They Said the Titanic was Unsinkable, and the Pipeline Unbreakable

The company building the Dakota Access PipeLine(DAPL) has repetitively made assurances that there will be no spill from their efforts.  They dismiss the protesters concerns and have called for local and federal law enforcement in assistance to remove the obstruction to their plans to move forward no matter what.

However, in 1988 near Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania Ashland spill occurred, in 2010 BP spilled oil in the Gulf Coast, in 2013 there were spills in Arkansas(Mayflower) and in a field near Bismark North Dakota. This oil spill in the land covered the equivalent of 7 football fields.

In October of this year, 2016, spills occurred in Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.

And still this company stands with the comments that their pipeline won’t spill.  If that is true, wouldn’t it behoove them to sell their special pipes to these other oil companies that do no seem able to keep oil from contaminating the land and waterways of America?

Is the Federal government tracking the viability of these areas that have been compromised?  How is the water for Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia since the spill in 1988?  These are the states that reports show were impacted by the spill.

How is the water in the Gulf? When was the last time the water and wildlife tested?

Today, I am calling my Federal representatives both in Congress and Senate to ask HR5979 at their local office. This is the Energy and Water Research integration Act.  The one created in 2007 HR5189 requires a plan.  I’m going to ask where to get a copy.

Find out who your representatives are http://whoismyrepresentative.com.

I’m also going to contact EPA Donna Downing at 202-566-2428 and Army Corps of Engineers Stacey Jensen at 202-761-5856 both are listed in the EPA waters of the US Rule documentation.  I will update this page if these contacts have changed.

Instead of repeating that their pipeline won’t break which is unrealistic bearing that other pipelines have failed, offer a plan for containment and clean up would be more reassuring as well as more believable.

Why is George Zimmerman Still at Large?

We need to change the law.

In 2005, George Zimmerman assaulted an undercover police officer.  Charges were dropped when he entered an anger management program.

In 2012, George Zimmerman shot an killed an unarmed minor, Trayvon Martin . He was acquitted of second degree murder. We take his word that he feared for his life.

In 2013, 2015 and 2016 police were called out for domestic and public disturbances involving Mr. Zimmerman.

In 2014 Mr. Zimmerman was in an altercation with Matthew Apperson who has received a sentence of 20 years in prison for attempted second-degree murder. We take Mr. Zimmerman’s word over Mr. Apperson’s word.

Has Mr. Zimmerman completed the 2005 anger management program? Why were the charges of this early if not first encounter dropped?  Wouldn’t it have been better to tie the completion of the program to probation? At the least, can’t we have Mr. Zimmerman attend anger management classes again?

As long as George Zimmerman is out walking the streets, there will be reports of some kind of violence. When will he be held accountable for his actions? And others like him?

 

A Letter to All Faith-based Peoples

Dearest Beloved,

Is not your deity(s) greater than anything in this world? Does this not include leaders?

Have you been praying? How is your faith? I encourage you to keep praying. For yourselves, your loved ones, the Earth and those that have leadership responsibilities.

Encourage others to have hope, show them the way to peace and love and a better way.

It will be OK.  Not because I say so, but because there is something greater to turn to. We are not alone.

Love always and forever,

Laura