Keystone would be way worse than we thought!
By Thom Hartmann A...
We already know that the Keystone XL pipeline is a disaster waiting to happen. But, it turns out that the impact of that tar sands pipeline could be even worse than we thought. According to a new study by the Stockholm Environmental Institute, Keystone could add four times more carbon pollution to our atmosphere than the State Department originally estimated.
EcoWatch.com explained that the State Department's Environmental Impact Statement only considered Keystone's effects on the US, as if oil consumption and carbon pollution somehow magically stops at our borders. The new report from Stockholm considered how the tar sands pipeline would reduce oil prices in the global market, and how those lower prices would effect oil consumption and pollution.
The authors wrote, “for every barrel of increased production, global oil consumption would increase 0.6 barrels [because of] the incremental decrease in global oil prices.” Although the final approval of the Keystone XL has been delayed, building this toxic tar sands project shouldn't even be a possibility.
We should be investing in clean energy and green infrastructure, not enabling further destruction of our environment. From job creation to so-called “American Energy Independence,” - every supposed benefit of the Keystone pipeline has been debunked. The only things we'll get from the tar sands pipeline are more pollution, more oil spills, more global warming, and more environmental disasters.
President Obama has all the evidence he could possibly need to reject this toxic pipeline, so there's no reason to delay. It's time for our nation to invest in a cleaner, greener future, and say “No” to Keystone XL once and for all.
Comments
#2
The single most effective tool we have to stop Keystone is to switch from internal combustion engines (ICE) to electric vehicles. It is counter-productive to complain about the horrible things the oil industry does, then drive to a gas station, fill your tank, and give them your money. As long as you demand their product, they will find a way to deliver it to you. They will kill your mother for money, so your whining about the environment falls on completely deaf ears.
EVs are affordable for all but the poorest of the poor. Used LEAFs and Volts can be bought for under $15K, and the cost of operating them is 20% that of ICE vehicles.
When you make the switch, you'll stop polluting the environment, you'll stop creating a need to fight wars over oil, and you'll stop funding your enemies.
Since the modern era of EVs started 3.5 years ago, over 220,000 plug-in cars have been sold. The growth rate surpasses that of hybrids. But we need to adopt this technology at a much faster rate. Those of you who believe in Thom Hartmann's message should be the first to stop buying oil products. Do it now!
#3
Keystone reminds me so much of the crisis with GMO's--both are being sold to the public as panaceas: tar sands will give us energy independence (even though most oil will be exported), cheaper gas, and JOBS!! GMO's, their supporters tell us, comprise a critical element in feeding a hungry and ever-expanding population. Yet a closer look instantly reveals that extracting, transporting, and refining 'bitumen' is an energy sink hole fraught with danger at every step of the nefarious process. It has already destroyed hundreds of thousands of acres of boreal forests--the lungs of the earth and critial habitat for numerous species--and replaced them with devastated, lifeless landscapes. Prolific pollution poisons water sources for native peoples and wildlife. Why aren't the Canadians more up in arms? A few billionaires reap (unearned) fortunes, while they "socialize" or externalize the environmental costs onto the rest of us--including a huge increase in the planet-warming greenhouse gases, threats of pipeline spills, and the landscape destruction at the extraction site. "If they build it we will come!!"
Similarly GMO's benefit only Monsanto, Syngenta, and a few other mega-corporations, without increasing the food supply one whit. What biotech touts as a miracle of genetic wizzardry turns out to be mainly two induced traits--resistance to Round-up and an insinuated pesticide (Bt) that expresses itself in every cell of every plant--without knowledge of "unintended consequences." Rapidly mutating insects, "weeds", and diseases are rendering both traits increasingly ineffective as the immense monocrop landscapes provide perfect habitat for proliferation. Meanwhile our industrial agriculture behemoths flood the world with cheap (subsidized) exports, displacing masses of rural peasants from Haiti to Central america and Mexico, emptying out the countryside and flooding the cities with young men and women without job prospects--enter our criminally foolish "war on drugs" to create the "jobs" and the brutal gangs producing the torrent of hopeless refugees seeking better lives here. It's all connected. It all benefits the 1% at the expense of social and ecological health--time for radical changes.
#4
I've said it before, we need to nationalize the energy sector. Energy is far too important to be left in the hands of unhinged Carbon Lords like the Kochs. If we can seize the assets of Drug Lords, we can surely seize the assets of the Carbon Lords as well. Science warns us that these out of control individuals are destroying the planet. That said, our representative government is now mandated by our constituition to step up and stop the crazy people before it's too late. I pretty sure promotion of the general welfare includes not destroying the god damn planet. If our government refuses, we need to end it, and replace it with one that will represent the vast majority.
#5
I've had it...... I'm voting for the Green Party from here on out!!!..... Hawkins for NY Gov.! The other day Thom mentioned something about Cuomo being a Conservative Dem. He's far worse than that, he's an austerity politics, anti union, anti public service jobs, Teabagger. He still buys into the fairy tale of trickle down.
#6
2950-10K ~ Well said! I can hardly disagree. Seriously, what would happen if another Republican President got into office? Another Democrat? About the same thing the way I see it. Another war? Maybe WWIII? Oh yeah. Maybe another conservative supreme court judge? Woo Hoo! Big friggin deal. What difference would that make,? Really? We are all warred out; and, anticonstitutionally worn out.
In my humble opinion, a third party is the only rational alternative--even if it is just to send a message to the Democratic party to get their shit together. The only problem that I have is that we need to decide on which third party we are all going to follow. There are lot's of possibilities floating around there. There is the Democratic Socialist Party who is sponsoring Senator Bernie Sanders, there is the Independent Party, there is the Green Party, and there is also the Peace and Freedom Party but to name a few.
Personally, I like the Democratic Socialist Party. However, it would be so easy to change from that to almost any other party than the Republican or Democratic that I would not consider my vote cast in stone just yet. Might I suggest that instead of bickering as to whether or not it would be prudent to cast our votes for a third party candidate ,we might discuss exactly which third party candidate is worthy of our votes. It seems to me that is the best way to pack the most in our upcoming political punches.
#7
Yeah, President Obama has all the evidence, there's no reason to delay cancelling this destructive and dangerous project... but delay he will, because that's what Obama does! The guy has no spine. He cannot be counted on for anything. And now we hear that, according to “telliottmbamsc”, Hillary Clinton has declared a willingness to approve the Keystone XlL. As always, our public servants are here to serve us, looking out for our best interests! (Not.) - AIW
#8
Mr. Scott, while I agree in principle, I don't think our budget will accommodate a new car right now. I don't have a spare $10,000 or $15,000 lying around. Sorry to disappoint.
#9
Aliceinwonderland ~ Bicycles trump EV's any day. So do MoPeds and anything under 750CC. You see, EV's take a vast amount of fossil fuels to charge. Lot's of energy wasted in the conversion process. Small ICE's don't. They just take a small amount of fossil fuels to run. Clean transportation energies also includes a good long walk and public transportation, So, I say, save your money and get your exercise--guilt free...
#10
Thanks Marc! I love my trail bike and my racing bike. Muscle power rocks. - AIW
#11
"If we can seize the assets of Drug Lords, we can surely seize the assets of the Carbon Lords as well." - 2950-10K
Just in case you missed these words.
#12
The question is, aren't the carbon lords really the top of the food chain BUT are also the lords of the legal opium trade?
If the financing of the pipeline were investigated by a forensic accountant in conjunction with the trail of missing assets of ENRON, Indymac, and Fannie Mae, I believe exposure of criminal fraud would prevent the banks and bondholders from proceeding.
Everybody try and get this- Pipelines are for more than transferring fuel. Pipelines transfer illegally obtained cash in the form of their mortgage bonds, land acquisitions, and land and equipment leases.
Which insurance lord is bonding the project?
Who gets to purchase the pipeline mortgage bonds?
Are these Pipeline Mortgage Bonds held inside the "Blind Trusts" our government officials have to use?
#13
Wouldn't it make sense if ALL corporations had some limit on their net worth, say 10 billion dollars (Just saying 'cause I don't know the correct amount). When they reach that net worth point all of their assets automatically become property of the federal (or maybe state) government so that our ELECTED officials can determine the corporation's future directions, hopefully taking our vast population and the future environment into consideration. Our nation and civilization, that served as the environment that nurtured a once fledgling corporation and has ultimately enabled it to reach its state of success deserves more than just taxes. When a corporation reaches the limit for net worth, it's time for that corporation to give all that 'growth' back to the nation that made it possible.
The CEO, officers and board would now answer to the government instead of to the stockholders. The stock would retain its current value. All voting stock would belong to the government. Every voting American would now be represented on any issue requiring a vote at the grown-too-big corporation meetings. That's the change, but it's a big change for the people of America.
Socialism is Capitalism 2.0.
#14
It would make sense if our elected officials weren't in bed with our enemies already.
We all remember Stephen Bechtel and his brazen remarks that what Bechtel does is no concern of the public's, because Bechtel is doing business with the government.
The truth is, those exploiters who got the jump on fair commerce eventually decided that it would be easier to BECOME the government than to fight or worry about government interference.
Our Department of the Interior has been occupied by insiders since the days of the Indian land cessions and treaties. They have not gone away, and there are notorious instances in history where self-dealing has been noted, but swept under the carpet.
From federal government corruption spreads to state departments of transportation and utilities in order to force public bond issues which benefit contractor friends on the inside, and the banks holding the money.
The insurance funds are the casualty bonders of these projects, and throughout history, Bechtel was the only company who could afford the required government bond for the big projects. No one could bid against Bechtel. He was backed up for the Hoover Dam by Aetna. Aetna also funded The Manhattan Project.
Keystone XL is bonded by Travelers Casualty and Insurance Company of America. In 1954 Indiana, the head of the State Department of Transportation was also a director of Travelers. He was indicted for accepting bribes for road contracts. He took money, developed Sebring Shores, Florida, and refused to go back to Indiana for his trial, saying he was too sick. Later he claimed insanity and the whole issue was forgotten.
Further, Keystone XL has what is called a "clone" pipeline called Enbridge, in the spirit of Enron. When you have clones, you have double books to put one over on the examiner.
#15
Why doesn't anyone mention what Thom pointed out about the price of gasoline in the US. There is a glut of tar sands oil in the midwest. The XL pipeline will reduce this glut and thus the supply of gasoline in the US. The result will be the price of gasoline in the US will increase (according to transcanada, the XL pipeline corp, the price of gasoline in Canada will rise 20 cents a gallon; they have every motivation to underestimate the rise), so the rest of the world will see a decline in price (or at least a less significant increase). The US will suffer the most significant impact on their environment.
The LA Times within the last year showed the path of the Enbridge pipeline. It does an end run around the aquifier going through Indiana as I recall (I should mention my recall capablities have decreased somewhat with aging). Interesting.
#16
Leighmf -- It terrorizes me to think what Romney's tax holiday would do. An additional $3,000,000,000,000 looking for bonds. It would be nice if there was any demand in the system to absorb some of it.
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I absolutely agree that the Keystone Pipeline would be an environmental disaster that should be denied on the basis of the findings of the Environmental Impact Studies that were completed. I also believe that the President should void all state granted powers of eminent domain for crude oil pipelines that cross state lines because these interstate commercial material conveyance systems are not public utilities in any sense and conflict with even President Bush's Executive Order 13406 of June, 23, 2006. I also suggest that every state in which a pipeline easement is granted a financial security should be required for the removal of the pipeline when it is finally abandoned and the easements subsequently vacated.