EUGENE, Ore. (KMTR) -- Dozens of climate activists took their message of energy awareness straight to the front door of a couple of big box Eugene businesses Sunday, protesting against the business’ alleged support of certain energy policies.
About 30 climate activists marched through the University of Oregon campus today, then to Safeway and Bank of America, protesting energy policy.
At Safeway on 18th Avenue and Pearl Street in Eugene, the group rolled up to the front door to announce messages and chant climate awareness phrases.
The group is protesting Safeway and Bank of America’s role in funding oil extraction operations in Canada.
In the Alberta province, at least one oil company there is extracting oil from what are called “oil sands” or “tar sands.”
The oil extracted from that is then upgraded to conventional fuel products, but it takes more energy to upgrade the oil than drilling does.
According to protestors, the majority of the oil moving Safeway’s fleet comes from oil sands. Protestors say oil sands are damaging Alberta’s environment.
“It's important work, it's a lift or death situation with the climate crisis right now and drastic measures need to be taken like walking right up to the door of a Safeway and talking right to a manager directly and saying, 'this is what's going on, these are the implications of your business practices, we are customers, we don't support them, please change,’” said Mia Reback, a climate activist.
Similar protests took place in Washington D.C. on Sunday. Protestors are also fighting the proposed Keystone Oil Pipeline which would stretch from Alberta to the Gulf of Mexico.
