May, 25 2011, 11:42am EDT
Greenpeace Activists Occupy 450-Foot Fisk Smokestack Overnight
Eight Greenpeace activists are beginning their day 450 feet above the ground on the smokestack at Fisk power plant in Chicago. Before dawn yesterday, the eight climbers scaled the stack, and later commenced painting a message to plant owners Edison International to "Quit Coal" in 15 feet tall letters down the side of the giant chimney.
This morning, following the overnight occupation of Fisk, climber Kelly Mitchell issued the following statement from the smokestack:
CHICAGO
Eight Greenpeace activists are beginning their day 450 feet above the ground on the smokestack at Fisk power plant in Chicago. Before dawn yesterday, the eight climbers scaled the stack, and later commenced painting a message to plant owners Edison International to "Quit Coal" in 15 feet tall letters down the side of the giant chimney.
This morning, following the overnight occupation of Fisk, climber Kelly Mitchell issued the following statement from the smokestack:
"It's time for Edison International to stand up and take responsibility for the health of communities like Pilsen and Little Village, and the citizens, families and children whose quality of life has been compromised by these coal plants.
"According to the Clean Air Task force, 42 Chicagoans will die this year because of Fisk and Crawford. Will Edison choose profits over the lives of these people? Or will they shut down these plants now?"
"The EPA held hearings in Chicago and Philadelphia yesterday around the Mercury rule, designed to protect communities like these from the poisons emitted by coal-fired power plants.
"But the CEO of Edison International, Ted Craver, shouldn't wait for the government to take the lead. He must act according to his conscience today and shut down Fisk and Crawford once and for all," Ms Mitchell said.
###
Interviews are available with Kelly Mitchell from the smokestack, and local citizens and activists Leila Mendez and Edyta Sitko on the ground.
Photos available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/greenpeaceusa09/sets/72157626758322756/ (high resolution images upon request)
New footage from the ongoing events in Chicago is now available via our ftp site.
https://comms.greenpeaceusa.org/20110523_Chicago/20110524_Update_Activists_Paint_Smokestack/
All documents can be downloaded by right-clicking and selecting "Save link as." A dopesheet is available on request.
A preview of the new footage is also available on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTDAw9K6ho0
On Twitter: follow #quitcoal and @greenpeaceusa for updates
Greenpeace is a global, independent campaigning organization that uses peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future.
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