Source: Water Walk for Life Facebook page

From Carteret, NJ to Peekskill, NY, Indigenous Peoples, Faith Leaders, and Activists March 90 Miles Along Spectra AIM and Pilgrim Pipelines Routes

Opening Event Will Draw Attention to Local Battle Against Pilgrim Oil Pipeline

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — Buddhist nun and activist Jun-San Yasuda will lead an eight-day, 90-mile prayerful walk along the Spectra AIM and Pilgrim Pipelines routes, highlighting the dangers of fracking infrastructure to the health and safety of communities in the region.

The walk begins on Saturday in Carteret, with a water ceremony lead by representatives of the Onondaga and Ramapough-Lenape Nations and brief remarks from Yasuda and other community leaders.

WHO: Indigenous peoples of the Onondaga and Seneca Nations, interfaith leaders, community members, and activists from Grafton Peace Pagoda, Food & Water Watch, 350.org-NJ, the Coalition Against Pilgrim Pipelines (CAPP) NJ & NY, Indian Point Safe Energy Coalition, and Resist Spectra.

WHAT: Traditional water ceremony and opening ceremony for Water Walk for Life 

WHEN: Saturday, March 4, 10:00 a.m.  

WHERE: Carteret Waterfront Park – 200 Middlesex Avenue, Carteret, NJ 07008  (via Access Road to FISHING PIER & parking)

You can read the full schedule here.

About the WATER WALK FOR LIFE:

The walk opens with a traditional water ceremony performed by the Cherokee and Ramapough Lenape peoples at the Carteret Waterfront Park on March 4. Most evenings, walkers and members of the public will gather at interfaith centers to hear presentations from faith and indigenous leaders, activists, and affected community members.

On March 7, the Ramapough Lenape Nation will lead a tobacco ceremony at the Split Rock-Sweetwater Prayer Camp in Mahwah, NJ at 12:30 p.m. The camp was set up in solidarity with Standing Rock in North Dakota. The Pilgrim Pipelines cutting through Ramapough sacred land will carry Bakken crude oil fracked in North Dakota, so the same volatile oil threatens the drinking water of both tribes.

The walk closes with a vigil at Indian Point nuclear power plant on March 11 at 11:00 a.m., commemorating the sixth anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan. The Algonquin and Ramapough will then lead a water ceremony at Peekskill Landing Park at 12:40 p.m. A contingent from Japan will participate in the week-long walk to show solidarity with community members living in the shadow of Indian Point.

Water Walk for Life is supported by indigenous peoples of the Seneca, Onondaga, Algonquin and Ramapough Lunaape Nations, interfaith leaders, community members, and activists from Grafton Peace Pagoda, Food & Water Watch, 350.org-NJ, the Coalition Against Pilgrim Pipelines (CAPP) NJ & NY, Indian Point Safe Energy Coalition, and Resist Spectra.