Keystone XL: Nebraskans uniting to fight pipeline

Latest

Nebraskans are fighting to protect the land and water from the pipeline. From left to right: Mekasi Horinek, Jane Kleeb and Art anderup.
PHOTO/BOLDNEBRASKA.ORG

 
The People’s Tribune interviewed Art Tanderup of Nebraska about the Keystone XL pipeline that has been approved by the Trump administration. In our May, 2017 edition, Art talked about the danger to the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest fresh water aquifer in existence.  In part two, Art refutes Trump’s claim that the pipeline will create jobs and emphasizes how the commonality of the need for water that unites the pipeline fighters across the political spectrum.
NELIGH, NE — The president talks about all the jobs the pipeline will create. Temporary construction jobs will bring people in but not jobs for a lot of local people.  Only 35 permanent jobs; none will be in any of the communities along the route.
A leak occurred last year on Keystone 1, in South Dakota, 75 miles from where I live. It just happened that the pipeline crossed a highway, and to get under the ground, had to be buried 30-40 feet. Thousands and thousands of gallons of oil and chemicals leaked out through pinhole type leaks which detection equipment missed. A local farmer found it when it surfaced in his field; it had been leaking since it was installed, over a very heavy soil, so did not get into the groundwater. It ruined this guy’s field. They hauled the dirt out of there. Had that happened on my farm, it would have all been on the Aquifer. Estimates are this could have been leaking for the lifetime of that pipe and it could have gone totally unnoticed. That’s where the jobs come in; people come in to clean up. The future is in renewable energy and that’s where the jobs should come in.
It’s amazing that our group of pipeline fighters come from every political spectrum. Don’t know how many voted for Trump, sure it was half. But we could not approach from a Democrat or Republican type thing. It had to be approached from “Let’s talk about water, our environment, our rights,” these are the things that draw people together and all on the same page. Because if we were not together as a group of landowners that pipeline would be pumping tar sands today. We have been networking (with other people) in states doing the same things. There are pockets of resistance, and the goal is to get them to come together.
To learn more on the resistance visit BOLDNEBRASKA.ORG.
To see part one of Art’s interview visit peoplestribune.org/

PT Logo collage
+ Articles by this author

Free to republish but please credit the People's Tribune. Visit us at www.peoplestribune.org, email peoplestribune@gmail.com, or call 773-486-3551.

The People’s Tribune brings you articles written by individuals or organizations, along with our own reporting. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors. Unsigned articles reflect the views of the editorial board. Please credit the source when sharing: ©2024 peoplestribune.org. Please donate to help us keep bringing you voices of the movement. Click here. We’re all volunteer, no paid staff.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Featured

‘I Am a Political Prisoner’ Says Jailed Immigrant Rights Activist

In this interview with Democracy Now, Journalist Maria Hinojosa describes her recent interview in an ICE detention center in Colorado with jailed immigration activist Jeanette Vizguerra.

War No More – Veterans Reflect on the Meaning of Memorial Day

Veterans for Peace say wars will not end, – and nuclear war will not be averted – unless there is a sea-change in the thinking of the U.S. people and our political leaders.

Harvard University Stands Up to Illegal Federal Government Actions

Read letter by Harvard President Alan M. Garner, about the University's stance on the Federal government's illegal actions to force Harvard to give up the school's academic independence and academic freedom.

Trump’s Big Cruel, Deadly Policy Bill is a Healthcare Heist

Outrage is rising against Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” that would give massive tax breaks to the rich while slashing Medicaid, nutrition, and clean energy. Some say 14 million people could lose health coverage.

Is FREE Electricity in our Future?

Electricity should be a right, free to all.  Yet, for-profit energy companies set prices to maximize profits to shareholders, even when users can’t afford the prices and suffer shutoffs.

More from the People's Tribune