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Why We’re Protesting: Tar Sands Pipeline Opponents In Their Own Words

Protesters continued gathering outside of the White House as part of a 15-day effort to convince Obama to halt construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline.

The Nation and On The Earth Productions

August 23, 2011

On Monday, more protesters gathered outside of the White House as part of a 15-day-long effort to halt the Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline, which would cut through the middle of America, from the border with Canada all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico. Protesters spoke out against the pipeline, which has the potential to generate disastrous effects across large regions of the country, pleading with President Obama to not allow the plans for the pipeline to go through.

"We’re asking President Obama to make the right decision, because he can decide yes or no," said Mike Tidwell, the founder and director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, in this video from The Nation and On The Earth Productions. "He doesn’t need Congress’s involvement." Watch a video here from Saturday’s protests.

—Carrie Battan

The NationTwitterFounded by abolitionists in 1865, The Nation has chronicled the breadth and depth of political and cultural life, from the debut of the telegraph to the rise of Twitter, serving as a critical, independent, and progressive voice in American journalism.


On The Earth ProductionsOn the Earth Productions (OTE) is a media production company that is dedicated to informing the public about important educational, environmental and political issues that affect our everyday lives. Our Educational Video Series is available from any library in the world through WorldCat.org. The series is housed at UW-Madison. The team at OTE is led by owner, Karen Rybold Chin.


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