Native Americans and Environmental Activists Won’t Relent on Dakota Access Pipeline
When I tutor young people in history, I normally wind up drawing a time-line to help put things in perspective. In fact, my first rule for teaching (or learning) anything is: If it can be drawn, draw it.
Those wanting to understand and visualize the unfolding of events regarding the Dakota Access Pipeline and the enormous resistance it’s generating from Native Americans (trying to protect their water and sacred grounds) and by environmental activists (trying to impede the production and consumption of fossil fuels) may love the article linked above, which provides such a time-line.
As to the present, the arrests continue. Yesterday, 83 more protesters resisting the construction of a four-state oil pipeline being constructed under the Missouri River, the water source for 17 million people, were led away in handcuffs. It’s hard to see an end in sight here.
I am surprised that Bakken shale oil is even profitable at current prices.
The material will be shipped whether or not the pipeline is built. If it is not shipped by pipeline, it will be shipped by rail and rail transportation is more dangerous than pipeline transportation. However, there is good reason to fear running a pipeline under a river or too close to a river. If the pipeline were to break, and it does happen, the water for millions of people would be contaminated. Also, the Native Americans, whether we like it of not, have every right to protect grounds which they consider sacred.
Obviously we must phase out the use of fossil fuels. That cannot be done overnight so, until fossil fuels can be phased out, we need them.
It is not clear what the best course of action would be, but I am convinced that insufficient effort has been made to find the best course of action.