1000 Grandmothers is committed to addressing the unequal impacts of climate change and the fossil fuel industry on indigenous and front line communities. From the beginning of our work together, 1000 Grandmothers wanted to pay attention to Fossil fuel infrastructure projects that impact us locally. We became involved in the local struggles against bringing coal into Oakland, and limiting or halting the often secret, local refinery efforts to expand their production. The Bay Area, known for its ‘environmental leanings’, is largely unaware of the fossil fuel industry’s local infringements and dangers. Moreover, the severe health and wellness impacts of the fossil fuel industry’s initiatives, are born far more heavily by local working class, and communities of color. Working on this campaign, supporting indigenous and front line leadership, and educating our friends and neighbors about what’s going on, has been a priority for us.
MISSION: The Protect The Bay Work Group opposes enabling oil tankers to move greater amounts of tar sands to and from Bay Area refineries at taxpayers expense.
WHAT WE DO: We turn out to critical hearings, contact decision makers, gather petition signatures and educate communities about refinery impacts on health and the risks of tanker leaks and accidents.
JOIN To learn more about or join the Protect The Bay Working Group, click here
1000 Grandmothers participate in NVDA during 2019 September week of international actions that challenged the fossil fuel industry's power greed and corruption
Holding the streets urging Black Rock to divest from fossil fuels
THE PROTECT THE BAY COALITION We know that if the Bay Area fights this, we can stop it from happening. We also know that our local actions have global impacts. Tar sands that would get refined here will then be sold internationally to add to the carbon load.
The Protect the Bay Working Group is part of a larger effort called Protect the Bay Coalition. The coalition was started in 2019 to prevent expansion of the Phillips 66 refinery and marine terminal in Rodeo. Plans for expansion, while kept from the public, are for the purpose of importing toxic crude oils like tar sands from Canada. In order to fight expansion, we are fighting the Army Corps of Engineers’ proposal to dredge 13 miles for a deeper channel through San Francisco Bay. They have been directed (federal government) to continue pursuing this proposal, even in the midst of the pandemic - making challenges all the more difficult. This proposal to dredge a deeper channel has no purpose other than to enable heavier oil tankers to reach the refineries. These heavier tankers would then allow the refineries to move greater amounts of dirty oil - particularly tar sands, to and from Bay Area refineries. If gone unchallenged, the dredging would be done at taxpayers expense, and would pave the way for local refineries to bring in the dirtiest oil on the planet, into the Bay Area. 1000 Grandmothers sits on the coalition organizing team
Idle No More led sit-in in front of the S.F. Federal building