Human Rights
The entire nuclear fuel chain involves the release of radioactivity, contamination of the environment and damage to human health. Most often, communities of color, indigenous peoples or those of low-income are targeted to bear the brunt of these impacts, particularly the damaging health and environmental effects of uranium mining. The nuclear power industry inevitably violates human rights. While some of our human rights news can be found here, we also focus specifically on this area on out new platform, Beyond Nuclear International.
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[See all of Democracy Now!'s coverage from Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Reservation, and related crude oil pipeline and Native American environmental justice coverage, here.]
[See all of Democracy Now!'s coverage from Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Reservation, and related crude oil pipeline and Native American environmental justice coverage, here.]
As reported by Democracy Now!:
On Tuesday, Donald Trump signed a series of executive memorandums to revive the Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil pipelines—two major projects halted by the Obama administration following massive resistance from indigenous and environmental groups. The Dakota Access project would carry up to 570,000 barrels of oil a day from North Dakota to Illinois. The Keystone XL pipeline would transport 830,000 barrels of crude every day from Alberta’s oil sands to refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast for export. Trump’s move sparked a number of emergency protests last night. Thousands rallied on Fifth Avenue near Trump Tower in New York City and outside the White House in Washington, D.C. More rallies were held in Seattle, Chicago and Los Angeles. This is actress Jane Fonda, speaking in New York City.
Jane Fonda: "We’re in a whole new era. When there’s a catastrophe that’s happened, we have to be out in the streets. I call him the predator-in-chief. And I say we must never normalize him. We must never legitimize him. He did not win the majority of American votes, and it was an election that was interfered with by foreign—by Russia. And there was a lot of fake news, and he should not be legitimized."
We’ll have more on the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines after headlines with Native American activist Winona LaDuke, water protector Bobbi Jean Three Legs, actress Shailene Woodley and filmmaker Josh Fox.
[See all of Democracy Now!'s coverage from Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Reservation, and related crude oil pipeline and Native American environmental justice coverage, here.]
As posted at the website of U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA):
Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement after President Trump signed new executive orders to move forward with the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines.
“President Trump’s executive actions to advance the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines are confirmation of his ‘oil above all’ energy agenda. President Trump says that he wants an ‘America First’ energy plan, but moving forward with these pipelines is all about putting Big Oil first.
“The Keystone XL pipeline would ask America to bear all of the environmental risk without actually guaranteeing that the oil would stay here to bolster our energy security. The Keystone pipeline would be a straw running through America to transport the dirtiest oil in the world to the thirstiest foreign markets. That is a bad deal for America, for our consumers and for the planet. President Obama was right to reject this pipeline. The Dakota Access pipeline would worsen climate change, violate tribal treaty rights and has the potential to cause more damage to sacred tribal land.
“President Trump is assembling a cabinet of Big Oil All-Stars. His foreign policy, energy policy and environmental policy are all linked by one thing – oil. I will continue to fight against these pipelines that would worsen climate change and put the interests of the oil industry ahead of the American people.”
Earthjustice, legal counsel to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in its resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), has issued a press release in response to President Donald J. Trump's memorandum, which attempts to revive and accelerate construction of DAPL, against the Tribe's will.
Earthjustice President Trip Van Noppen describes Trump's action as "legally questionable, anti-democratic, ethically suspect," and concludes "We will see his administration in court."
Earthjustice has published Trump's Memorandum at its website, for reference.
January 25, 2017