TARSANDS MARCH ST. PAUL MN
It was a great honor to witness the gathering of thousands of people June 6th, 2015 as a means to raise awareness of tar sands pipelines in America. One of the goals being to call out for the cancellation of the proposed Sandpiper oil pipeline that would travel near some of the state’s pristine waters.
I heard about the march from my friend Keya on behalf of the Indigenous Environmental Network. And yes, I drove to this March which is contradictory but I am meeting myself where I am at and making incremental changes in my life to be less dependent. Myself and I’m sure thousands of others are seeking change, seeking a sustainable alternative that protects the land and honors life in its many forms.
The gathering began near the Mississippi River Sunday morning, starting off with a prayer ceremony for the water and ending with prayer at the St. Paul State Capitol. It was not only a gathering with the human race in mind but everything that perpetuates life; the animals, the water, the plants and mother earth.
It was reassuring to see the people walk peacefully in prayer and protest. All ages and nationalities uniting with future generations in mind. To learn more about the TarSands Pipeline and the potential impacts on the environment visit tarsandsresistance.org and read the Star Tribune Article click here.
This post is part of my foraging blog as I am indeed foraging for life and this is a gathering which supports it. May more and more people continue to work together to bring about balance, restoration and harmony with this planet, our home.
“Activists from across the Midwest were joined by environmental leaders such as 350.org co-founder Bill McKibben, Sierra Club President Aaron Mair, Ojibwe “water walker” Sharon Day and Indigenous Environmental Network Director Tom Goldtooth in protesting tar sands, an unconventional and carbon-intensive fuel that’s found largely in the Athabasca region of Alberta, Canada. About 5,000 people attended the march, according to the Sierra Club’s Mark Westlund — making it the largest anti-tar sands march the Midwest has ever seen.
The main goal of the protest was to emphasize that the conversation about tar sands and fossil fuels was about more than just the Keystone XL pipeline, McKibben said on a press call in the leadup to the march.
That “Keystonization” means that Americans have started to protest multiple pipeline construction and expansion projects, including Alberta Clipper. Pipeline company Enbridge is in the process of increasing capacity of Alberta Clipper, which carries tar sands from Hardisty, Alberta to Superior, Wisconsin, from 450,000 to 570,000 barrels per day, with the ultimate goal of increase the pipeline’s capacity to 880,000 bpd — more than the capacity of Keystone XL.” (Katy Valentine)
The photos below speak more than words can say. It is my intention to be a mirror, to inspire and build a sense of community around our common desires for a healthy planet. Much gratitude for the hearts behind this good work.
References:
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/06/06/3666931/tar-sands-midwest-rally/
http://tarsandsresistance.org/
http://www.ienearth.org/about/
http://www.startribune.com/pipeline-protest-draws-large-crowd-to-st-paul/306373801/