil fuels behind a public image that emphasizes renewable energy.  Currently, 90% of the company’s electricity in Colorado is generated by fossil fuels and only 10% from renewable sources.  However, this is not for a lack of wind, solar and geothermal capacity. Xcel has received 15,000MW of bids for renewable energy projects – more than double its peak demand – but has only accepted a small fraction.

Though the company has recently announced its support of legislation that would retire or modify three Front Range coal plants by 2017, it is simultaneously opening the Comanche 3 coal-fired power plant in Pueblo – the largest coal plant in the state.  The lifetime emissions from operating Comanche 3 will overwhelm any savings from retiring Front Range coal plants a few years early.  Worse still, these coal plants could be replaced with natural gas, which still emits roughly 60% as much CO2 as coal, in addition to methane – a highly potent greenhouse gas.

“While this spoof announcement is unfortunately nothing more than an April Fools’ Day joke, it is an honest representation of what Xcel Energy needs to do,” said ‘Simon Grunwasch.’  “Xcel Energy needs to stop raising rates on Coloradans to pay for new coal plants, expensive natural gas and perks for their executives.  Instead, they need to invest their vast resources in renewable energy for Colorado.”

More information about Fossil Fools Day is available at: http://www.fossilfoolsdayofaction.org/2010/

Wish it were true? Contact Xcel Energy’s Board of Directors at: boardofdirectors@xcelenergy.com
The spoof website can be viewed at: www.xcelresponsiblebynature.com

A fully copy of the spoof letter and press release are available at: www.xcelresponsiblebynature.com

Pepco announces plan to shift all power facilities to wind and solar energy, may cancel planned rate hikes Pepco notifies its customers that it wishes “to serve the energy needs of our customers for generations to come.”

Washington DC – In an unprecedented move this morning, Pepco Holdings Inc. executives announced plans to shift all of their energy facilities to wind and solar energy by the year 2020. The DC-area power giant has already delivered the news of its green energy transition to thousands of its customers in the DC area through door-to-door flyers distributed this morning. Pepco is an innovative power company serving 1.9 million customers in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, and New Jersey.

Pepco is now reconsidering proposed rate hikes that would have raised the cost of electricity bills to its customers. In letters to their customers this morning, company executives implied the planned rate hikes may not be necessary after the shift to alternative energy sources. The company may also cancel rate increases to many of its customers. Customers can call (202) 833-7500 to find out if they apply for a Pepco rate adjustment.

“It is time to revolutionize the power grid,” said Joseph M. Rigby, CEO of Pepco Holdings, Inc. “Pepco’s dependency of fossil fuels is making the future unsafe for our children and grandchildren. We hope to lead the way for other power companies in our transformation to a truly sustainable power grid. We realize that fossil fuels are on their way out, and we need to change with the times to continue to serve the energy needs of our customers for generations to come. It’s not just good business, it’s good for humanity.”

In a letter to its customers sent out this morning, Pepco further explained that it intends to stop the use of coal sourced from “mountaintop removal” surface mining sites that damage mountains:

Pepco is going green. This week, we will start a plan to provide 100% of electricity in the District of Columbia from wind and solar energy by 2020. We will negotiate with power companies like Mirant Corporation to stop burning “mountaintop removal” coal for DC electricity. We will enter into contracts with wind and solar energy providers and promote the use of residential solar generation. Finally, we will immediately stop building new Pepco fossil fuel power plants. The future of energy is in wind and solar, not fossil fuels.

The company is still working to accomplish a strategy to cancel the planned rate hikes, but according to Anthony J. Kamerick, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, they are “very interested” in canceling the hikes. They are, said Kamerick, exploring a plan to pursue affordable alternative energy sources based on wind turbines and photovoltaic (solar) panels, rather than based on coal and oil, which will be more expensive in the future. Some customers may be eligible immediately for a special renewable energy rate adjustment.

“Fossil fuel costs are projected to rise, which helps to cause the rate hikes,” said Kamerick, citing figures that showed future inabilities of fossil fuel supplies to keep up with demands on the energy grid. “Why wouldn’t we take a look at switching to more flat-rate energy sources?”

Pepco Holdings, Inc, encourages reporters to attend a press conference at their Washington DC headquarters next week to learn more about its announcement. Further details of Pepco’s transformation to be announced.

Pepco customers with questions should call the following Customer Service hotlines:

Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey: 1-866-254-6502

Washington DC area: (202) 872-2680

Pepco rate adjustment questions: (202) 833-7500

# # #

Pepco Holdings, Inc is one of the largest energy delivery companies in the Mid-Atlantic region, serving about 1.9 million customers in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland and New Jersey. PHI subsidiaries Pepco, Delmarva Power and Atlantic City Electric provide regulated electricity service; Delmarva Power also provides natural gas service. PHI provides competitive wholesale generation services through Conectiv Energy and retail energy products and services through Pepco Energy Services.

Allegations of pranksterism:

From Fox News:

Eon media relations officer, Joe King announced, “We realise that continued investment in fossil fuels is a dangerous distraction from the urgent need to develop truly sustainable technologies so we’ve  abandoned our dated plans to continue burning gas and coal. This wind  farm for Medway council is just the beginning, we’re also offering all  our customers heavily discounted shares in future community wind farm  schemes, so they’ll actually co-own the systems that provide their  power”.

In a leaflet passed out to passers by, Eon admitted that until now, only a trivial amount of their investments had gone into renewables  but promised that would now change. Acknowledging the urgent need to  drastically cut emissions in order to curb global warming and avoid  disastrous climatic tipping points, the company promised they’d  abandon their plans to turn Medway into a CO2 pumping hub, end further  investment into fossil fuels, and instead commit to truly sustainable  energy such as wind and sun.
However, a local activist Bennie Factor, expressed disbelieve, “This is a joke! All this renewable energy rhetoric represent nothing more  than cyclical greenwash from these energy giants. Sadly, the reality  is that they are still committed to business as usual, damning us all  to continued greenhouse gas emissions and catastrophic climate  change.”

Climate Camp pranks the carbon traders.

Don’t be fooled by Carbon Trading!

Newmarket, Auckland: 1st April 2010

Camp for Climate Action Auckland has visited the offices of OMFinancial to present them with this year’s Fossil Fools day award for helping New Zealand’s biggest polluters cheat their way out of dealing with climate change

April 1st, Fossil Fools day is an international day of action against the fossil fuel industry with pranks being pulled on key players of the fossil fuel industry.

“Climate change is no laughing matter, but carbon trading is a sick joke that won’t do anything to stop New Zealand from being dug up to get even more fossil fuels out of the ground. We’re here to turn the tables on these fossil fools and give them what they deserve. The 2010 New Zealand Fossil Fools day award.” says climate camp participant Gary Cranston.

“Carbon markets are geared towards prolonging the fossil fuel economy for as long as possible rather than developing strategies for a rapid, just transition away from carbon-based fuels. The complex system of carbon credits and offsets allows polluters to continue the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure rather than forcing them to abandon these projects. The only thing your average New Zealander will get out of this charade is rising electricity bills and rising sea levels.” says Gary Cranston.

“Last December in Copenhagen, the politicians sold us out to the fossil fools and corporate lobbyists like the International Emissions Trading Association. Instead of 350 parts per million (ppm) of carbon in the atmosphere as ‘required by science’, the Copenhagen Accord signatories’ promised 15% emissions cuts from 1990 levels to 2020 could in reality translate into a 10% increase once carbon trading and offset loopholes are factored in. We’ve been left with nothing but carbon market shenanigans designed to distract us from the truth. Stopping runaway climate change means leaving fossil fuels in the ground.”

“Already, we are hearing of cases of indigenous peoples of the pacific being forced, at gunpoint to sell their forested homelands to Australian carbon traders. Is this the kind of thing we want New Zealand to be involved in? Fortunately, we can do a lot better than this – history has shown that changes can be made by ordinary people doing extraordinary things. As our politicians fail us, we need deeds and not words.”

“We think that people who are serious about confronting climate change need to get together to implement the real solutions like leaving fossil fuels in the ground, socialising and decentralising energy, relocalising our food production, respecting indigenous peoples’ rights and regenerating our eco-systems. Copenhagen failed because of greed, and now its up to us. Ordinary people have the power to stop the government and big business from throwing away our future for continued profit.” said Gary Cranston

ENDS

Notes, References and links;

More photos available soon at www.climatecamp.org.nz

• Camp for Climate Action took action against the ‘profiteers of climate change’ in Wellington last December by blockading the New Zealand Stock exchange in response to the predictable failure of the Copenhagen climate change summit.
• On April 1st 2008, people around the world celebrated the first ever International Fossil Fools Day. Over 150 actions took place across four continents. Oil, gas, coal and aviation were all targeted. Fossil fuel extraction, production, financing, PR and greenwash all felt the jester’s wrath. Actions spanned the full spectrum from the simply subversive to the downright disruptive: office occupations, banner drops, street theatre, Big Carbon blockades, city centre parades, spoof product launches, subvertising, leaflets, lock-ons and even a laugh-in.
• In April 2008 Air New Zealand received New Zealand’s first ever Fossil Fool award [see link below]
• Actions are happening all around the world right now!

www.climatecamp.org.nz

Fossil Fools Day2010

Air New ZealandReceives ‘Fossil Fool‘ AwardSpeech by Patrick Bond Centre for Civil Society, Durban: Presented at the 10th World Social Forum, Porto Alegre, 28 January 2010PNG: Carbon traders move in

Previous ‘Camp for Climate Action Aotearoa’ media releases

• NZ stock exchange disrupted 21/12
• Climate Camp challenges Transpower 19/12
• Aotearoa camps out 16/12
• John Key and Real Climate Action 14/12
• Press release for local papers 10/12/09

Fossil Fool's Weekly

Late last night volunteers with Portland Rising Tide blasted the city with over 3,000 fake newspaper covers wrapping the Willamette Week. With content including an interview with Bigfoot about pipeline plans through Mt. Hood and a chart explaining the Columbia River Crossing project as understood by Glen Beck. The action was part of Fossil Fools Day, a national day-of-action with the tag-line, “Pull a prank that packs a punch” meant to inspire playful actions targeting the fossil fuel industry.

The action was pulled off to provide light-hearted education to the public and simultaneously call out those corporations and projects that have been using an elaborate public relations campaign to “green” their image.

Ryan Caraway with Portland Rising Tide explained the action, “Our region is threatened by a number of projects that would increase our dependency on fossil fuels as well as threaten some of the most pristine areas left in this country. Unfortunately, we feel that we don’t see enough critical media surrounding these issues and we wanted to change that – at least for one night.”

Portlanders decided to heavily target NW Natural for their foolish plan to rip through hundreds of rivers and streams, rural farms and Mt. Hood National Forest. While the company has spent millions to project an image of climate leadership and environmental stewardship, the company is aggressively pursuing the Palomar pipeline and Liquefied Natural Gas development.

Some of the articles included headlines activists would like to see, such as NW Natural canceling their plans for the Palomar pipeline. While others were of a more humorous nature, such as an interview with Bigfoot, who is angry because the Palomar pipeline project would require a huge clear-cut through Mt. Hood National Forest.

In addition to targeting NW Natural, other targets included: the Columbia River Crossing project, PGE’s coal fired Boardman power plant, and Chinook Ventures, a controversial petroleum coke processing plant located in Washington.

As one volunteer placed the fake cover into the display window of the newspaper box she playfully sighed, “Finally, news I can trust”.