Three simple reasons why I, an unemployed person, am opposed to the Keystone Pipeline
1. Oil spills are assumed.
TransCanada envisions a minimum of 11 serious spills in the region, once the controversial Keystone Project is built near the Ogalalla Aquifer. This is a lowball guess. The State Department predicts one every seven years. So, there is consensus that oil will be spilled.w Glad that is clearly delineated.
How will such an oil spill affect the 2 million people dependant on water from the Aquifer?
In a worse-case scenario, TransCanada expects it would take 19 minutes to shut down the pipeline in the event of a spill. Recent experience shows this to be inaccurate:
The Enbridge spill in Michigan took 12 hours and dumped over 800,000 gallons of oil into the Kalamazoo River and Talmadge Creek.
Exxon Mobil spilled up to 42,000 gallons of oil into the Yellowstone River after their pipeline was virtually severed. It took them an hour to shut down the pipeline, that fed oil into a river serving 6500 families along its shoreline. Many are sick and reporting illness such as acute hydrocarbon exposure.
Keystone 1 had 12 spills in its first year, prompting the claim that it was "Built to Spill."
Lots of rationalization going on by CEOs; these execs in oil towers could do nothing but Spin the story right out of the news, like, um, sorry, our projections were wrong, oh well. Jobs.
Sounds like it is inevitable that a pipe will leak near the Ogallala Aqufer, with over 2 million people dependant on its drinking water.
OH! Wait! I get it! All those projected jobs will be for construction workers, hospital personnel and doctors who will be needed to service the folk affected? Got it!
2. Benefits are limited.
TransCanada plans to run its vulnerable pipeline through mid-America, carrying its dense and dirty oil sands to refineries that will ship the oil out of the country with no tax benefits to the American people it endangers.
Yes, oil refinery Valero intends to send this oil overseas. Who in the heck cares about American dependency on foreign oil?
Why should Americans put ourselves out to benefit Canadians? Link to a photo showing what they have done to their own land in Alberta! It's despicable.
When our land looks like this property, recreation companies will be affected and farmers and fishermen. Instead of an increase in jobs, Americans will lose jobs as well as their health.
3. Jobs limited.
My final reason for opposing the pipeline is published in the linked report written by the Cornell University Global Labor Institute. This report claims that the promise of jobs for Americans is hogwash. Certainly there will be jobs created, but their number will be limited and their long term effect even negative.
Read the report and then argue with me. I am not going to summarize what has been carefully researched and put down by others who know what they are talking about.
TransCanada has reason to mask the truth. Are we dumb enough to believe their claims?
water sounds
Cornell University Global Labor Institute Report on Keystone XL Jobs
- Pipe Dream? Jobs gained Jobs lost by the construction of Keystone XL
This study refutes findings of the Perryman report on projected jobs. It shows Keystone XL having a negative effect on overall job creation, health and energy dependence will not improve.
Comments
I cannot thank You enough for writing this Mrs. Storyteller. We certainly have lots of really dirty oil here but that does not mean it should be dug-up, never-mind transporting it through pipelines across the continent. As You well mentioned, oil-spills are a matter of when not if.
Here's a great look at our tar-sands, not a pretty sight: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaig
Thank You for your support, from myself and from Greenpeace! All the very best.
Well, Sis, they can't give a hoot because they are far from wise. Little joke.
I was spammed from this site so I have taken off my email contact for now- I apologize. I will write you!
Dear StoryTeller ~ You got my attention on this one. Now if the populous of Ogallala Aquifer all stampede at once and knock on the doors of the legislature will that make a grand statement? Can a few good people make this happen. Put up placards, "STOP" "NO PIPE-DREAMS." Thank you for this information showing that those in power don't give a hoot for the people they pollute. Blessings to you my sister, Debby
I lost your email, please send.
Absolutely, FIS! Absolutely.
Necessity is the mother of invention. The only way we are going to stop being oil dependent is when we are forced to. Cutting ourselves off adds to the necessity factor. As we have less oil, we will devote more resources to finding alternatives. It does't matter how many jobs we create if we throw enough hydrocarbons into the atmosphere to make our way of life impossible. A lot of people these days want to talk about the legacy that we leave future generations. These people need to consider not only legacies of debt but also legacies of environmental degradation.
Eliza, I know we are oil dependent at the moment, but why destroy people's health for a tank of gas? Thank you for your comment- I am glad word is getting around.
I watched a documentary about this a while ago. Totally agree with you. The sand/shale mining model for oil extraction is very flawed. Tar Sands/Oil Sands, a very dirty environmental problem.
Max, I do not understand in the least how anyone would vote for this! Health versus jobs is exactly right. Thanks so much for your input.
Yes we can. Where fracking was used, the pollution generated made the water flammable. It is explicit enough for me to develop!
Can we point out fingers at desperate people?
Nice piece indeed. Somewhere in the memory compartment of my brain I thought that Canada took care of its biological and ecological wealth or was it the figment of my imagination?
I thought that our country was ours, that like the Greeks in the Agora, we were the ones to decide! When did we loose the power if ever we had it?
To pick between "jobs" and my health, I don't think twice. I have only one life. Ohio is experiencing this dilemma because of the possible exploitation of natural gas with all its consequences (fracking, pollution of phreatic zones).
Samsons1, I would be curious to hear more about this idea, fleshed out, to see how it might work and what Problems exist with such a scheme. Thank you!
Well written and interesting read. I wonder if anyone has seriously considered the idea of building refineries at our borders instead of transporting the raw oil across food producing areas. I believe the politicians are grossly misleading us on both sides of the issue. Voted up and interesting...
I am stunned Frank. Thanks so much!!!
believe it or not I found it powerful up and awesome :)
Bob, thank you for the read!
Bravo... well told Storyteller...
Bob
Uninvited Writer, you are so kind! Wow. I am touched.
Excellent information. I'm in Canada and all our politicians are upset but I'm glad the deal was turned down.
Storytellersrus 4 weeks ago
Thank you Mr. Happy! I understand the Canadians have rerouted the pipeline through Nebraska and are pressuring Obama to change his mind...