Navajo Nation, Burnham, New Mexico, U.S. - Navajo Elders and Burnham residents erected barricades across access roads to a new power plant construction site when they discovered that drilling had begun without their knowledge or consent. Sithe Global, in cooperation with the Dine Power authority, plans to construct the 1500 megawatt Desert Rock coal-fired power plant on traditional Navajo land.
Elouise Brown of Sanostee said, “The local residents are not protesters but are resisters. Who would be happy if a well is being dug in their backyard especially when it is done in secrecy? So, how can those residents be considered protesters when they are simply standing up for their rights to have clean air, water, and environment.”