We look back at this video and wonder...what has changed? NOTHING. Fast forward to 2016 and here we are again. I don't know about you, but I know people that are worried about their drinking water, environmental damage and the water table, etc. But, day in and day out they go to work and back, pick up their kids from football practice, come home and make dinner. And then, if they are lucky, get a half an hour to watch a show on cable, a favorite YouTube channel or catch the mass media news report. How can we keep track of everything that's going on? Luckily, with the way the internet has brought about the streaming of information, we don't have to resort to the scripted cable news channels to help us find our way. Let me help you get a jump start....
The people of the Dakotas are vehemently protesting the DAPL(Dakota Access Pipeline). Why? Do they just have nothing to do but leave their homes and go on a never ending camping trip in the middle of Dakota prairie land? Well, it's more serious than that. We all know that over the last couple of decades there have been horrendous oil spills all over the globe and in our country. All we have to do is look to Exxon Mobile in the Pacific/ Kalamazoo, Michigan/ Florida, Louisiana, Alabama.
"An environmental threat they could not have foreseen", says Pam Bondi, the Florida Attorney general back in 2010.Really? Couldn't have foreseen that? Well, maybe we we're all just ignorant back in 2010, but I don't think so.
So in 2016, are we any less "ignorant"? We watch the DAPL protests and people and tribes flocking to the area, and I think we understand the implications. We understand that not only is it ONE MORE SLAP IN THE FACE to indigenous people, but it is a threat to everyone in the U.S. Hey Bismark...why didn't you guys want that pipeline over there?
But that's not all! The U.S. government made treaties[1] with the Indian people and they are directly violating those treaties by trying to say that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has the right to grant access to that area of land. Is that really the point though? The U.S. government also promised us that we were NOT going to create new infrastructure in the areas of energy unless it was moving us towards sustainable, renewable, clean energy. Are they lying in our faces?
Obama said 8 years ago, that within 10 years time we were going break our addiction to oil. But, did he really mean oil from the Middle East and Venezuela. Riiiiight.
They promised that only existing infrastructure would be renovated. This would be a good thing, right? Repairing existing infrastructure would prevent oil leaks, catch existing leaks, and provide needed job contracts. All the while, this supports our energy demand while we start building new infrastructure centered around clean energy and transitioning the grid over.
Could these energy companies lead the way in this charge? Could they provide ethical services and still make enough profit to make it worthwhile? Unfortunately, the most traditional way to achieve this is government contracts, regulations and involvement. But, we can also be involved in supporting clean energy at the local level. All it takes is for us to search our local county on the internet and start from there and work your way up, Up, UP. If I want to see whats going on, I search Bradford County, FL and I click the link to the government website. Immediately I see the board meetings and that there is a link to a phosphate mining issue in my area. Next, I could go to the state website, searching 'State of Florida' and I see a link to myflorida.com. What are we spending our budget on? What House Bills are going through? There is literally a link called, "Bills this Week".
If you feel like you don't have a voice, yes, protest. Yes, go to the places that are involved with the destruction of your ground water and natural resources and let them know how you feel. Write to their CEO's, call the media. YES, we need that media coverage to let others know what is going on. But, also stand up for yourself in real tangible ways. What is the first thing citizens do when an injustice occurs? Call the police, right? They are an arm of the government. They enforce laws and regulations! Where do you think those laws and regulations come from? YOUR GOVERMENT. These people are representing you. You elected them. Make them do their job and hold them to the oath that they took to take the offices they hold. Be an example to your children and show them how it'e done. Do you really think that the schools are going to do that for you? We have to be involved. We have to talk to our communities. Change begins with YOU. Stop waiting for change and BE the change.
Currently, a supreme court judge placed a temporary stay on the construction of the DAPL (Dakota Access Pipline) on September 7th, 2016. Write to him! Thank him for supporting the effort, even in this small way, it buys time for the attorneys that are working on the fight for us and our children to have clean drinking water and holding the government accountable to the promises they made to us and the treaties they made with the Indian people of the Dakotas.
Also, find out who these people are that are running these corporations. They need to know that they are taking advantage of the government not keeping it's word and we are NOT going to stand by and watch.
THE NITTY GRITTY
Here are the links to the companies involved and their board of directors:
Click on people and see who they are!: Energy Transfer Partners http://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/companyOfficers?symbol=ETP.N
Who approved the DAPL? ; Iowa Utilities Board Here's there twitter!: https://twitter.com/iub_now
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Emails, phone numbers, 'contact us' and an Environmental contact!
http://www.usace.army.mil/Media/
North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Illinois
North Dakota Government
http://www.nd.gov/category.htm?id=71
Guess what? North Dakota is having a pride of Dakota day in the Capital on SEPTEMBER 15th! Why don't we just let them know how much pride we have in how they are allowing their state to ruin Indian lands, the environment and the drinking water of 4 states!: https://www.prideofdakota.nd.gov/events/PrideofDakotaCapitol/
South Dakota
Habitat Pays program: http://habitat.sd.gov/
State of South Dakota: http://sd.gov/government.aspx
Iowa
State Social Media and Contact Page
Illinois This states page is so large I went through it and highlighted affected agencies.
let them know that we want DAPL enecs and the U.S. gov't to know that IL will not jeopardize South Dakota, that directly affects the state of Illinois!
Governor Bruce Rauner
State Agencies
Offices of the Executive Inspector General
Commission on Environmental Justice & IL Environmental protection Agency: John Kim, email: John.J.Kim@illinois.gov
IL Conservation Foundation & Dept of Natural Resources, IL Endangered Species Protection Board, Habitat Fund Advisory Committee, Natural Preserves Commission, State of IL Rivers Council : George Sisk, 217-785-8693, email: gloria.williams@illinois.gov
IL Pollution Control Board: Tim Fox email 312-814-6085
Soil & Water Conservation Board email Craig Sondgeroth, 217-558-0014
SHOW OF SUPPORT & Request for Public show of Support to the DAPL Protest
List of environmental agencies in the United States with hyperlinks
Midwest Regional Indian Affairs
Water Resources
The Region's Water Resource Division works to assist tribes with water management or water encroachment issues, dams which are part of the DOI Safety of Dams Program, and reviews hydroelectric dams which may be impacting tribal resources. The Division also acts as a liaison for the Indian Affairs - Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development- Division of Energy and Minerals Resources Management.
Who is the justice who made the ruling in favor or a restraining order?:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_E._Boasberg
Assistant Attorney General John Cruden: https://www.justice.gov/contact-us
References:
1. The Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 guaranteed complete and total access, undisturbed access, [of the land] to the Great Sioux Nation of the Oceti Sakowin [Seven Council Fires].”
PermaLink to this blog article: http://kimberflipstheswitch.blogspot.com/2016/09/how-to-make-your-voice-heard-dapl.html
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