Senator Bernie Sanders along with 4 other senators have asked President Obama to a comprehensive environmental review of the North Dakota pipeline. This pipeline has caused an uproar in the Native American community and environmental community. The Native American community fears that the pipeline will destroy sacred grounds along with pollute local water. Environmental groups also fear the pollution of water systems. Both fear for the well being of of Lake Oahe and the biodiversity that calls it home. Sanders and Senators Dianne Feistein, Ed Markey, Patrick Leahy and Benjamin Cardin released a statement saying, "The project’s current permits should be suspended and all construction stopped until a complete environmental and cultural review has been completed for the entire project," Unfortunately, experts say that this request and, if granted, review, could take several months to complete.
I think that this project spells disaster from the get go. The Native American people have already been robbed of all their lands, religion and well-being so destroying their sacred lands would just add insult to a massive injury. It also spells for environmental disaster as it could possibly pollute water sources that both the local people and the local ecosystems rely on. Even if this somehow does not immediately have negative environmental impacts, it just adds to the odds of a catastrophe. Leaks or ruptures could lead us to a Flint, Michigan 2.0. Also, it is ironic to see one who lost the democratic nomination actually promoting change while our two presidential candidates are stuck on who said what and who deleted what. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-pipeline-dakota-idUSKCN12D1Z7
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Alex Garcia-Environmentalist Archives
December 2016
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