Since the beginning of this year when the North Dakota pipeline was approved, the controversy slowly began to build surrounding it's construction. This summer, the clash between oil barons and the public, officially reached its peak when peaceful protestors attempting to slow and eventually halt the building of the pipeline were met by force- and still continue to be. In a time where we know oil is not a long-term option, the expansion of such an environmentally destructive and unsustainable energy source is an unpopular choice.
While the creation of jobs and the ability to bring money into the state of North Dakota is tempting, there are clean energy options that are just as effective if not more at bringing in wealth and hiring workers. The pipeline will reportedly create 8,000 to 12,000 local jobs and although there will be safety procedures in effect to prevent spills, the hard truth is that catastrophe with such a large pipe is inevitable. Not every portion can be or will be as thoroughly improved or checked as it should, which is ironic as an oil spill is just as terrible to a company's name as it is to the wildlife that come in contact with a spill. Alternatives to oil that would bring in just as many jobs are renewable energy jobs. When looking at job income and responsible progress, the pipeline just doesn't make the risks feasible for more than four different states to assume.
The pipeline was designed to actually cross through Sioux territory land and the tribe doesn't want it anywhere near their sacred territory. As a nation, the United States has a history of taking advantage of the voiceless, especially Native Americans. This pipeline designed to run through the Sioux Nation's sacred tribal land is an abuse of power against a group of people that were robbed of their culture, humanity, and dignity by the United States government and cooperations in the past.To forget the past of this nation, is to become apathetic to our own people in the interest of money. There is no excuse to become blind to the negative social and environmental impacts of this pipeline. When progress is of a positive nature, the news surrounding it is also positive, but the same cannot be said about this topic. I typed in "North Dakota Pipeline" into Google, just to see the top information and here are the names and links to the top three stories: "Dakota Pipeline Protests: President Obama Tells Tribes 'You're Making Your Voices Heard'," the second was "North Dakota Oil Pipeline Battle: Who’s Fighting and Why," and the third is "The big fight over the Dakota Access Pipeline, explained".
Yes, large corporations have the resources to create media blackouts on ridiculously important topics such as this pipeline and that is why virtual media platforms such as The Odyssey are so important. Although the Obama administration has stepped in to halt the building, there is still no definitive fate over this project. In the meantime, it will continue to cause the North Dakota government money; they have currently borrowed over $6 million dollars for issues related to the pipeline and protestors.
