Kenny Bruno was in the second group arrested in front of the White House to protest the XL Tar Sands Pipeline. He was concerned because the first group which had been arrested on Saturday was still being held in jail when they had been told that there would probably be no jail time. They were given jail time with harsh conditions to discourage more participation from more activists. Although he and the others were prepared to be arrested on Sunday he worried that the others still interred including Bill McKibben would think that the jail time had deterred the Sunday participants.
Kenny's committment was strong and his resolve is deep so he was ready when he was handcuffed on Sunday not knowing what fate awaited him after the arrest. Kenny talks about the motivation for his action:
We’re not doing this because we’re mad at President Obama, but to show him how much we care. Despite the arrests, this is less of an angry protest than a pep rally aimed at pepping up the President.
What does make me angry is that this pipeline is a scam.
It’s a scam because the Keystone XL proponents – Big Oil and Canadian lobbyists - say the huge carbon emissions of tar sands production are being reduced, when actually they’re increasing.
It’s a scam because they say it will benefit US energy security. But the pipeline is designed to fulfill Valero’s ambitions to export diesel, and in any case US oil demand is dropping while domestic supply is strong.
It’s a scam because TransCanada says the pipeline will be safe, when its sister pipeline, Keystone I, has had 12 leaks in just a year of operation.
It’s a scam because Big Oil and Canadian lobbyists wildly exaggerate the jobs it will create, while ignoring the fact that the project could kill jobs by raising gas prices in 15 states.
It’s a scam because while we all agree that we need to get off oil, this project increases dependence on the dirtiest, highest carbon oil of all.
Mr. Obama can bypass the deniers by denying a permit for this scam.
And if President Obama does not stand up to Big Oil now, those practiced Corn Huskers for Clean Water will sit down in front of The Pipe before it can be laid. Next time they’ll be angry.
Oscar nominated director Josh Fox, Gasland gives his powerful support to the Tar Sands Action, a two week sit-in at the White House to show President Obama he has the support of the people to stand up to Big Oil.
And now word comes that The State Department is supporting the pipeline. The Environmental Protection Agency has blasted the two previous State Department reports for lacking critical information about the environmental impacts of the pipeline. Concerns over the State Department’s objectivity have also surfaced due to a former Clinton staff joining TransCanada as a lead lobbyist for the pipeline.
Please sign a petition requesting President Obama to reject the XL Tar Sands Pipeline
Join the White House sit-in here
You can take media action here.