"No KXL Pipeline" Protest - Golden Gate Bridge
It should be no surprise that the nations largest nurses association would be mobilizing against the proposed 1700 mile Keystone XL pipeline. "Climate change is a clear and present danger to public health, and carbon emissions are a major factor in intensifying climate change" said Debra Burger, RN and National Nurses United co-president. The pipeline would send "900,000 barrels of the worlds dirtiest fuel to the gulf coast refineries...daily". Increasing temperatures would increase bacteria related food poisoning, as well as airborne diseases & respiratory
ailments "which nurses do see daily." She went on to add "From extraction to transport to refining, tar sands oil will exacerbate our current health emergency."
Former NASA scientist, James Hansen, described the Keystone Pipeline as the 'largest carbon bomb on the planet.' Renee Sharp of the Environmental Working Group on a spill earlier this year in Arkansas: "A single sample of tar sands oil included chemicals that cause cancer in humans and produce serious and permanent birth defects in children."
"If we abide by the rules, the rules will change. We've already seen that happen. What we need to do is embrace the idea of civil disobedience". Important (and welcomed) words for this crowd of over 1000 nurses and environmental activists, spoken by a leader of an Australian nurses union. Today's event, however, got their
message across without any such disobedience.
Joining the nurses for this event were many environmental groups who have been outspoken against the Keystone Pipeline. The Sierra Club, 350 Bay Area, Friends of the Earth, and many others took the message across the Golden Gate, as well as to the sky and sea. A plane with the banner "Nurses Say No to KXL Pipeline" circled
the bay, while a yacht with "Stop the KXL Pipeline" draped over both sides did the same below.
"Hey Big Oil, you can't hide! We can see your greedy side!" It took the group over an hour to get across the Golden Gate, and protesters took every opportunity to engage curious pedestrians. Engaging with them on sidewalks, chanting and pointing signs at motorists, they drew the attention of the large vacation crowd who will go
home with pictures and video of the "No Keystone XL Pipeline" message.
"We are unstoppable! A healthy world is possible!"
For more information on the efforts to stop the Keystone XL Pipeline
visit these websites:
http://www.350.org
http://www.nationalnursesunited.org/
For more of my coverage from this event and others:
http://morecontext.net