Other Pipeline Struggles
2017 2017-01Read it in the scan (PDF at ETOL), page 3 →
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Struggles against gas pipelines have erupted across North America, some a threat to Native peoples. New Jersey is facing a number of pipeline projects, including one that would cross the eco logically sensitive Pinelands area. The Sabal Trail Transmission, a $3.2 billion gas pipeline, would cut through Alabama, Georgia and Florida. In tiny Alpine, Texas, protesters are fighting another En ergy Transfer Partners pipeline.
In western Canada, the $6.8 billion Trans Moun tain gas pipeline is being built to carry oil from the Alberta fields to terminals in Vancouver, in ad dition to the $7.5 billion Enbridge Line 3 project.
Both projects are enraging Native Canadians.
On Jan. 6 in New York, the “Montrose 9” water protectors were sentenced in the Cortlandt Town Court by Judge Daniel McCarthy for “trespassing,”
i.e., peacefully blocking access to Spectra Energy’s Algonquin pipeline construction in November 2015. Each pled “necessary defense,” meaning that they had exhausted all other avenues to stop the reckless act of building a gas pipeline near the placement. DAPL is a textbook case of environmental racism and is in violation of international laws and agreements on the rights of indigenous peoples. Veterans arrive in Standing Rock Many attribute the timing of Obama’s Dec. 4 deci sion to the president’s fear of political blowback after 2000 veterans of Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan ar rived at the Oceti Sakowin camp at Standing Rock.
Upon his arrival , U.S. Navy veteran Brandee Paisano said, “I didn’t think I have to do it here, on this land, so here I am. This is what I need to be doing.” Army veteran Angie Seacrest said, “We want them to know that, though they may be feeling like they’re left out there alone, they’re not.”
The veterans often described themselves as “human shields” between cops and water protectors. The Na tional Nurses United Union sent $50,000 to fund the expenses of the “Veterans Stand for Standing Rock.”
On Nov. 1, Obama said that he would let the situa tion at Standing Rock “play out” for several weeks— that is, regardless of Native American rights. Obama’s cynical posture came just days after cops, DAPL’s private security goons—with links to the notorious security firm Blackwater—and the National Guard brutalized peaceful water protectors on Oct. 27, ar resting over 100 (see the November Socialist Action). Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton remained silent about the brutality.
Arrests at Standing Rock included the use of rub ber bullets capable of breaking bones, concussion grenades, water cannons in sub-freezing weather, tear gas, rifle-propelled bean bags, and—shades of Mississippi in the 1960s—attack dogs. Peaceful wa ter protector Sophia Wilansky may lose her arm after being hit with a projectile fired by police goons.
In December, vigilantes attempted, KKK style, to si lence Native Americans. In Bismarck, N.D., two white men in masks violently confronted a car driven by
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right Jewish Home told army radio that his party would ‘soon propose a bill to annex Maale Adumim’, a settle ment city east of Jerusalem.”
Zionists rain fire on the Obama administration Much of Israel’s fire has been directed against Barak Obama’s Democratic Party administration for this time failing to shield Israel from the wrath of international condemnation. Netanyahu charged that the Obama ad ministration “not only failed to protect Israel against this gang-up at the UN, it has colluded with it behind the scenes.” He indicated that he looked forward to working with Trump to negate the effects of the resolution.
A flurry of public attacks on Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry came from Israeli diplomats, U.S. Sena tors, right-wing blog sites, and lobbyists immediately following passage of the resolution. Morton Klein, the president of the right-wing Zionist Organization of America, was furious, proclaiming, “Obama has made it clear that he’s a Jew-hating anti-Semite.”
All this is taking place despite Obama’s recent decision to grant Israel its largest military aid package ever—$38 billion over 10 years! If despite this huge windfall, which will be used to expand Israel’s military occupation, any one still thinks that Obama’s actions at the UN makes him a defender of the Palestinian people, a closer look at the facts is warranted.
In a long line of U.S. presidential administrations that have staunchly backed the Zionist state, that of Obama is near the top of the list. Obama has done more to shield