As celebrities, social activists, environmentalists, and Native Americans protest to protect their home and the natural beauty of Cannon Ball, North Dakota, the home to the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, #NoDAPL has been trending on Twitter worldwide as videos of people being arrested, and even shot, at the protests have surfaced. But, what even is the Dakota Access Pipeline?
The Dakota Access Pipeline is a $3.7 billion project, which is already 70% completed, that is g0ing to be used to transport nearly 470,000 barrels of oil per day through North Dakota. ETP, Energy Transfer Partners, says the pipeline will create some 8,000-12,000 jobs. However, transporting all that oil is never a good thing.
The dangers of having oil running through a tribe’s main water source is dangerous, threats of an oil spill can irreversibly damage the tribe’s home for good, contaminating not only the water, but also their beautiful land. Not only would this pipeline affect this tribe, but it would also contaminate the Missouri River, which supplies water to many cities.
The protests stopped construction in August, the tribe saying they never agreed to allow ETP to build a pipeline in their home. The tribe has even called the UN Human Rights council. Barack Obama has done little to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline, as it is continuing its construction on privately owned land only. The protesters now fear with Donald Trump being elected president, the Dakota Access Pipeline will be able to be continued to be built, despite their enormous efforts to save the beautiful lands.
The CEO of ETP, Kelcy Warren, has come out recently and said a Donald Trump presidency means there is a one hundred percent guarantee the pipeline will be finished. Warren donated $103,000 to Trump’s campaign, in hopes Trump will give the go ahead on the construction of the pipeline, despite many Native American tribes, cities and people’s safety being in jeopardy. Although, Trump has not made any comments on his stance with the Dakota Access Pipeline, he shared his stance on the controversial Keystone Pipeline, which Barack Obama rejected in 2015. “We’re going to allow the Keystone Pipeline and so many other things to move forward,” Trump stated.
The Dakota Access Pipeline may bring more jobs to the USA, but the damage it will do is irreversible. It will ruin reservations, homes, and our planet. Show your support by tweeting with the hashtag, #NoDAPL, because together we can stop this tragedy that is the Dakota Access Pipeline.
