The Stand against Tar Sands

[Tsamsiyu Fpirrta]

nearly two hundred arrested now in sit in protest against a Tar (oil) sand pipeline.

here's a peace of the story
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20110821/white-house-alberta-oil-pipeline-protests-110821/

this includes American citizens from around the country and even citizens from other countries, many are coming down from Canada

for those that need the back story a major oil company is pushing the American goverment to allow a pipeline that would stretch from Alberta (Canada) all the way down to Texas (I'm not sure exactly where in Texas it would stop). This pipeline wouldn't carry natural gas or normal crude oil but a controversial oil product called tar sands.

here is the wiki page for tar sand but you can find more about it from Greenpeace or by googleing it
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_sands#Concerns_of_environmentalists

tar sands are not only controversial due to the devastation caused to the land by the mining of them, but to the damage they do when a pipeline leaks. This is incredibly important in this situation because the planned pipeline stretches across several earthquake prone zones.

as well as the manufacturing (or refining) of tar oil into usable fuel produces many times the amount of CO2 (green house gas) emissions than regular crude oil (the oil usually found by drilling deep within to 'Rrta)

it is said though only about 200 has been arrested over 2000 are already on there way to further the sit in demonstration, and at this point it is unknown whether the government will take the voice of the people seriously, or ignore us all together.

even if you can't attend the sit in for one reason or another you can add your voice to one or many of the petitions floating around the internet on the subject, (the two i was more familiar with are now closed so you might have to Google that >.> )

this will be roughly written cause again i'm a noob but here it goes

"Ayoeng zene zong 'Rrta ta-tìtxanew"

sìltsan txon aysmuken si aytsmuke

[Sänon Txantslusamawpo]

I'm glad you mentioned this!  More people should hopefully hear more about this, since actress Daryl Hannah was arrested for protesting it!
The proposed pipeline would go through Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas to refineries in Houston and Port Arthur, Texas. I live in Texas, this will be cutting straight through my home.

More on this website: http://www.foe.org/keystone-xl-pipeline
See their point of view: http://www.transcanada.com/keystone.html They have a tab on the left that they call "protecting the environment" which basically to me translates to "we'll try relatively hard to make sure that less damage is caused than could be possible in the worst case scenario" Although I think they could protect the environment more by NOT building this... just my opinion...

[Sänon Txantslusamawpo]

I realize this is a necropost, but I thought keeping the previous entries in here would be beneficial for people.  I just wanted to post an update for people who were as interested in this as I am (especially those who live in the areas this pipeline will go through).

Obama has postponed the decision on the Keystone XL pipeline http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/11/us/politics/administration-to-delay-pipeline-decision-past-12-election.html?_r=1

This has created rage in people who believe this pipeline could have provided jobs, decreased our unemployment, and helped fuel (pun intended) our economical development and evolution.

Also please read this blog: http://blog.chron.com/lorensteffy/2011/11/pipeline-politics-amid-the-keystone-xl-delay/

I have to be honest, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with all this development (even around my house... everything's being knocked down for roads, highways, etc). Any ideas how we can reach out to people and make them realize the damage they are causing without sounding like crazy environmentalists?

[Kamean]

Irayo for new links.

[Amaya]

I'm....well, conflicted about the whole outcome.  I'd like to see no pipelines at all, but what a lot of people down in the states don't realize is that if this pipeline is taken off the table, (now that it has been) there's all of a sudden a MASSIVELY increased push to put a pipeline through the Rockies to northern BC (Kitimat) to ship whatever they're pumping to China, etc. instead of the States.

Yeah, the whole thing is just a horrible mess.

Shallow Waters Official Music Video Latest Version: 10 year old Ta'Kaiya Blaney & Aileen De La Cruz

[Sänon Txantslusamawpo]

Irayo for new links.

Kea tìkin

I heard about a refinery that China wants to build up there now. Of course there is conflict about this, our greedy nature says bring the jobs here! Oh no prices are going up, etc, but the living creature inside all of us needs to start being a little smarter. There are so many smart people out there with great ideas, we just have to find them and support them! Show people there are alternatives.

[Tsmuktengan]

I don't know anything about this, but basically, what are the precise pros and cons of such a project? Is the economic income worth the damage that could be caused? Are there safety measure planned?

[ExLibrisMortis]

Irayo for new links.

Kea tìkin

I heard about a refinery that China wants to build up there now. Of course there is conflict about this, our greedy nature says bring the jobs here! Oh no prices are going up, etc, but the living creature inside all of us needs to start being a little smarter. There are so many smart people out there with great ideas, we just have to find them and support them! Show people there are alternatives.

What's synonymous with greed? Self-Interest. Taking care of one's self. The thing is, Everyone gets mad at the USA for being this evil, greedy nation of nothing but despots, but the thing is, if you would want any country in the world to have that position, it really would be the US. No other nation has the kind of control over making sure people obey environmental regulations like America. That's about it.

Also, the American, and in the same regard, the world, economy relies on cheap (relatively) gas. Trucking accounts for the huge majority of how goods get moved across the nation and the world. The world, and America, can not handle gasoline to be consistently above $5.00/gal in the United States. Already the CEO (or was is VP, I don't remember exactly) of Wal-mart is saying to "Expect hyper-inflation on the price of produce". And he/she said this publicly.

I have not been able to find any figures from an unbiased source as of yet on this initiative. Once I do, then I can get a real idea on what kind of impact it may or may not have on the environment. Until then, remember what they said about the Alaskan pipeline. "It's going to kill the Caribou population!!!" ...and the Caribou population flourished like never before.