The tar sands pipeline is a way for oil companies to extract poor quality contaminated oil. Ship it to platforms in the Gulf area that will process it with the lower environmental regulations needed to make a profit on it, Canada won't let them pollute there. A pipeline is needed to do this and with the history of ignoring and covering up pipeline spills those in it's path are fighting to keep it from occurring.
Those that are fighting it are feeling the hard blunt edge of the corporate state as laws are used to protect corporations immediately while for the poor, civil suits must drag for years in court before relief is granted.
How can you be arrested for “trespassing” on your own land? Well, anything can happen when a multinational corporation comes in and expropriates your farm for their profit.
That’s why actress and activist Daryl Hannah has joined forces with East Texas ranch owner Eleanor Fairchild, 78, to stage a protest against Keystone XL construction on Mrs. Fairchild’s farm. The actress is intent on defending Mrs. Fairchild’s home and business, Fairchild Farms, a portion of which has been expropriated by TransCanada, for its toxic tar sands pipeline. The duo claim their action is inspired by our ongoing tree blockade happening on a neighboring property.
On Thursday afternoon, Hannah marched across Fairchild Farms with the ranch owner to block bulldozers from continuing to clear large swaths of Mrs. Fairchild’s land along the toxic tar sands pipeline’s route. Keystone XL will permanently bisect Mrs. Fairchild’s 300 acre ranch, which includes undeveloped wetland areas and natural springs producing over 400 gallons of fresh water per minute from her property. Hannah, whose outspoken anti-Tar Sands position dates back many years, expressed pride to be able to stand with Mrs. Fairchild who is watching her home and its delicate ecosystems be destroyed in front of her eyes.