#Repost @climatevegan with @repostapp
・・・
The #dakotapipeline is to run from North Dakota to Central Illinois. This would mean the pipeline would cross paths with the Missouri River, a route which would cut through the Standing Rock Sioux “Indian” Reserve which, according to the tribe, as well as over 200 other tribes would disturb sacred lands and burial sites. Additionally, the Water Protectors (the title of the protestors) are very concerned about the risk the pipeline poses to their water source. They point to a rising number of pipeline spills and the inability to detect small leaks, as justification for this concern. Indeed, the pipeline was originally to run through the state’s capital, Bismarck, but plans were changed once it was decided that doing so posed too great a risk to that water supply. A focus on these injustices (disrespect towards the land and traditions of Native peoples as well as a possible racist, colonialist bias which arbitrarily views other water sources as more important), which resonate with many Native peoples, as well as environmental activists, has created a global movement. And recently, the protests have received even more attention due to allegations of excessive police force via the use of intimidation tactics, pepper spray, tear gas, bean bag rounds, abusive language, etc., against those exercising their right to peaceful protest. Concerned about probable human rights violations, investigations by Amnesty International and a UN group are being conducted. Yet despite all this, North Dakota Emergency Services has been given 10 million dollars to combat the Water Protectors who show up with no more than their prayer circles, signs, sage, and voices. While this issue is far from black-and-white, what is simple is that we all have a right to clean water. After all, water is the creator of life, including our own. We are water.
#standingrock #climatevegan #humanrights #native #nativerights #racism #colonialism #ecofeminism #vegan #nature #environmentalracism #environment #environmentalist #climatechange #feminism