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Forum Post: Hands Across the White House: Success!

Posted 12 years ago on Nov. 7, 2011, 12:38 p.m. EST by HarryCrew07 (433)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

For anyone who was in DC yesterday, November 6th, 2011. Hands around the White House was a Success. 10,000 people gathered from all backgrounds, a vast majority of states, and foreign countries to protest the Keystone XL Pipeline from Texas to Canada. Many people commented that this event would result in mass arrests. These arrests did NOT take place!! And the desired goal of holding hands around the ENTIRE White House was met!

For those who don't believe that this protest has anything to do with OWS, Here are some things to consider

1) This pipeline will not make gas-cheaper for Americans. The purpose of the pipeline is to bring oil from Canada to refineries in Texas.

Unfortunately as is stated in an article by National Geographic, "refineries on the Gulf Coast have long-term commitments to buy oil from current suppliers—including Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and Mexico. Those nations don't want to cede market share to Canada. All three have ownership in Texas refineries, and they can also match any discount that comes with the Canadian crude."

Instead of selling this oil to America, China will most likely be the buyer. China has been stated as the 'next investor in line' too purchase Tar-Sands oil if America does not approve the building of the Keystone XL pipeline. Unfortunately, even if America does decide to build the pipeline, the oil will be transported to China, "who want to use Canadian oil to feed their fast-growing market."

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2011/08/110819-keystone-xl-canadian-oil-and-chinese-market/

Why does this mater to OWS?

This is another instance of corporations taking president over the American people. In the event that the pipeline is built and the oil is shipped to China, the only people who will profit are those who own the oil, not the American people, who will NOT experience a decrease in gas prices.

2) The Pipeline WILL NOT provide a surplus of jobs for Americans.

According to a report in the Washington Post:

"TransCanada’s initial estimate of 20,000 — which it said includes 13,000 direct construction jobs and 7,000 jobs among supply manufacturers — has been widely quoted by lawmakers and presidential candidates.

Girling [TransCanada's chief executive] said Friday that the 13,000 figure was 'one person, one year,' meaning that if the construction jobs lasted two years, the number of people employed in each of the two years would be 6,500. That brings the company’s number closer to the State Department’s; State says the project would create 5,000 to 6,000 construction jobs, a figure that was calculated by its contractor Cardno Entrix.

As for the 7,000 indirect supply chain jobs, the $1.9 billion already spent by TransCanada would reduce the number of jobs that would be created in the future. The Brixton Group, a firm working with opponents of the project, has argued that many of the indirect supply jobs would be outside the United States because about $1.7 billion worth of steel will be purchased from a Russian-owned mill in Canada."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/keystone-pipeline-debate-heats-up/2011/11/04/gIQA824rpM_story.html

According to the only jobs study NOT funded by TransCanada, one funded by the Cornell Global Labor Institute, any jobs stemming from the pipeline’s construction were likely be outweighed by the environmental damage it caused. Interestingly enough, this research also included the possibility of a rise in Midwest gasoline prices because a new pipeline would divert that region’s current oversupply of oil to the Gulf Coast.

http://www.newswise.com/articles/contact-joe-schwartz-phone-607-254-6235-joe-schwartz-cornell-edu

3) The Keystone XL Pipeline WILL Contaminate our Fresh Water Plains! Nebraska is seriously at risk as a supplier of our global food supply. The proposed pipeline will cut across the Ogallala Aquifer which provides drinking water to more than 2 million people and also provides water for irrigation in the plains. In fact according to Esquire, "Twenty percent of the irrigated farmland in the United States depends upon it."

http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/ogallala-aquifer-6531527

And make no mistake, the Pipeline WILL contaminate the Aquifer. "In just one year of operation, the existing leg of the pipeline has had one significant spill and 11 smaller spills." This comes after Keystone made the announcement that the pipeline "would experience 11 significant spills of more than 50 barrels, or 2,100 gallons, of crude oil over a 50-year lifespan."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/11/keystone-pipeline-leak_n_894526.html

This Pipeline is a disaster waiting to happen at the expense of the American health, Mid-west gas prices, and 20% of our food supply. It is happening on the heals of companies which wish simply to make money for their investors. This deal will in no way positively affect the American people.

Help join the cause by educating yourself and others about what can be done about this pipeline. Congrats to anyone who was at the White House yesterday and witnessed history!

8 Comments

8 Comments


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[-] 2 points by Faithntruth (997) 12 years ago

Nice post...you made your points and supported them, and put out good information. Thanks!

[-] 1 points by lonespectator (106) 12 years ago

OWH on Sunday was overrun by a protest group against the pipeline from Canada to Texas.. Support for this coertion of the movement"Occupy the White House" was sanctioned in secret by the General assemblyOWS!! It has now become more than speculation that the DNC progressive wing has infiltrated the entire movement and the General Assembly,and that the President may be in the loop. Demand transparency!! You are being taken over in secret. Demand answers for what happened in DC Sunday!!

[-] 1 points by HarryCrew07 (433) 12 years ago

I'm confused? What are you trying to say?

[-] 1 points by HarryCrew07 (433) 12 years ago

This movement was in the works for months. There is no way that it purposefully attempted to "overrun" any sort of occupy movement. I would guess that about 99% of the people at the White House supported the occupy movement, and saw this action as a part of the occupy movement. In fact, many of the protesters spent the day learning about occupy DC at their two encampments.

Not sure if that is what you were trying to say though?

[-] 0 points by raines (699) 12 years ago

0bama and his owners are are behind ows.

[-] 0 points by TIOUAISE (2526) 12 years ago

"This is another instance of corporations taking president over the American people." Did ou mean "taking PRECEDENT"?

[-] 1 points by HarryCrew07 (433) 12 years ago

whoops! Big typo, my bad!!

[-] 0 points by TIOUAISE (2526) 12 years ago

You can correct it easily through "edit"... :)