Take action to stop the Pipeline!
The State Department recently issued an environmental review of the proposed
Keystone XL Pipeline. Advocates are concerned that the review ignores the
far-reaching impacts the pipeline will have on wildlife, habitat, and climate
change.
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“Oil sands mining is licensed to use twice the amount of fresh water
than the entire city of Calgary uses in a year. At least 90% of the fresh water
used in the oil sands ends up in tailing ponds so toxic that propane
cannons are used to keep ducks from landing. Processing the oil sands uses
enough natural gas in a day to heat 3 million homes. -The toxic holding ponds
are considered one of the largest human-made structures in the world. -The
ponds span 50 square kilometers and can be seen from space.-Producing a barrel
of oil from the oil sands produces three times more greenhouse gas emissions
than a barrel of conventional oil.” - Environmental Defense Fund.
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Now,
it's up to us to make sure these impacts are considered before President Obama
makes his ultimate decision on whether to permit the Keystone XL Pipeline to be
built.
Despite all that its developers’ promise, the Keystone XL Pipeline offers very little benefit:
- Jobs:
According to the U.S. State Department the pipeline would create at most 3,900 temporary construction jobs.
TransCanada, the Canadian company that wants to build the pipeline, estimates
that only a small number of permanent jobs will remain.
- Energy
Independence: The pipeline will not decrease American energy prices because all of the oil produced would be available to the international market. This oil will not belong to the United States.
So what will we see?
- Increased risk of environmental disasters: The proposed 875-mile Keystone XL Pipeline
would cross more than 1000 water bodies, including 50 rivers and streams, and
several aquifers, including the Ogallala, which is the heart of our nation's bread basket. It would also come within a mile of
approximately 2500 water wells.
- Indigenous
Perspective: The pipeline is strongly opposed by the Native Peoples of both
Canada and the United States.
- CO2: A
Canadian think tank estimates that the process of extracting and refining tar
sands results in greenhouse gas emissions that are 37%
higher than conventional oil production.
The pipeline will certainly benefit oil companies financially, especially the TransCanada Corporation. Yet it
is Americans who will bear the risks of tar sands oil spills in our rivers and
our aquifers and the consequences of worsening climate change.
During
his State of the Union address, President Obama pledged to address catastrophic
climate change. Let us remind him of this promise and urge him to stand strong
for the environment!
Learn
more about the Keystone XL
Pipeline and access other opportunities to take action for the earth
through the UCC’s Mission 4/1 Earth
Campaign.
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Personalize the subject and text of the message below with your own words, if you wish.
- Complete the form below with your information.
- Click the Send Message button to send your letter to these decision makers:
- The President Donald J. Trump
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Dear [Decision Maker],
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Sincerely,
[Your Name] [Your Address] [City, State ZIP] [Your Email]
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