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Massive Protest at White House Against Alberta Tar Sands Pipeline
Campaigners say the two-week protest will be the biggest green civil disobedience in a generation
A protest at the White House against a pipeline from the Alberta tar sands is emerging as the biggest green civil disobedience campaign in a generation, organizers said.
Approximately 1,500 people signed up to court arrest during the two-week action outside the White House, which begins on Saturday morning.
The campaign is seen as a last chance to persuade Barack Obama to stop a planned 1,600-mile pipeline that will carry oil from the tar sands of Alberta across rich American farmland to the Gulf of Mexico.
The State Department is expect to produce its final environmental analysis of the pipeline by the end of the month. Obama will then have 90 days to decide whether going ahead with the project would be in the national interest.
The Keystone XL project has been a major focus of environmental protests. Greenhouse gas emissions of tar sands crude are 40% higher than conventional oil, and the open-pit mining has devastated Alberta's boreal forest.
Recent pipeline accidents in Michigan and Montana have also deepened fears about potential dangers along the pipeline's route through prime American farmland.
The veteran environmentalist Bill McKibben, who is leading the protest, describes it as the biggest civil disobedience action in environmental circles for years.
It also puts Obama on the spot to make good on his promises as a presidential candidate in 2008 to act on climate change.
Congress failed to act on the main plank of Obama's green agenda – climate change legislation – and pressure from Tea Party activists has forced the Environmental Protection Agency to delay or weaken regulations on dealing with climate change.
This time though, Obama has freedom of action – or at least that is McKibben's hope.
Obama must personally sign off on the pipeline, if it is to go ahead. "We think we may have a chance because for once Obama gets to make the call himself. He has to sign – or not sign – the permit," McKibben said.
"As environmentalists this is the one clean test we are ever going to get of Obama's real commitment to climate issues."
The protest will begin at about 11am on Saturday morning when a first group of 100 activists will gather at the gates of the White House, an area that is supposed to be kept clear, and wait to be arrested.
Unlike other campaigns, the next fortnight's actions have geographical reach – with protesters descending on Washington from areas along the pipeline's route.
One group from eastern Texas, has hired an RV to make the journey.
The campaign against the pipeline has steadily been gaining in momentum amid concerns about pipeline safety.
The pipeline route crosses rich farmland and important aquifers.
Campaigners argue the thick heavy tar sands crude could do far more damage than conventional oil, and that the State Department has rushed through its environmental review.
The oil industry, meanwhile, pushed back with a study this week claiming the pipeline would create 20,000 new construction jobs.
54 Comments so far
Show AllWhy is the State Dept. in charge of doing the environmental assessment? Geez
Great question.
Proposed pipeline crosses an international border.
Same reason businessmen "investigated" WTC.
So what!? Obamas at Marthas Vinyard!! Maybe they should have checked his schedule!! lol >^^<
The oil industry boasts this pipeline will create 20,000 construction jobs. I wonder how many health care jobs it will create.
and how many deaths would it cause?
I thought maybe they'd throw themselfs in front of the dozers!!! Or set themselfs on fire! Something to stop it... my bad >^^<
Why wouldn't Obama approve the pipeline? Sure, it is bad for the vast majority, very bad for the environment (in which we live, along with reactionaries and climate change deniers) and a GIANT STEP in the wrong direction for Life on Earth. But it is good for the short-term economic interest of a few politically powerful Neanderthals. Obama usually goes with the Neanderthals, to the detriment of the Vast Majority. When will we get it? (He COULD astound me/us...But think of the AUDACITY required of the man...).
Like the audacity to lie to 300 million citizens about closing Guantanimo, ending war, troop withdrawels etc.
Why should we pretend that this president is commander and cheif?
If Pres O does sign-off on the pipe line, I will have but one simple question for him: Were you a climate change denier before or after you ran for President?
Your headline is misleading, CD, as having only 1500 people signed up is not a 'massive protest'. Just sayin'.
That's 1500 people who have committed to risking arrest by doing civil disobedience. For such an action, that is massive. Consider that there were just 11 willing to be arrested in the religious leaders' prayer protest at the capitol during the debt ceiling debate.
How many of these people will the Koch Brothers drive over to have their way?
They aren't tar sands, they are oil sands. Don't you pay attention to the pitchmen on TV for oil (and gas)? They smile (well maybe smirk or grin a bit) and are so very sincere.
They aren't tar sands, they are oil sands. Don't you pay attention to the pitchmen on TV for oil (and gas)? They smile (well maybe smirk or grin a bit) and are so very sincere.
There is only one way to take this country back and take it into the right direction . There is no time left to waste. The Earth is giving us explicit warning and we must heed the call or all will be lost forever.
'Jill', while I totally agree with your assessment of the "compartmentalization" - what other choice do "people" have? Where's the glimmer of hope that smth works? - At least McKibben offers that, and for that I applaud him.
As for Obama... don't get me started - oh boy I started. After the initial relief that the Bush-gang was out, the realization that Obama was no better - and in that sense much worse, for not having any "change" to hope for any longer - that killed off much belief that democracy can work. But that leaves US where, apart for in deep darkness? - Some fightback that provides hope must be supported. We're flailing here, right, but with enough straws to grasp at we might build a raft.
The alternative seems sinking into a kind of self-righteous "I told you so: we're all fu**ed"- funk, which is less than useless as it only brings us further down. So let's have some straw to float on! - The pressure on Obama just might make him rethink this particular betrayal.
'Jill': "Yes" to give support case by case, no to person (Obama) by person. These days, case-facts not person-trust must rule. "Giving support to Obama strips this protest of the people's power." - and that's well said. Support must be given to Obama's hand only when he uses it to sign rejection of this pipeline-project - and other destructive projects in the pipeline.
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I don't fault the activists intentions or effort at all. What I disagree with is the environmental movement's overall strategy and tactics. They are unintentionally designed to fail, and/or displays a lack of sufficient commitment to seriously resist the status quo industrial system, which is at the heart of all the major struggles that are confronting us during this critical era (climate change, capitalism, monetary system, corporate media, MIC).
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You're exactly right, Jill. I admire McKibben for his ability to teach others about the burgeoning environmental crises that we face, but he and most other environmentalists are, and have been, using a series of failed strategies and tactics if one truly wants to halt the most tragic effects of capitalism-induced industrialism. If you want it to stop you have to FORCE them to stop it, not simply engage in essentially symbolic efforts that in reality reflexively fall back on the hope that you might persuade the powers that be to "do what's right". That has NEVER truly worked to achieve social justice, and it will not work to bring about ecological sanity and sustainability.
I think Bill McKibben is being politically wise by maintaining a position that exposes The Tom, and that keeps 350.org from providing fodder for the hucksters. I think it's presumptious to assume that Bill will give The Tom any endorsement or support for 2012, regardless of how The Tom acts in the short term (I expect eloquent verbiage and delay tactics). The Obama 2008 pins are a nice touch and do not imply any expectation of "worship" but, instead, they drive home the extent to which we have all been betrayed. ___________________________________________________________________________
It's not that I disagree with any cd cynicism, but I really don't think Bill is being stupid. And I cannot "hope people won't be that stupid or depraved," because people have repeatedly shown that they are quite easily manipulated by msm and the machine. Jill makes some good points, but I respect McKibben's professionalism and his focus on a single issue. More importantly, he remains focused on keeping his own image squeaky clean (e.g., requesting the arrestees to wear their finest business attire), and that image will help keep "hope" out of the mix.
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"It's not that I disagree with any cd cynicism, but I really don't think Bill is being stupid."
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No, Bill is not being "politically" stupid, but he is employing a resistance strategy that has no chance of accomplishing its objectives, and he is being naive if he really thinks that Obama could possibly be moved by the tactics he and most environmentalists continue to pursue. For example, one cannot avoid broadening the movement to include capitalism if one hopes to succeed some day.
CDresearch, I completely agree that factionalization is a central problem with actually succeeding in Stopping the Machine. My point is that it's not Bill's task to bring the various factions together. In addition, by avoiding other factions such as antiwar, Main Street v Wall St, etc, the environmental group has not polarized anyone. It can be argued that climate change is a bigger problem than all the others, and by cleaning up the image of environmental activism (no pun intended), Bill may be able to gain the support of groups that would never support the other causes. __________________________________________________________________________
Perhaps the objective of 2,000 arrests of persons wearing biz attire will succeed in attaining a limited goal of placing a single issue into the public eye - the pipeline's effect on climate change.
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"My point is that it's not Bill's task to bring the various factions together."
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Well, whose job is it then? We need to stop being satisfied with "doing our own thing" (leading our own cause). Instead we need to reach out in solidarity to other groups that we basically share common interests with so that we may act in solidarity and greatly increase our power. ALL of us need to start to reach out to other groups to form a consolidated network. That certainly includes Bill McKibben if he has any hope of ultimate success, because the enemy as you know is very powerful and firmly entrenched.
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".....by avoiding other factions such as antiwar, Main Street v Wall St, etc, the environmental group has not polarized anyone."
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This is a mistake. We need to work at seeing the forest through the trees and work steadfastly at forging disciplined alliances to fight against our shared enemy: the elites.
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"It can be argued that climate change is a bigger problem than all the others...."
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Again, this is a fatal flaw in the development of strategy. The most effective long-term strategy will evolve out of "systems theory". There are a handful or so of huge problems that are all tied together, and must be attacked together. This deleterious notion that one problem is by far the most serious one, and therefore I'm not going to work with others on their less serious problems is a recipe for failure. Our only hope against the elites is to build massive solidarity around a half dozen or so of fundamental problems that are interrelated and feed off each other.
CDresearch,
I respectfully disagree, regarding strategy. Climate change believers, as a non-ideological group, are already a clear majority of We the People. Therefore, 350.org already has leverage and already has power, albeit unrealized. To include other groups, right now, is to dilute such leverage and power. _____________________________________________________________________
There are other times for attempting to achieve solidarity across a variety of issues. For example, October 6 onward is our Stop The Machine time, a time for demonizing the evil Corporations and evil System. Other environmental groups may wish to piggyback the October movement, but I think it's very smart to separate 350.org. It sure removes lots of bullets from the Chamber of Commerce's and Rush's guns.
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You and I probably have few, if any, substantive issues. This is simply a chess game.
Jill,
Agreed. I think it's long past time that McKibben visualizes Obama singing this song:
"If you don't know me by now, you will never, never know me...."
What's also getting really creepy is it seems that a lot of the "progressive" sites and outlets are doubling down on finding ways to support Obama or re-word what he says or coloring what his first 3 years in office has accomplished. Just like this article, somehow helpless Obama will do the right thing and finally stand up for something. There have been far greater protests in numbers against many of the really important issues of the day, and they have had zero effect in changing anything, let alone giving Obama a chance to really show everyone how he feels. Barf.
Terrific point, Jill. Even if he were to go green (temporarily?) he has stlll chosen to authorize a lot of totally unnecessary killing, and to engage in a plenitude of egregious injustices--he could have chosen differently (although one wonders, at what cost to himself and his family). For whatever the reasons, we know one thing for sure: he can't be trusted to do the right thing.
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Again, I agree, Jill. I did not vote for Obama in 2008 because of his record (voted for Nader instead). Especially his vote in favor of the bailout. That was the last straw. I'm in California, and Boxer, Feinstein, and Capps (CD - Rep) are done for me to. Never again. Haven't voted for a Dem or a Repub for President since 1992. The Clinton betrayal had occurred by 1995, whereby for me hope in the established political order had completely expired. Now more recently major party Senate & House candidates are a strict no-no. We all need to begin to seriously start to organize locally and network regionally/nationally outside the established system. It's our only chance to mitigate some of the catastrophic effects to come. We need to develop some urgency though, and self-respect --- quickly!
Goldenberg sez: "It also puts Obama on the spot to make good on his promises as a presidential candidate in 2008 to act on climate change."
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Oh, no, please don't throw Br'er Orabbit into his 2008 campaign promises!
Or the close to million - out of 5 in all of Libya - in the Green Square in Tripoli June 17 2011 in support of Ghadafi's "regime", aka. known as Libya's legitimate government.
JPHERAN,I AGREE WITH YOU,THE NUMBERS ARE PATHETIC,AND THE ONLY THING POSITIVE IS THAT IT'S A START!!!IF YOU WERE AROUND IN THE 60S&70S WE STARTED THE SAME WAY,KNOWING FULL WELL THAT THE IDIOTS IN POWER WERE NOT GOING TO GIVE UP WITHOUT A FIGHT!!THAT SAID EACH PROTEST WILL FEED OF EACH OTHER,AND YES BACK THEN THE PRESS WAS AGAINST US,OUR OWN FAMILIES WERE AGAINST US&THE MAJORITY OF AMERICAN PEOPLE WERE AGAINST US,SO WHAT ,WE CARRIED ON FOR 10YRS OR MORE,THE RALLYS GOT BIGGER&BIGGER AND WE BEAT THOS ASSHOLES ON CIVIL RIGHTS,VIETNAM WAR,WOMENS RIGHTS,NATIVE RIGHTS,THE ENVIRONMENT AND MAY OTHER THINGS WE ARE DEALING WITH NOW,--SO DON'T GIVE UP,BE STRONG,COMMITED,UNITED IN THE TRUTH THAT WE ARE RIGHT&THEY ARE EVIL,CORRUPT&FULL OF SHIT!!1! HOKAHEY/IT IS A GOOD TIME TO LIVE
(pst! - your Caps Lock key is on.)
That's funny: I agree with the both of you, depending on the mood... Sometimes I think there was a lot won in the civil rights movement - and at other times. looking around at other conditions today, I think nothing was won at all. Trying to decide which, I only come up with the mood thing.
Maybe it's an ongoing fight, one that's neither won nor lost, but have some battles lost and some won. And we're still sliding along on the knife edge. Like a snail sliding along the edge of a razor - and making it...
Tipping point: I get weary wondering how long this feeling of living at the tipping point's going to last. We - the human tribe, or at least US at the technological edge mastering the internet (all 2 bn of us now) - really should get decisive about now, and abolish stupid threats to our common living-premises like the Alberta tar sands project is. I'm pulling all I can - only hope it's in the right places. And if it's in the right places depends mostly on whether it's where others pull, too. That we cooperate, on the basis of some basic facts, is what decides.
I admire the hell out of these 1500 protestors. It won't do any good - the two things Obama has ALWAYS done in his entire term is whatever is best for the corporations and the opposite of what the Amereichan people want - but bravo to these diehard people. Wish I could get the time off from work to join them.
I wish the protestors all the very best.
As a Canadian I am ashamed that we are agreeing yet again to ship raw materials out of the country and let other folks have all those jobs and salaries making them usable. If America wants more gasoline, the refineries to turn synthetic crude into something that can be poured into a gas tank should be in Alberta and hiring Canadian and American workers who want to travel north for a job, not being shipped south in a raw form because Mexican or Chinese workers will work for less with lower safety standards. Alberta has oilmen with decades worth of experience and state of the art facilities.
The 20,000 jobs to put the pipeline through are a one shot deal, once the pipe is in the ground most of those jobs will be finished. The maintenance shift will be much smaller. I am ashamed that there are not Canadians there protesting to keep jobs in Canada. We get to keep all the mess and pollution, the jobs and the money go south.
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I can tell you right now, Obama is not going to refrain from signing off on the pipeline. You're going to need a lot more than a few thousand people, even with perhaps hundreds getting arrested by simply camping-out in a restricted area outside the White House gates in an act of civil disobedience. The elites are simply not going to take that seriously. More successful tactics must severely disrupt critical elite operations over a significant and persistent period of time. All this action will do is tell the elite that a few "extremists" are upset about the pipeline, which can easily be controlled (by police) and ignored (by government & corporate leaders). The activist are deluding themselves if they think this action has ANY chance of dissuading Obama. Sorry, but it's time for new, more serious strategies and tactics. And the sooner the better; we're running out of time.
I share your sense of urgency and your pessimism. You say "it's time for new, more serious strategies and tactics". That is true, but what are those strategies and tactics, and how do we transform them from wishes to actualities? That's the challenge.
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I takes people organizing in their communities around fundamental issues, climate change being one. Such groups need to engage in ongoing issue education projects and recruitment of members, AND reach out to other groups in other communities, regions, and ultimately form a large national network of solidarity.
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As the network grows leaders need to carefully devise strategies and tactics for action. Looking at the most successful non-violent conflicts initiated by the oppressed the world over during the last several decades is a good place to start. What worked, what didn't? How can we improve on their success, and tailor our tactics to the modern environment? Certainly actions that most effectively disrupt the systems of the elite are always the focus. Thus, you have things like sit-ins, occupations, blockades, strikes, boycotts, etc. Most of these types of non-violent conflict require significant numbers, and involve serious risk and commitment. So the biggest issue we face is whether we can "come together" (collaboration among like-minded but currently disparate groups), and whether we have the courage and discipline to commit to true self-sacrifice. We have a lot of work to do but it can be done with a serious "long-term" strategy.
Good. Maybe Canada can build the pipeline to a Pacific port instead (distance is a lot shorter too) and sell the oil to the Chinese. At least they have the cash to pay for it...
So I wonder if they realize he's on the Vineyard and embarrassing
himself down there this week and not in the White House???
We know that "O" will sign the permit because he is a corporatist. This article suggesting that "O" might not sign it is just propaganda. I agree with the protest but not the expectation that "O" might block the pipeline. A million people in Washington would not stop "O" from signing the permit. Get real!
McKibben recently was campaigning for Obama to put some solar panels on the White House, but stayed silent about the fact that solar electric and hot water panels were put on the White House pool in 2003. Guess who was pretending to be President then?
If people don't want tar sands, and it's good to oppose this evil, then be prepared to watch the oil decline happen faster. It would be honest for McKibben, et al., to admit that the reason tar sands are being mined is that is what is left. The future of oil is tar sands, deep water drilling, etc. The low hanging fruit of "easy oil" is over.
Sorry, but the Earth is not getting any bigger. We are not addicted to oil, we are totally dependent on it for growing and moving food. Are you addicted to grocery stores?
Meanwhile, every poll in recent years shows a declining public support for dealing with climate chaos, but the climate movement is not interested in a more holistic approach that might mitigate that decline.
http://www.oilempire.us/tarsands.html
Eating the Earth for Cars
http://www.oilempire.us/triple-crisis.html
Peaked Oil, Climate Chaos, Overshoot
Obama has proven that he cannot be trusted. He fired Van Jones, Shirley Sherrod and Weiner. That is not leadership. I wonder how they feel about him. Obama is having a vacation during this very serious time. How could anyone with a caring heart do that during such a time? Reveals a lot about him. But the world's eyes will be on him and that may have a greater influence on him. He does not value his allies, only his foes.
The spirit of Edward Abbey lives on.
"The Monkey Wrench Gang goes to the White House" - a sequel written in heaven...
Over 10 million world-wide protested the impending attack against Iraq. We know the outcome. And now another worthwile massiv protest and...will the will of the people be heard? Or is it the will of corporations? Why even bother electing a president!
And when the media barely covers this protest and Obama ignores it in favor of his Big Oil funders, what will we do next?
Obama is right now trying to figure out how to sign this and still say he's not really signing it.
And you know what? Ninety percent of liberals will go along; the independent voters won't care cuz their getting psyched up for football season, and Wall Street will then shower Obama with even more campaign cash.