Advisory: Tribal Leaders and Indigenous Environmental Network to meet with US State Department to discuss alarm over proposed Keystone XL Pipeline

Media Advisory: Tribal Leaders and Indigenous Environmental Network to meet with US State Department to discuss alarm over proposed Keystone XL Pipeline

 

Washington DC, Tuesday, December 7^th, 2010, On the day of global action in solidarity with the protests at the UN climate talks in Cancun, Tribal leaders have joined in opposition to Transcanada Pipeline Corporation over the proposed Keystone XL pipeline. If built, the pipeline will carry dirty tar sands crude oil across US states, beginning at the Canadian border and extending to the gulf coast. Tribal leaders have expressed serious concerns about the environmental, human health and economic impacts of the proposed pipeline to the Ogallala Aquifer and tribal territories.

 

“I feel that the timing of this meeting between US State Department and US Tribes including the Oklahoma Sac and Fox Nation and Montana’s Fort Peck Assinaboine Dakota Nation, is a slap in the face, violating consultation policies with Tribal governments” say’s Marty Cobenais, pipeline campaigner with the Indigenous Environmental Network. “Secretary of State Hilary Clinton has already stated last month that she is inclined to approve the presidential permit for the Keystone XL pipeline. The Tribes we work with feel this is another example of the US government trying to fast track pipeline developments without thorough consultation, oversight and input from Tribes and stake holders.”

 

The meeting in Washington DC is set to take place while thousands of communities, farmers, Natives and youth participate in a global action for climate justice targeting the United Nations Climate negotiations taking place in Cancun, Mexico. The Indigenous Environmental Network is pressuring the US State Department to issue a supplemental environmental impact assessment (EIS) for the dozens of communities and Tribes along the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline route. This is a necessary step for affected communities to become informed on the accumulative impacts of this mega project.

 

For interviews:

 

In Washington DC:

Marty Cobenais – Indigenous Environmental Network – Pipeline Campaigner – cell 218 760 0284

 

In Cancun, Mexico – UNFCCC – COP 16:

Clayton Thomas-Muller – IEN Tar Sands Campaigner +52 998 108 0748

Melina Laboucan-Massimo – IEN Media team +52 998 108 0748

Follow IEN in Cancun: http://redroadcancun.com/

 

 

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Posted via email from Decolonizing Environmentalism