I didn’t think any one would show up – the Washington DC’s rally to stop the Keystone XL pipeline was already underway with nearly 40,000 participants and we beautiful sunny LA day… [Catch a first hand DC account by Diane MacEachern on Big Green Purse.]
At first only a few held tightly to the black pipeline signs, then the buses and BUSES of caring citizens arrived to march in solidarity along side us and in step with the other nationwide rallies. Even groups from Orange County turned up, which is one of the most ungreen, unprogressive counties in the nation.
Eventually a coalition of 90 groups ditched their Sunday services, the beach, and family outings to stand in front of the LA city steps and make their voices count — to stop the Keystone XL Pipeline and end tar sands ground zero destruction. When you see what “unchecked business” has already done to Canada (video below), you really have to wonder about the morals and ethics of those making the decisions on all climate change issues.
The Keystone pipeline is not only a bad idea, it has become a symbol of everything that is wrong with fossil fuel policies. Just looking at the destruction required to scrap a little oil out of the tar sands would make any parent put their hand over their child’s eyes, but then to know that the “fossil fools” want to pipe that sludge across America and risk polluting America’s land and water… What are they thinking???? It’s not as if pollution couldn’t happen, just ask those in my former hometown of Kalamazoo, MI — two years after that pipeline leak and they are STILL trying to clean up the nation’s costliest mess.
What about terriorism? It wouldn’t take more than a guy with a pickup truck of fertilizer to blow a hole in the pipeline. Now we have a mess, an energy problem, clean water issues, and probably another “war” on home turf. That’s progress.
Meanwhile Australia, Germany, and even little Costa Rica are off to the renewable races with Costa Rica using 95% renewal energy. These countries are creating new jobs and their energy will cost less and less each year. It can be done.
Nothing matters more than a livable planet.
There are many movies on this subject, but this 11 minute video captures the top issues the best.
Go here if you can’t see the video below. Then post, tweet, and Facebook your thoughts or leave a comment below.
Yes, the “stop climate change” movement is bi-coastal! Actually, it’s bigger than that – it’s global, and needs to be, given the magnitude of the problem and the need for all of us to pitch in and fix it. Thanks for doing your part in LA, Mary!