Is Your Bank Funding DAPL? Here’s How to Find One That Isn’t YES Magazine
*Biggest Demonstration; Planned In Washington DC, For Standing Rock. March 7th Through 10th. The Indigenous Peoples News
Lakota People's Law Project The Lakota People's Law Project is a project of the Romero Institute, a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Santa Cruz Ca. Facebook
A coalition of over 130 investors; representing over $685 billion in assets under management, called on Banks, financing the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), to address or support the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's request, to reroute the pipeline and avoid their treaty territory.
Jan 24, 2017 Donald Trump takes executive action toward an approval of an easement for the Dakota Access Pipeline, risking contaminating Tribal and American water supplies while disregarding treaty rights.
“The existing pipeline route risks infringing on Treaty rights, contaminating Tribal water and the water of 17 million Americans downstream,” said Dave Archambault II, Chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.
“We are not opposed to energy independence. We are opposed to reckless and politically motivated development projects, like DAPL, that ignore our treaty rights and risk our water.
Read full statement from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Read full statement from Earthjustice.
Understanding the Environmental Imapct Study (EIS), Process
First, Trump’s “executive order” did not automatically approve the pipeline (and it’s actually just a memo to the Army). First and foremost, the EIS process is still active.
*Environmental law - or "environmental and natural resources law" - is a collective term describing the network of treaties, statutes, regulations, common and customary laws addressing the effects of human activity on the natural environment.
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Press Release The Tribe will challenge any easement decision on the grounds that the EIS was wrongfully terminated.
The Tribe will demand a fair, accurate and lawful environmental impact statement to identify true risks to its treaty rights, including its water supply and sacred places.
*Updates & Frequently Asked Questions The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s Litigation on the Dakota Access Pipeline
An Environmental Impact Statement, as required by The National Environmental Policy Act, is a thorough community participation process involving several rounds of public input.
GreenPeace Why Trump’s Dakota Access and Keystone XL pipeline plans don’t add up. February 1, 2017
Earthjustice; Reversing the Army Corps, Dec 4 decision is,
arbitrary, capricious, unlawful, and will, be challenged, in Court.
The government has made a considered decision that this pipeline needs more review.
Federal Courts have established, that federal agencies cannot arbitrarily change policies and ignore previous findings simply because a new President has taken office. Read full statement from
Earthjustice.
US Army Corps of Engineers, North Dakota Regulatory Office
1513 South 12th Street
Bismarck North Dakota 58504
phone 701-255-0015 fax 701-255-4917
President Trump said he hasn't received one call, complaining about DAPL.
That's because he closed the White House comment line.
We can still email him. Let Mr Trump Know How You Feel About DAPL-Email Link
Let’s make sure he knows how many people object to his decision to illegally fast-track the Dakota Access Pipeline. White House Comment Line Closed 202-456-1111. The line was closed when I called.
No DAPL Last Stand
#NoDAPL Last Stand Tribe to Sue as Actions Planned Nationwide Wednesday, February 08, 2017 by commondreams.org
On the morning of Feb. 1, a group of water protectors established a new camp, Last Child Camp, on higher ground west of HWY 1806, which is contested treaty land.
Lakota activist and Lakota People's Law Project (LPLP), attorney Chase Iron Eyes spoke with law enforcement officials at the barricade before returning to camp, where he was later arrested and charged with "inciting a riot,"a class C felony with a max sentence of five years.
This video is a recap of the day and some of the wisdom Chase had to impart about this treaty stand.
Please consider DONATING to the legal defense fund to support Chase and Vanessa Castle's cases: lakotalaw.org/...
#NODAPL
Records Show History of Safety Violations for Dakota Access Pipeline
Pipeline Leaks/Spill History
The EIS was ordered on December 4, 2016 by Assistant Secretary of the Army Jo-Ellen Darcy, and on January 17, the Army Corps filed a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register to begin the scoping process for the study, for which a public comment period is currently open.
Granting the easement now, would illegally, circumvent the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process and allow the company to begin drilling immediately.
Law enforcement continues to build their presence in Standing Rock and crack down on the camps as the company anticipates the granting of the easement.
Scheduled For Feb 22-US Army Corps Gives Eviction Notice to Dakota Access Protest Camp The Indigenous Peoples News
Greenpeace Facebook / Twitter
Executive Order
Executive Orders 101 The National Constitution Center constitutioncenter.org
An executive order is an official statement from the president, about how the federal agencies he oversees are to use their resources.
It falls under the broader umbrella of “executive actions,” which derive their power from Article II of the Constitution and it is the most formal executive action.
Executive actions also include presidential memorandums (which are a step below executive orders and basically outline the administration's position on a policy issue), proclamations and directives.
An executive order is not the president creating new law. That takes a majority vote from Congress.
An Executive Order, it is the President instructing the government how it is to work within the parameters that are already set by Congress and the Constitution.
Urgent Action: Ask Congress to Speak Out, Against DAPL being green-lighted. lakotalaw.org
Please send a message to your representatives in the House and Senate that we, the people, do not accept the illegal fast-tracking of the Dakota Access Pipeline through sacred lands without diligent environmental oversight previously requested and promised.
Contact your representatives now. Ask Congress to Speak Out Against DAPL.
BREAKING Members of the Senate and House Natural Resource Committees issue letter in OPPOSITION to the approval of Dakota Access's easement on grounds of environmental protection and tribal sovereignty.
For Immediate Release
February 7, 2017
*Senate, House Natural Resource Leaders Blast Dakota Access Pipeline Decision, Stand up for Tribal Sovereignty and Treaty Rights
Members of Congress: “We strongly oppose this decision and any efforts to undermine tribal rights.”
WASHINGTON, DC –
In a letter to President Donald Trump, members of the Senate Energy
and Natural Resources Committee and the House Committee on Natural Resources blasted the Trump Administration’s approval of a final easement to build the Dakota Access Pipeline.
(DAPL) and their failure to undertake meaningful consultation with Native American tribes.
“This blatant disregard for federal law and our country’s treaty and trust
responsibilities to Native American tribes is unacceptable. We strongly oppose this decision and any efforts to undermine tribal rights,” the Members of Congress said in the letter.
“We urge you to immediately reverse this decision and follow the appropriate procedures required for tribal consultation, environmental law, and due process.”
Earlier today, the Army Corps of Engineers announced they had completed the review of the pipeline and had granted a final easement to Dakota Access LLC, allowing the final segment of the DAPL to be completed. The decision circumvents appropriate consultation with Native American Tribes and the Army Corps environmental review process.
This pipeline is projected to carry 500,000 barrels of oil underneath the Missouri River per day.
The oil crosses the river at Lake Oahe, just a half mile from the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation.
*Lake Oahe and the Missouri provide drinking water for the tribe and the surrounding regions, as well as providing habitat for fish and wildlife.
*Significantly, the lake is also a sacred site for the Standing Rock Sioux, playing an important role in sacred ceremonies.
Signing the letter are Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee: Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Natural Resources Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-3), Rep. Donald S. Beyer Jr. (VA-08), Rep. A. Donald McEachin (VA-4) and Rep. Jared Huffman (CA-2).
The Full Letter
President Donald Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Trump:
As members of the United States Senate and House Natural Resources Committees, we write, to express our deep concern regarding the announcement made today by the US Army Corps of Engineers, that it intends to issue the final easement under Lake Oahe, for the Dakota Access Pipeline.
We strongly oppose this decision and any efforts to undermine tribal rights.
A number of us have repeatedly expressed our concerns with the tribal consultation and permitting process and have called for meaningful consultation with tribes and a substantive review of the environmental and social impacts as well as potential alternatives.
The
arbitrary and
capricious decision to grant the easement now ignores the rights of tribal governments, circumvents legal requirements, and stifles the voices of millions of people who have expressed concerns over the process to date.
In addition, it has been the policy of the Corps to wait at least 14 days between notifying Congress of its intent to grant an easement of this nature, and actually doing so. This decision violates that policy and circumvents appropriate congressional review.
The United States has both a legal and moral responsibility to uphold its tribal treaty and trust responsibilities.
Thank you for your consideration,
Published on Feb 2, 2017
Michael Wood, a leader of Veterans for Standing Rock, says his commitment to opposing the $3.8 billion dollar pipeline is rooted in his experience as a former Baltimore Police Sergeant and Marine Corp Veteran
"Harrowing News Out Of Standing Rock From Volunteer, Deborah MacKay - Warning: It's not pleasant. But you need to know this, and share.
What much of mainstream America hasn't realized yet is that this is not the land of the free anymore. Not a single one of us is safe. And it could be ANY of us if we don't stand as "one nation under God" NOW. Please spread the word and copy and paste.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
I have returned from Standing Rock with my mind blown, my heart broken and my spirit troubled with foreboding of a deepening tragedy.
Volunteering as a legal observer with the Water Protector Legal Collective I witnessed several confrontations between Water Protectors (WP) and law enforcement: national guard, sheriffs and private security (LE).
On 1/18/17 - 1/19/17 I observed WP with their hands in the air chanting “hands up don’t shoot” being fired upon at a range of 10 to 15 feet.
Tear gas canisters and rubber bullets ( rubber bullets are regular bullets covered in rubber) were used against unarmed WP who had been singing and praying.
I observed national guard chasing WP off the Backwater bridge, firing at people running away.
I heard people choking and gagging from tear gas.
I saw access to the WP medic vehicles being blocked.
I spoke with medics and WP who described bullets penetrating flesh and causing terrible injuries, including to one media person who nearly lost his finger when his camera was targeted.
I talked with a media person and was told of 4 media people on the bridge that night, 3 had their recording devices shot and the 4th, his hand. I saw a photo of a sheriff aiming a rifle directly at a media woman who was standing apart from the crowd.
I heard testimony of the back of the medic pickup truck being awash in blood after evacuating wounded.
I watched, and then, inadvertently became a part of, WP being forced off the bridge by national guard who were hiding behind WP vehicles parked along the road and firing rubber bullets at fleeing people.
Many people were shot in the back, the neck, the head. When LE fired at people at close range, many were shot in the face.
Driving away from the area on Monday I saw a convoy of construction vehicles heading to the drill pad. Last night an indigenous website live streamed reports of drilling and construction noises coming from the drill pad.
Without the eyes of a free press these attacks and trespasses continue, with the human rights and sovereignty of indigenous peoples denied.
The UN Committee on Transnational Corporations and Human Right Abuses was in Standing Rock this week to take testimony of the many transgressions against people: crop dusters spraying poison pesticides and fertilizers on the camps; hair samples indicating the presence of these chemicals; people who have been injured, beat up, arrested, strip searched; media and medics being targeted by snipers; (one medic told me he stopped wearing his Red Cross vest due to medics being targeted); praying people being attacked and the refusal of DAPL and our government to abide by the Rule of Law.
The Veterans who came in Dec, to stand down against these crimes need to be on the ground there now, right now.
We need to stand up for our Brothers and our Sisters, for their way of life and, I believe, for our social contract as a democracy which is now threatened.
Please share this so word gets out what is happening, thank you. This is copy-pasted. If you choose to share, please do the same."