In the past few months, I have been greatly concerned about the plight of the water protectors at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. Reading and watching videos about the effects an oil leak could have on the water supply, not to mention how the water protectors were being abused by law enforcement officers from multiple states, was heartbreaking for me.
But why should I be affected, you may ask, when I’m a middle-class college student who is not a person of color and lives in a major city? From a purely logical and objective standpoint, getting a more efficient source of fuel would probably at least improve the chances of oil prices decreasing in Chicago, my hometown. Oil basically runs the world, and so a city would certainly greatly depend on it.
I, personally, am not typically one to look at things objectively, though. I’m rather extremely empathetic at times, in fact.
I looked up both sides of the argument to try to get some perspective.
On the pro-pipeline side, they argue that it will more efficiently carry oil to where it is needed, that it is only a 30-inch-in-diameter pipe, and that they have technology to make sure it doesn't leak. From a general perspective, this makes sense. I will admit that. (Source: http://www.daplpipelinefacts.com)
On the protest side, the arguments connect to a long history of oppression as well as protesting many ethical violations. So, let us take a look.
- The pipeline is crossing sacred land.
- Pipelines often have leaked in the past so who can blame them for doubting the pipeline people.
- Going through the land is violating a treaty the U.S. has made with the Sioux.
- The treatment of the water protectors violates international law.
- Native Americans are already an oppressed minority in the U.S.
A part of the reservation containing 82 cultural features and 27 graves has already been destroyed by DAPL construction workers. For comparison, we wouldn’t like it if Arlington National Cemetery got mowed over to make room for a pipeline, or at the very least we might take issue with completely digging up the area.
Source: http://www.ecowatch.com/sacred-sites-standing-rock-2103468697.html
When oil gets into the water, it not only harms and kills wildlife living in the water but also gets taken to all waterlines connecting to the source of the spill, and therefore in all of our drinking water.
Source: http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/oil-and-chemi...
The 1851 Treaty at Fort Laramie stated that this portion of land belonged to the Plains tribes the government had put there:
The pipeline crosses the area of the Missouri river that crosses and surrounds the Standing Rock reservation. This was supposed to be the tribes’ “consolation prize” for having their land forcibly taken by settlers. Now they can’t even have that?
Source: http://www.ndstudies.org/resources/IndianStudies/s...
Amnesty International sent representatives to Standing Rock to investigate how the water protectors were being abused and arrested. They stated: “under international law and standards, arrests should not be used to intimidate or prevent people from participating in peaceful assembly. If individuals are arrested, they should not be restrained for prolonged periods of time, and should be treated humanely. They also added that invasive searches should only be carried out if absolutely necessary and not in a manner that could be considered cruel or humiliating treatment.” Their investigation found that these requirements were not being met, therefore this is, in fact, in violation of international law.
Source: http://www.inquisitr.com/3660089/amnesty-internati...
5) Nearby towns refused to have the pipeline go through them for the same reasons the Sioux don't want the pipeline going through them (it destroys the land and the water supply - which we all will be drinking from no matter where we live, by the way, because the pipeline is going through all the states in a straight diagonal line from around Standing Rock, North Dakota to Patoka, IL, straight through the Missouri and Mississippi). Multiple people on social media, many of them the protectors themselves including Shailene Woodley, the well-known actress who has taken up their cause, have said this, so I’m just going to leave links to that. The main point is, oil leaks are frequent and destroy the earth and water that people are trying to live on.
http://www.inquisitr.com/3660089/amnesty-internati...
From the almost complete genocide of Native Americans via colonization, war, and to this pipeline right now, Native Americans have dealt with a lot. ‘Nough said.
6.) A nearby pipeline has already leaked.
Source: http://www.sciencealert.com/that-thing-the-standing-rock-protesters-were-afraid-of-just-happened
7. It is not just the Missouri River’s connection to all other water sources that we have to worry about. The pipeline is supposed to cross all the states in a straight line between Cannon Ball, ND and Patoka, IL. If a pipeline break happens near Patoka or in Iowa, I go to school in central Illinois, just across the border with Iowa. I could be just as screwed as the people on the Standing Rock reservation.
Source: http://www.salon.com/2016/11/04/who-is-yesdapl-mee...
8. Winter is coming and supplies are running low. The DAPL people would rather have people freeze to death on top of being forced to accept their fate of poisoned water and destroyed land? That is inhumane. Period.
The pipeline company, Energy Transfer Partners, has stated that they will continue to pursue the pipeline even though it’s been halted for safety investigation reasons. Most likely, they figure they will take the fines and/or jail time required and Donald Trump will pardon them – though that is just my speculation.
Just because they can be pardoned, though, does not excuse what they are doing. From my personal standpoint, I would encourage all who read this to write to or call their congressmen and/or send supplies directly to Standing Rock as they are taking donations. Even if your congressmen are Republicans, they are there to serve the people, and so the people have to speak up. The pipeline, as it stands, and the treatment that protestors are receiving is inhumane and must be stopped.
This is my way of speaking up.
