People all over the country have been protesting the
construction of the Keystone XL Pipleine which would carry dirty sludge from Alberta, Canada to be
refined on the Texas coast.
Why the uproar?
The pipeline would cross six states, several major rivers, the Ogallala
aquifer, the sandhills of Nebraska, and the nation’s breadbasket – all potential sites for major disasters
like the BP Gulf oil spill. Mining the tar sands requires leveling the boreal
forest in western Canada, trampling the homes of native populations, using
enormous amounts of water for processing, and the use of natural gas to heat the
tar sands just to get the crude to flow.
Opposition to the project has been widespread. Nebraska Governor Dave
Heineman (R) and Nebraska Senator Mike Johanns (R) have both said they don’t
want the pipeline crossing their state because of its danger to agriculture and
the natural environment. NASA scientist James Hansen, who was also arrested as
part of this protest effort, says that mining the tar sands will have such a
negative impact on climate change that “it is essentially game over" for the
environment.
In the end this oil will be put on the world market, not the US market, so it
won't further our “energy independence.” So who wants this pipeline? The oil
companies do, and we know their record for precautionary safety.
Your church in Action
UCC advocates have been active in protesting the pipeline. This August 1,253 people were arrested in an act of civil disobedience in
front of the White House- including UCC
Massachusetts Conference Minister Jim Antal and Rev. Mari Castellanos. On October 7 the U.S. Department of State held a public comment meeting to solicit comments on the subject. Rev. Mari Castellanos was invited to
testify along with other faith leaders. Read her Testimony.
Advocacy Updates
It’s
been several weeks since the last people got out of jail in Washington, D. C.,
at the end of two weeks of civil disobedience that led to 1253 people ending up
in handcuffs to stop the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. During this time President
Obama has received a letter signed by the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Tutu and seven
other Nobel Peace Laureates asking him not to approve the pipeline. He has also
heard from many Americans at his public appearances in Richmond, VA; Cambridge,
MA; Wilmington, DE; Columbus, OH; Raleigh, N.C.; Wilmington, DE and many other
locations, all asking for his veto.
Native
American and First Nation tribal leaders met with private land owners from both
sides of the border at the Redbud Lakota reservation and signed a “Mother earth
Accord” opposing Keystone XL pipeline.
In Canada, over a hundred protesters were arrested
in Ottawa as
they tried to enter the House of Commons to object to the pipeline. Gitz Deranger, one
of many First Nations protesters also in attendance, said his community near Fort Chippewayan
is plagued by health problems as a result of its proximity to the oilsands. "Our
indigenous way of life is being threatened by the tarsands. You destroy our
land, you destroy us," said Deranger.
A massive action at the White House took place Sunday November 6thas anti-pipeline activists encircled the White House.
What about Gas Prices?
Keystone XL will increase gas prices for
Americans—Especially Farmers
- By
draining Midwestern refineries of cheap Canadian crude into export-oriented
refineries in the Gulf
Coast, Keystone XL will increase the cost of gas for Americans.
- TransCanada’s 2008Permit Application states “Existing markets for Canadian heavy
crude, principally PADD II [U.S.
Midwest], are currently oversupplied,
resulting in price discounting for Canadian heavy crude oil. Access to the USGC
[U.S. Gulf
Coast] via the Keystone XL Pipeline is
expected to strengthen Canadian crude oil pricing in [the Midwest]
by removing this oversupply. This is expected to increase the price of heavy
crude to the equivalent cost of imported crude. The resultant increase in the
price of heavy crude is estimated to provide an increase in annual revenue to
the Canadian producing industry in 2013 of US $2 billion to US $3.9 billion.”
- Independent analysis
of these figures found this would increase per-gallon prices by 20 cents/gallon
in the Midwest.
- According
to an independentanalysis U.S.
farmers, who spent $12.4 billion on fuel in 2009 could see expenses rise to $15
billion or higher in 2012 or 2013 if the pipeline goes through. At least $500
million of the added expense would come from the Canadian market manipulation.
More Info:
