Photos: Large Vancouver crowd demonstrates against regulator's approval of Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion

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      Vancouverites disgusted by the National Energy Board chose a symbolic location for an evening protest.

      They gathered in front of šxʷƛ̓exən Xwtl’a7shn Square, which is the Indigenous name for the plaza in front of the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.

      The demonstrators were there to hear several speakers and to express their opposition to today's NEB's decision to approve the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion a second time.

      It was conveniently located outside the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation building, providing easy access to its camera crews.

      The NEB acknowledged that the Trans Mountain project is "likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects" on endangered southern resident orcas. 

      The decision also noted that the $9.3-billion project will have harmful effects on Indigenous cultural uses of these marine mammals.

      It will triple shipments of diluted bitumen from Alberta to B.C. and increase oil tanker traffic in Burrard Inlet by nearly seven times.

      One of the speakers at the rally, Will George of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, emphasized that he's not opposed to workers, noting that he's done a great deal of labour in his life.

      He and others, however, expressed grave concerns over the project's damaging impact on on the climate, orcas, and the Tsleil-Waututh and other First Nations' traditional way of life and legal rights.

      Below, you can see some photos from the rally, which blocked traffic along West Georgia Street between Beatty and Hamilton streets during rush hour.

      There was some imaginative artistic work on display at the rally in Vancouver.
      Extinction of marine species was on the mind of some demonstrators.
      Charlie Smith
      "Ecocide is not in the national interest," according to this protester.
      The was the view from the stage of šxʷƛ̓exən Xwtl’a7shn Square.

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