Many of us are starting to see posts on Facebook about “Stand with Standing Rock” and others relating to it, but because of the media and government ignoring this very important issue, few know the severity of it. The Standing Rock Tribe is one of the few Native American Reservations left located in North Dakota. The Dakota Access Pipeline which is planned to be built surrounding the Standing Rocks reservation will be transferring approximately 470,000 barrels of oil per day. The smallest spill can completely destroy the tribe's water source and the pipes run through the tribe's sacred burial ground. The federal government did not engage the Standing Rock Sioux Chief during the permitting process which is a requirement under federal law, and is now allowing the company to move forward with creating the pipeline.
Our country is in a shameful position where it has reminded everyone that we performed a genocide on the Native Americans, stole their land, and in 2016, still have little guilt to desecrate and destroy the small amount of what this group of people have left. The Chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe spoke with the United Nations to plea for the protection of the land that belongs to their Tribe. American Citizens are literally having to directly ask for help from other countries because of what our own state is allowing. That alone should make Americans realize that the state of our nation is no longer protecting its people. Right now is the time for everyone to stand up for what is right for a group of people we have almost entirely wiped off the planet, and to stand up against the harmful effects of oil that is damaging our earth.
If our government allows the destruction and intrusion of the Tribe's land and burial grounds, the oil and fracking companies will be able to come for whoever they want easily. There are so many who already have no drinkable water from fracking and other events that the Tribe could likely be facing should we keep allowing corporations to destroy our land because or government turns the blind eye? There is a war going on in our country and it isn't being televised because the more who join, the stronger it gets.
The Tribe, activists, and even a Black Lives Matter group have come to protest peacefully. The law enforcement and the pipeline's own “police” is attacking peaceful protesters with rubber bullets and pepper spray. If you have ever wanted to stand for something not just for the equality of others, but the planet, go physically stand with Standing Rock.Together we can make a bigger difference than any government or amount of money and we can really stop it. Forgetting that we the people are what makes America has begun to turn our nation into a monetary oligarchy where those with the most cash can do whatever they want. How is it perfectly legal for a company to be able to decide that they can take another property for their own purposes?
During January, the weather can get down to the negatives, not all the original protesters for health or work reasons will be able to stay, for this injustice to be stopped it is necessary for thousands of people to join this fight. Taking your vacation days at Standing Rock may not be similar to being on the beach with a drink in your hand but if you decide to go you will get to experience the passion natives have protecting their land, be a part of the historic event that could possibly determine whether a company has more rights than a human, and be able to know that you fought for the rights of Americans. Freedom and justice may not always be easy to maintain, but life is a hell of a lot harder without them.
