After months of protests against the building of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), the main site has been forcibly cleared. Former President Obama had managed to put a stay on the construction of the invasive pipeline; however, newly elected President Trump has given the go-ahead to complete the process. Protesters were given until February 22, 2017, to vacate the premises. Ten people were arrested after the deadline passed on Wednesday. The next morning, 23 others were arrested on the site for refusing to leave the Oceti Sakowin camp. As cleanup of the camp progressed, another 23 people were taken into custody.
The Pipeline
Multiple banks and foreign investors have sunk over $3.7 billion into DAPL. Once completed, the pipeline will span 1,172 miles over four states. Approximately 470,000 barrel of crude oil will be traveling through North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Illinois. Then oil will then be transported to refineries in the Gulf or East Coasts. Protesters are worried about the potential contamination of their water sources and pollution of the environment. Oil spills wreak havoc on the land, resources, and wildlife. Causing billions of dollars worth of irreversible damage every year, the threat of potential oil spill is a major source of concern among people in the Midwest. Energy Transfer Partners, the developer responsible for the construction of DAPL, is ready to proceed now that Trump has signed an executive order easing the way for them.
The People's Climate March
Since taking office, Trump has made his intentions concerning the environment very clear. Blocking all federal grants and funds to the Environmental Protection Agency and replacing the administration's head with climate change denier Scott Pruitt has left conservationists concerned for the well-being of the environment.
Trump also issued gag orders for both the National Parks Service and the EPA, forcing them off of social media. On April 29, scientists and conservationists have organized for a global protest called The People's Climate March. This protest is meant to be conservation and climate change to the forefront of politics.
