Publictakeover's Weblog

Pipe Down

Here’s what Secretary of State Clinton and Canadian Foreign Minister Baird had to say about the Keystone XL Pipeline at a press conference two weeks ago:

SECRETARY CLINTON: We are reviewing TransCanada’s permit application for Keystone XL Pipeline to cross the U.S.-Canadian border. As you know, this includes analysis and assessment of multiple factors, as well as reviewing hundreds of thousands of comments that have been received during the public comment period. We are leaving no stone unturned in this process and we expect to make a decision on the permit before the end of this year.

FOREIGN MINISTER BAIRD: On the Keystone Pipeline, this is obviously tremendously important to the future prosperity of the Canadian economy. We had a good discussion about it, and I respect that the Secretary is the decider, so she listened respectfully. We’re pleased that there’s a – the recent announcement about the process, that there will be some public consultation, and obviously look forward to a decision on this. It is a very important project not just for our government, but I think for Canadians and the future of the Canadian economy.

It doesn’t seem as if they have any intention of delaying, let alone stopping the pipeline or the mining of the tar sands. This is the sixth day of arrests of nonviolent protesters at the White House over the permitting of this pipeline.

Even so, Bill McKibben wrote a hopeful account of his arrest in the action, citing the increase in publicity and activism resulting from it.

The New York Times printed an editorial against the Keystone XL, clearly setting forth the environmental dangers.

Then there’s this:

There’s no way the investors and their friends in the elected governments we’ve entrusted with oversight are going to let this get-rich-quick scheme get “blown up” for any reason, especially not environmental concerns.

This is more dire than coal, and possibly rates as the number one Global Security-Environment issue ever.