If you're heavy into politics, environmental issues, or maybe even just heavy in social networks, I can gaurentee by now you've seen the hashtags and triggering pictures and/or videos of the ongoing struggle taking place at the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota. Hundreds of protestors are standing their ground against both Dakota Access LLC (Energy Transfer Partners) and the militaristic police presence. The police force in this area have ordered and deployed vicious assaults against the peaceful protestors in the form of attack dogs, rubber bullets, tear gas, and more harmful tactics to hurt the more than peaceful natives in the area. Though if you are unaware, let me be a guide in shining some light on the situation. So what exactly is the Dakota Access Pipeline?
The Dakota Access Pipeline Project is a new approximate 1,172-mile, 30-inch diameter pipeline that he Dakota Access pipeline is proposed to transport light, sweet crude oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota and Iowa into Illinois, traveling through 50 counties in 4 states. (Pipeline Facts) Also, proposed to be not only cost efficient but the "safest" solution as well. So what's the uproar all about if it's the safest solution to transfer oil between these 4 states? The truth is, it isn't safe at all.
The Dakota Access Pipeline is opposed because of several reasons. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe stated in their filed complaint in federal court that “The construction and operation of the pipeline…threatens the Tribe’s environment and economic well-being, and would damage and destroy sites of great historic, religious, and cultural significance to the Tribe.” (Sioux Tribe's Official Statement) Based in Fort Yates, North Dakota, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is a federally recognized Indian tribe, a successor to the Great Sioux Nation. Other Native American tribes and nations have joined its efforts.
"We have laws that require federal agencies to consider environmental risks and protection of Indian historic and sacred sites," Dave Archambault II, the elected chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, said in a statement. "But the Army Corps has ignored all those laws and fast-tracked this massive project just to meet the pipeline's aggressive construction schedule."
The construction of DAPL would disturb the environment and very possibly contaminate the natural water sources that the locals rely on. In addition, many feel that resources would be better spent investing in alternative energy sources.
So what can we do to help without physically being with the protestors in North Dakota? Donate! Donate! Donate! Below are some links that I found floating around Twitter and Tumblr. I stand with Standing Rock, do you?
- Purchase From The Sacred Stone Camp Amazon Wishlist
- Donate to The Sacred Stone Camp GoFundMe
- Donate to The Sacred Stone Camp Legal Fund
- Purchase From The Standing Rock Medic & Healer Council Amazon Wishlist
- Donate To Standing Rock Medic & Healer Council Directly and/or Purchase From Their Current List of Needs
- Donate to Sophia Wilansky’s GoFundMe, she was severely injured by police at Standing Rock and will require many surgeries.
