Human Rights
The entire nuclear fuel chain involves the release of radioactivity, contamination of the environment and damage to human health. Most often, communities of color, indigenous peoples or those of low-income are targeted to bear the brunt of these impacts, particularly the damaging health and environmental effects of uranium mining. The nuclear power industry inevitably violates human rights. While some of our human rights news can be found here, we also focus specifically on this area on out new platform, Beyond Nuclear International.
.................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Entries from October 1, 2016 - October 31, 2016
October 26, 2016Today's Midwest Energy News headlines/links re: DAPL resistance
PIPELINES:
• Hundreds of people gather in Minneapolis calling on state authorities to withdraw law enforcement help for the Dakota Access pipeline protest. (Minnesota Public Radio)
• The Dakota Access pipeline developer says protesters are trespassing on its land in North Dakota and wants them to leave immediately. (Associated Press)
• The Rev. Jesse Jackson says he is going to North Dakota to join the protest against the Dakota Access oil pipeline. (Associated Press)
Canada: 99 Detained at Protest Demanding End to Tar Sands Pipelines
As reported by Democracy Now! as part of its top-of-the-show digest news headlines:
In Canada, 99 people were detained by police Monday at a demonstration on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, demanding Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reject the expansion of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline, as well as all new tar sands pipelines and infrastructure. Among those arrested was Clayton Thomas-Muller, a climate activist from the Cree Nation in northern Manitoba.
Clayton Thomas-Muller: "We know that they’re just trying to test the waters for tar sands pipelines to get that controversial tar sands oil that’s been killing Dené, Cree and Métis people in Northern Alberta with cancer, poisoning their food systems, poisoning their water systems, spreading climate chaos across the planet. Justin Trudeau is not the Disney prince that the media has been painting him out to be. He is in collusion with Big Oil. And we’re here today to support these young people, these brave warriors, for the sacredness of Mother Earth, to let him know that he needs to reject the Kinder Morgan pipeline."
Meanwhile, in Iowa, residents fighting the Dakota Access pipeline say at least one person has been arrested as a group blockaded a waste dump site being used by the Dakota Access pipeline company as it bores underneath the Mississippi River. The group Mississippi Stand says two residents locked themselves to a barrel to blockade the road leading to the dump site, halting drilling underneath the river for hours. This comes as court documents show Hollywood actress Shailene Woodley is slated to stand trial on January 25 on charges related to a protest on October 10, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, against the Dakota Access pipeline in North Dakota. Click here to see our full interview with Shailene Woodley on Monday on her arrest.
Recent Democracy Now! coverage of the DAPL resistance at Standing Rock Sioux Tribe reservation and beyond
Standing Rock: Police Arrest 120+ Water Protectors as Dakota Access Speeds Up Pipeline Construction (Oct. 24)
North Dakota: Water Protectors Erect New Frontline Camp Directly in Path of Dakota Access Pipeline (Oct. 24)
Actor Shailene Woodley on Her Arrest, Strip Search and Dakota Access Pipeline Resistance (Oct. 24)
Meet the Journalist Facing 45 Years in Jail for Filming Tar Sands Pipeline Protest in North Dakota (Oct. 24)
Josh Fox: Arrest of Journalists and Filmmakers Covering the Dakota Pipeline is a Threat to Democracy (Oct. 24)
Part 2: Native Americans Most Likely to Be Killed by Police Than Other Groups, Investigation Reveals (Oct. 24)
On Strip Searches and Press Freedom in North Dakota (Oct. 20)
See all of Democracy Now's coverage, posted online at: http://www.democracynow.org/topics/dakota_access
