The second Bay Area Refinery Healing Walk of 2017 begins in Martinez, home to the Shell and Tesoro refineries, and ends in Benicia, where residents recently defeated Valero’s proposal for an oil-by-rail project. Join this nonviolent walk led by Native Americans in prayer and conversation for
* Clean air, water, and soil
* Safe jobs, roads, railroads, and waterways
* A vibrantly healthy future for all children
* A just transition to a safe and sustainable energy future
The walk is approximately 9.5 miles from beginning to end. There will be support vehicles available for people who wish to take breaks during the walk. Medics will also be available. Water will be provided—please bring your own reusable bottle.
WHEN
Saturday, May 20
Water ceremony and registration 8 AM
Walk begins 9:30 AM
WHERE
Start at Martinez Shoreline Park, end of Ferry St., Martinez
End at 9th St Park, Benicia
Marchers can join the walk at several places along the route. Details on the route and key information for participants here
Background on the Bay Area Refinery Healing Walks
from the Refinery Healing Walks website
There is a long history in Native America of these types of healing walks. The Refinery Corridor Healing Walks were organized by Idle No More Bay Area, inspired by the Tar Sands Healing Walks in Alberta, Canada, the Longest Walks, and the Peace & Dignity Journeys.
Front-line activists living along the corridor joined them and created the Bay Area Refinery Corridor Coalition (BARCC). Working together, these two groups organized the healing walks to bring attention to the health risks and dangers that the refineries pose and the explosive crude by rail coming through the communities from the Alberta tar sands and the Bakken oil fields. The groups also decided to begin a process to envision a just transition to a clean and safe energy future and an economy that supports everyone. Walkers are invited to write or draw these ideas on muslin squares at the end of each walk (see photos below). These squares will be sewn into quilts. The quilts from 2014 will be shown at all of the walks.
We are walking as a commitment to Mother Earth and life on her beautiful belly. We walk as a commitment to clean air, soil and water. Members of Idle No More SF Bay conduct prayers at each refinery and toxic sites along the way. Prayers for the waters are conducted by Native American women at the beginning and end of each walk.