February 22, 2017
#ClimateEmergency
Tar Sands: A Primer
An ecological disaster.
I had students research where we get our oil. I am so tired of the misleading news that gets repeated how Saudi Arabia is our source of oil. Please educate yourself by looking at the record. It is easy to research. I think that we are told Saudi Arabia is the largest supplier of our oil so that people will accept our meddling and wars in the middle east. Our largest suppliers have been Canada and Mexico. Hello everyone – educate yourself.
https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_impcus_a2_nus_epc0_im0_mbblpd_a.htm
Standing Rock
There was a lot of drama in camp between water protectors that played out over social media. Ultimately, everyone stands solidly against the pipeline. Trump has signed an executive memo saying that he gives the go ahead for not only the Dakota Access pipeline, but the Keystone XL pipeline also. Look back at the post about how these two pipelines are related.
The camp must be moved to higher ground and the land cleaned up before the snow thaws and flooding. It is being done by wonderful volunteers who are going there even in the freezing cold. The governor just announced that all law enforcement must pull back, open the barricaded bridge and stop using weapons against the water protectors. Could it be because of the presence of mainstream media and the United Nations hearings that are going on in Standing Rock? However, it has been reported by water protectors trying to clean camp that the Morton County Sheriffs are harassing drivers who are on the long road to Bismark for supplies and medicine.
Meanwhile, everyone is awake to police militarization and brutality. There are marches and actions every week against other pipelines. There have also been several pipeline leaks since December. Research: shale tar sands. It is highly corrosive to metal pipe.
The Veterans: A Positive Impact
So many came, there were logistical problems getting enough shelter for them. Everyone was helped and fed, but the numbers were just not expected and it strained resources of the Lakota. The weather did not help – there was a very bad blizzard. The positive outcome was that the mainstream media had to take notice, the Army Corps had to decline the pending permit to drill under the river. There was too much pressure and the presence of our military veterans was not going to help public opinion in favor of the Morton County Sheriff’s Department or the North Dakota governor.
Who is Protecting the Water?
Today I finished this video about some of the people I met. This was filmed over just a few short hours. I met many more people in the days I was in Oceti Sakowin. It was a very incredible experience to share so much, so deeply, with so many people, about something as needed by all as – water.
While I worked on this video, I saw that the veterans are arriving at Standing Rock. I am saying prayers that the increase in media coverage, and in citizen involvement, will change this situation and the pipeline will be stopped. It must be stopped.
Water is Life 