Defining Moment

For The Future Of America

Today I watched one of the most important demonstrations in Washington since the Martin Luther King Jr. speech on the steps of the Lincoln Monument.

I watched it on the internet because none of the so called ‘liberal mainstream media’ were broadcasting this outpouring of concern for America, by the people of America.

I have been reading the on line news papers, like The Washington Post, and there is not one word about this effort to save the farms, cities, and fresh water of the mid-western United States.

I feel that someone needs to publish something about this momentous event to persuade our president to protect America from global petroleum interests. I received an email from Bill McKibben that suggested I forward it. I don’t forward political email, as a general rule, but I am happy to post it here on Phil’s Place.

Email From Bill McKibben;

Friends--

There are days along any journey that stick with you, and today was one of them.

Under blue Indian Summer skies, more than 12,000 people from every corner of the country descended on Washington DC; then, with great precision, they fanned out to surround the White House and take a stand against the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

Here are just a couple of pictures from the day, and you can see lots more by clicking here.



What speaker after speaker today made clear (and they came from every part of our movement: indigenous leaders, labor organizers, environmentalists, young people, preachers) was that today was in no way a grand finale -- there's lots more work to do.

I have no idea how this battle is going to come out -- only that, together, we stand a chance to shut down this dirty pipeline and shift the flow not just of oil, but of history. This day was an important part of that history, and we’ll carry its power with us as we take this fight forward.

Thanks in advance for all the work we'll do together,  shoulder-to-shoulder, on the road ahead.

Onwards,

Bill McKibben for the 350.org team


Just A Few Words From Me

This is something that I think everyone should be aware of. The Tar Sands pipeline project has no redeeming benefit for the people of America. The pipeline is supposed to send corrosive goo from Canada’s tar sands, to the Texas gulf. The goo, which is supposed to be refined in drought stricken Texas, requires enormous amounts of fresh water* in order to produce kerosene, which will then be sold on the world market to the highest bidder. ( China has already made their deal with Valero to buy the lions share.)

*The waste water is too toxic to be used for anything and must be held in storage until someone figures out what to do with it.

As for the risk of damages to Americas cropland and largest aquifer, a leak, spill, or terrorist act is projected to be a certainty. The tar sands oil is so corrosive that it will eat through the steel pipe within a few years.

We shall see if surrounding the Whitehouse with concerned and informed Americans, today will help persuade our president to deny the proposal that puts our water, food, land, and people at risk.

Envision A Positive Outcome