Tuesday, November 8, 2011

XL Pipeline Timeline of Decertification

From Public Citizen, who fights for our rights, public and safety when you - and me - sometimes take a breather.

GREAT PROGRESS! Thanks for helping and being involved if you have.

"Check out the timeline below for the key moments in the declining certitude of the Keystone XL pipeline.

June 2011
The State Department’s comment period for the project’s Environmental Impact Statement closes. Hillary Clinton implies the project will be met with approval.

August 20 – September 3
A two-week sustained protest is held in front of the White House, resulting in 1,253 arrests.

August 26
The State Department issues its final Environmental Impact Statement, concluding that the proposed 1,700-mile pipeline would have “no significant impact” on the environment and recommending that the project move forward.

August 30
A White House press corps reporter asks Press Secretary Carney whether President Obama was aware of the White House protests. Carney responds, “I haven’t talked to him about it.”

September 2011
Documents released through the Freedom of Information Act reveal a cozy relationship between TransCanada, the company behind the pipeline, and the State Department, as well as a glaring conflict of interest between TransCanada and Cardno Entrix — the firm hired by the State Department to prepare the pipeline’s Environmental Impact Statement.

October 5
Senator Harry Reid pens a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in which he calls the proposed project “unsustainable” and “dirty.”

October 5
A lawsuit is launched against the State Department for allowing TransCanada to clear a 100-mile corridor in Nebraska.

October 7
The final round of public hearings concludes in Washington, D.C. Hundreds register to speak out against the pipeline and more than a thousand participate in a rally outside the hearing.

October 26
Fourteen members of Congress call for an investigation into possible conflicts of interest in the pipeline review, including Cardno Entrix’s role in the process.

The thousands of people that it will take to complete the circle around the White House will send a powerful message that simply can’t be ignored.

October 31
The Nebraska Legislature opens a special session to consider changing the law to give the state more control over the Keystone XL and other major oil lines. TransCanada promises to file court challenges if Nebraska tries to intervene.

November 2
During a visit to Nebraska, reporters put Obama on the spot about the pipeline. The president states that he, not the State Department, will make the final decision on the pipeline — representing his first public comment on the proposal.

November 5
TransCanada admits that it has grossly misrepresented the number of jobs the controversial pipeline would create.

November 6
The Encircle the White House action draws more than 10,000 people to Washington, D.C., to protest the Keystone XL pipeline.

November 7
The State Department’s Inspector General announces that he will launch an investigation into wrongdoing in the department’s review of the pipeline.

Thank you for your interest in this issue. We will continue to keep you informed and offer new opportunities to challenge this proposal and work toward a clean energy future."




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Sunset, Venice 12/20/2012

Sunset, Venice 12/20/2012
I've been thinking some about the Winter Solstice, the Mayan end of the 30,000-year-cycle on 12/21/12.

What if in fact the world did end? Even though this probably will not happen, to live consciously it is honest for us to take a bit of an inventory.

Am I happy with how I've lived my life? (Yesterday, I thought mostly yes, with some areas for improvement, as below.) Are there changes I would make?
Would I have tried to forgive those that were hostile or disappointing to me?
Would I spend more time with those I loved the most, telling them that, feeling that more?
Would I be happier, grateful for what I have, what I've experienced, the joy, the beauty in this world?

Maybe the answer is yes to all of the above.
So this time can serve as a point of rebirth for all of us. If we think about it.

Because somewhere along the line I realized I think maybe mankind deserves it. !
The way we are killing each other, killing the planet.
How selfish we are, and snotty to those around us. Petty, competitive. Why is this? Do we have to behave this way? (I say no, it greatly detracts and misdirects energy from the full-time celebration in which we could engage, the great multi-cultural, multi-rhythmic dance we can sustain here.)

Maybe God or the Great Universe is fed up, and will pull the rug out from under us.
Don't think I can say we could blame Him/Her/It.

But it probably won't happen. (Probably not! This time.)

Still we are finite on this ride.

It is a time to think, am I happy with how I've lived my life?
Hopefully most of us can say yes.

For the part of us that have a little worry, a little sadness....
This is the time to be present.
This is the time to be the person you want to be, that can die at peace, that can hope to every day be able to look yourself and the Universe in the eye and say, how beautiful, smiling, and thank you. Let's do that.

Antidotes to Violence, a.k.a., Take Charge of Where Your Head's At - here

Tell Congress to Strengthen Gun Control Laws NOW - here

Good News & Brain Food News -
Christians & Muslims Gather, for Peace here
Good News - Top RIO+20 Summit Posts here
The 'Busy' Trap - NYTimes.com
here