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The answer is clear: #KeystoneXL is NOT in U.S. National Interest

March 5th, 2014 · 1 Comment

Despite $100s of millions spent to obfuscate the issue, the reality of the Keystone XL pipeline is that it is NOT in the U.S. national interest.

Keystone XL will:

  • Increase climate risks
  • Worsen environmental damage in Alberta, CA, due to increased tar sands exploitation
  • Increase gasoline and diesel prices for most Americans
  • Hurt American economic competitiveness (due to increased pressure on US fuel prices and lower pressure on world oil prices)
  • Undermine our path to a clean-energy future
  • Undermine and discredit any U.S. efforts to lead on climate change issues internationally

Keystone XL will NOT have all the miraculous benefits claimed by the Koch Brothers, American Petroleum Institute, Faux News, Grand Oil Party elites, and other fossil-foolish interests.

Additionally, for Democratic Party interests, the answer is even starker: Approving Keystone XL will further enrich and empower those who are spending recklessly (thank you SCOTUS and Citizens United) to undermine American democracy. Not least of which is the Koch Brothers, who will likely benefit to the tune of $billions in additional wealth if Keystone XL is approved.

This point, of course, is not one that should sway the Department of State analysis of the project … but it should impassion you to add your voice to the discussion.

XL Pipeline “Public Comments”


Let your voice be heard by opposing the Keystone XL Pipeline.
The deadline for submission of comments is March 7, 2014.

Writing public comments in opposition to the presidential permit for the Keystone XL pipeline is easy. This is your opportunity to make your voice heard directly to the White House without interference by the media, lobbyists or the GOP. We have until March 7 to express our views on whether or not building the big tar sands pipeline is in the vital national interest of the United States.

In the past, public comments have absolutely made a difference. Please don’t delay as it is the last opportunity to affect this public debate. Submit your comments today … http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=DOS-2014-0003-0001].


For more helpful tips, please consult [“Tips for Submitting Effective Comments” http://www.regulations.gov/docs/Tips_For_Submitting_Effective_Comments.pdf] at [regulations.gov http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=DOS-2014-0003-0001], the website where you will be posting your comments. A

All of us should add our voices to the State Department comment period.

After the fold is an overview of some of the reasons and arguments that you might choose to make.

In short, the question the Department of State must answer:

Is Keystone XL in the U.S. national interest?

And, more briefly, the answer:

No.

With more complete explanations below, here are just some of the reasons why Keystone XL is a reckless, dangerous, and counter-productive project that should not be allowed to proceed.

In short, Keystone XL would

  • Contribute to increased greenhouse gas emissions;
  • Foster accelerated damage to one of the most important carbon sinks;
  • Create risks for water sources;
  • Facilitate expansion of the most destructive industrial project on earth;
  • Increase spill risks of extremely difficult to clean-up and damaging Dilbit in extremely sensitive ecosystems;
  • Divert resources from efforts to reduce American and global dependence on fossil fuels;
  • Threaten employment;
  • Damage economic performance;
  • Threaten American health;
  • Increase gas prices for much of the American Heartland;
  • Increase profitability of oil interests ripping up the boreal forests by taking money out of Americans’ pockets; and,
  • Damage American leadership around the globe as we struggle to mitigate climate change.

If this seems a long list, it is.

Despite the $10s ($100s) of millions spent on partial truths, disinformation, and propaganda, the fundamental facts demonstrate that this project should not go forward, that it is counter to U.S. national interest.

climate_hawkCrippling drought. Devastating wildfires. Superstorm Sandy. Climate has come home – and the American people get it.

The first step to putting our country on the path to addressing the climate crisis is for President Obama to reject the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. His legacy as president will rest squarely on his response, resolve, and leadership in solving the climate crisis.

Let us take a moment to ‘review’ the bidding as to why Keystone XL pipeline is not in the national interest.

Thus, a simple question as to Keystone XL:

Why not?

The Keystone XL pipeline would

Very simply, oil industry lobbyist claims to the contrary,

the Keystone XL pipeline is not in the U.S. national interest.

Tags: Energy

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