Today the stealth amendment to revive the Tar Sands Keystone pipeline in from CANADA failed. Over 800,000 calls and faxes were sent to the U.S. Senate in a 24 hour period. If you are interested in the vote, it is here: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=2&vote=00034
Senator Brown voted in favor of the pipeline, Senator Kerry voted against. Bill McKibben’s email stated that the pro-Keystone tar sands senators collectively have received $27,000,000 in oil soaked donations.
Photo by Deborah Sirotkin Butler
This banner greeted us as we gathered. The Protest Chaplains from Occupy Boston, as well as the Occupy Boston Climate Change working group were instrumental in creating this emergency response. A large circle formed in front of the Canadian Consulate (which was admittedly closed at the time). The Protest Chaplains provided candles and lit them, and led us in a call and response prayer for the planet, and protection against the extreme environmental damage done by Tar Sands Extraction. See “What are the Tar Sands”: http://www.drawthelineattarsands.com/learn-about-tar-sands/what-are-the-tar-sands/
Each person in the circle who wished also stepped forward, and explained why he or she was there, and chose to stand against the Keystone Tar Sands Pipeline and with the Oglala Sioux.
Photo by Deborah Sirotkin Butler
The circle stretched across the square, and for the short notice was a fine turnout. This 20 year old woman spoke of the ravaging of the earth by the huge open pit tar sand mines, and the loss of wild life, and her concern for her own future. Folks traveled in to Copley Square from across the greater Boston area, by car and by MBTA. One father made a sign with his daughter’s image, and listed some of what he fears she will never know, because these things will be gone by the time she grows up.
Photo by Deborah Sirotkin Butler
He stood up to speak out for her future. Our earth demands protection from us from those who care only about money and power, he said.
And, you can join me even though you were not part of tonight’s vigil – the U.S. Senate is poised to debate the Keystone Pipeline – again – tomorrow. Like a hydra, it has many heads and has reappeared, according to Reuters, in an amendment meaning that “Keystone is trying to snake its way into the USA again” – but I guess the Oglala Sioux already knew that. For the Report tonight from Reuters, see: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/08/usa-politics-transportation-proposal-idUSL2E8E7GSW20120308
So I am asking YOU to “Stand UP! Fight BACK” by calling BOTH Senator Kerry and Senator Brown tomorrow.
All the information to contact Senator Scott Brown is here http://www.scottbrown.senate.gov/public/
All the information to contact Senator John Kerry is here http://kerry.senate.gov/
I hope that both senators hear from lots of us! Let’s not let Gracie Randall down – here she is confronting the pipeline segments – that is one brave grandmother out there in Wanblie, Eagle Nest Region, South Dakota.
Photo courtesy of the Oglala Sioux of Wanblie, South Dakota
Actually, I think, per this quote attributed to him, Sitting Bull would consider Gracie a true warrior. Let’s not let her down.
NIMBY can happen for the Keystone. But no one is invoking NIMBY over the the boom of research stations in the fragile pole regions.
Since 1980, the number of research stations in Antarctica has almost doubled. And the old ones have expanded into palaces.
Why are we up in arms about a few degrees increase in average temperature in Massachusetts, but we aren’t concerned about the huge amounts of heat being introduced into a much more fragile ecosystem?
Who is researching the effects of the research community? They ship in supplies and heat homes and drive vehicles all in an area that is supposed to be uninhabited.
Wouldn’t it be ironic if it’s actually this increase in polar research activity that is the butterfly?
Wikipedia lists 72 research stations in Antarctica. Let’s suppose each of these stations somehow irrevocably damages everything within 1000 feet. That would mean we’ve permanently spoiled less than 10 square miles, in small dots scattered across a 5.4 million square mile continent.
Who’s “up in arms about a few degrees increase in average temperature” specifically “in Massachusetts”? Do you realize that while MA has so far seen less than a degree (Celsius) change, many polar areas have seen several degrees or more? That huge amount of heat being introduced into a fragile ecosystem, I’m definitely concerned with. Research stations, not so much.
Wouldn’t it be ironic if it’s actually this increase in polar research activity that is the butterfly? No, it would be astounding. Frankly, I’m already astounded that somebody could think 72 localized increases of a few degrees (for those research stations are extremely well insulated) could possibly outweigh a global increase of a few degrees.