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Can President Obama continue to act on DAPL? Are the
policies of the President elect a game changer?
By mickielynn on 2016-11-11 08:00:50
[caption id="attachment_9003" align="alignleft" width="400"]
Water is Life, From Gallery of Clergy support November 2 through 4, 2016[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9002"
align="alignleft" width="600" ]®.:No DAPL banner at protest camp just norht of Cannonball North Dakota No DAPL banner
at protest camp just north of Cannonball North Dakota[/caption] Dear Readers, I was going to write this second article about
the Dakota Access Pipeline anyway. With plans to include some additional background information and to update the
situation. But I really didn't expect to have to include what I consider a huge game changer. The surprising and (at least to
me) frightening election of Donald Trump to the presidency. First some information about Obama administration's plans to
meet nation to nation with indigenous people, the First Americans. Then some information about North Dakota's arrests and
charging of journalists for just doing their jobs. Last the very large (about 600 members of at least 20 faith traditions)
encampment and prayer and ceremonies and support for the Standing Rock protests. At the end we'll consider why it's
imperative that President Obama, the various departments of what will be the current administration's government for the
next 70 days, and the already derelict but hopefully redeemable Army Corps of Engineers take action immediately to deny
permits to the Dakota Access pipeline and to stop their current illegal, unpermitted_ actions. As one of the thousands of
people who signed a petition to the White House several months ago to protect the land and treaty rights of the Standing
Sioux tribe against the invasion of the DAPL, I recently received an answer to our request. Here's a statement of their
intentions issued shortly after the security service's abuse of unarmed, peaceful protesters. And here's an ongoing plan to
establish meetings with the tribal governments. If you're interested there are more links in the articles. Now of course it's
impossible to tell what the new President elect will do about these plans and policies. Leftover from the original article was
the information about how North Dakota tried to intimidate and punish journalists simply doing their jobs of reporting what
was happening around the pipeline resistance. The one that first came to the awareness of regular listeners, readers of
Democracy Now! was the failed attempt to charge journalist Amy Goodman with "riot." Although Amy was the most well
known and supported journalist to be so charged and also had an excellent legal team there were several other journalists
and documentary film makers who faced and still face draconian charges that could potentially result in 45 year sentences.
One such journalist is the well known documentary film maker Deia Schlosberg, Her story is told in the Guardian article
linked above. [caption id="attachment_8999" align="alignnone" width="300"]
lw iPress Freedom. Stop the harassment of journalists Press Freedom. Stop the harassment of journalists[/caption] [caption
id="attachment_9001" align="alignright" width="300"]
Hour
October 27th raid of site where protectors gathered to try and blo9ck the DAPL, photo by Jenni Monet for PBS News
Hour[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9006" align="alignnone" width="600"]
l».amy-goodman-on-the-set-of-democracy-now-in-ny-photo-by-evan-sung-for-the-new-york-times Amy Goodman on the
set of Democracy Now! in NYC, photo by Evan Sung for the NY Times[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9008"
align="alignright" width="600"]
lw.iDeia Schlossberg, documentary filmmaker facing 45 years in prison for documenting an anti pipeline action in North
Dakota on Coctober 11, 2016. Photo from the Guardian newspaper.
Deia Schlosberg, documentary filmmaker facing up to 45 years in prison for documenting an anti pipeline action in North
Dakota on October 11, 2016. Photo from the Guardian newspaper.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_8964"
align="alignleft" width="300" ]*./World Prayer for the care of Creation. Symbols of the world's major religions World Prayer
for the care of Creation. Symbols of the world's major religions[/caption] The final and very inspiring source of support was
the large gathering of clergy and allies from many different faith traditions who converged on Standing Rock between
November 2nd and November 4th. There are many excellent articles about this and here are a few links. First the call to
action written on October 25th. Then a good report about the actions. And another from PBS News Hour. Finally from the
point of view of a well known peace and justice clergyman who was there and described his own activities and feelings,
The Reverend John Dear. Here are a few selected photos of that amazing convergence: [caption id="attachment_9004"
align="alignleft" width="580"]
lw Niobara Circle of Life formed by visiting clergy. Photo by Lynette Wilson, Episcopal News Service Niobara Circle of
Life formed by visiting clergy. Photo by Lynette Wilson, Episcopal News Service[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9000"
align="alignright" width="580"]
lw Clergy from 20 faith backgrounds at Standing Rock, November 3, 2016, photo by Lynette Wilson, Episcopal News
Service
Clergy from 20 faith backgrounds at Standing Rock, November 3, 2016, photo by Lynette Wilson, Episcopal News
Service[/caption] [caption id="attachment_8995" align="alignleft" width="600"]
l#iClergy for climate call to action at Standing Rock on October 25, 2016 for November 2nd and 3rd demonstrations Clergy
for climate call to action at Standing Rock on October 25, 2016 for November 2nd and 3rd demonstrations[/caption] Now
here's what some might consider a "buried lead." The worries of those who consider rapidly progressing climate change
and all of its effects on the planet and on the lives of millions of people and billions of other living beings. It's the
uncertainty of just what the President-elect might be able to do to undo all of the work that our country has accomplished in
joining other nations of the world at climate summits. In an attempt to try to limit rapidly expanding and increasing physical
feedback loops that threaten our very existence. On the campaign trail during the past year and a half Donald Trump has
made the following statements. That he does not believe in climate change but considers it a " Chinese hoax." That he would
withdraw from the Paris climate accords. That he intends to reinstate the disapproved Keystone Pipeline. Trump has said
that he would approve drilling, fracking and resource extraction on public lands. That he would repeal domestic clean
energy plans, and renewable energy projects established during President Obama's second term of office. He's also stated
that he would encourage the continued use of coal as a source of energy. It's difficult to predict just how much of this he can
follow through on - if some of it requires legislative agreement. Unfortunately, because of the Congressional resistance to
many of President Obama's most environmentally friendly policies he has had to rely on Presidential orders to accomplish
his goals in cooperation with most other nations of the world. Presidential signing statements and orders can be more
easily undone than legislation. [caption id="attachment_9028" align="alignright" width="600"]
le Some effects of climate change from SNYFGP Some effects of climate change from SNYFGP{/caption] And there's
more! A series of conflicts with his own financial involvement in at least Soo companies in many different countries and
what such conflicts of interest could mean for Presidential policies. For now let's just consider his direct involvement with
the Dakota Access Pipeline. Trump Closely Tied to Energy Transfer Partners, Operators of the Dakota Access Oil
Pipeline We can't really wait until the new administration takes office but need to do everything possible to urge President
Obama to change the route of the DAPL and make sure that permits to drill under Lake Ohae and the Missouri River are
denied for good. While writing the previous article I read that the President was going to make a decision by November
17th. Now it's more imperative than ever that we try to stop this potential disaster of a leak into the water supply of
surrounding areas in five states. White House: 202-456-1111 or 202-456-1414. Army Corps of Engineers: 202-761-5903
And remember to join our local (Capital District) part of the national day of No DAPL demonstrations if you can. Tuesday,
November 15, 2016, 11:30 AM to 1 pm, Empire State Plaza, Underground Concourse Level, Albany, NY [caption
id="attachment_9007" align="alignright" width="600"]
\®.Donald Trump during his Florida campaign, photo from Democracy Now Donald Trump during his Florida campaign,
photo from Democracy Now! [/caption] [caption id="attachment_9035" align="alignnone" width="600"]
lw i(Climate emergency rally sign from September 2016. Food and Water Watch. Climate emergency rally sign from
September 2016. Food and Water Watch.[/caption]
