White House Tar Sands Sit-in Ends With Surge of Support

These pictures are something special -- a small part of the photographic record of the largest civil disobedience action so far this century. As phase one of this Tar Sands Action campaign wrapped up today, 1,252 people have been hauled away in police vans, hands cuffed behind their backs -- and heads held very high. We need people to honor that by joining in Phase 2, which will be different but just as unusual -- join us at tarsandsaction.org to get all the details soon.

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No Tar Sands XL Pipeline

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Americans from nearly all 50 states joined the White House sit-in to push President Obama to deny the permit for the proposed Keystone XL pipeline that would carry dirty tar sands oil 1,700 miles from Canada to the Gulf Coast. Photo Credit: Josh Lopez.

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Americans from nearly all 50 states joined the White House sit-in to push President Obama to deny the permit for the proposed Keystone XL pipeline that would carry dirty tar sands oil 1,700 miles from Canada to the Gulf Coast.

Photo Credit: Josh Lopez.

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Comments

[ognyc]

11:36 AM on 10/24/2011

Anyone who supports this or any other way to increase access to fossil fuels seems to not have grasped the concept of don't s*#! where you sleep....you have to have a death wish to think this is a good idea....

Gas SHOULD cost ~$8/gallon, at which point it makes economical sense to use alternate energy and fuel efficient cars....

The US need to realize that it is a developed nation, not above the laws of physics....

[GeorgeSM]

02:11 PM on 09/07/2011

I object to the approval of the Keystone XL project based upon the preponderance of evidence that indicates the project would likely cause more harm than good and that, in substantive ways, that harm would be irreversable. Since that harm would devolve upon future generations of my family and the families of other Americans, prudence dictates a much more rigorous proof of harmlessness is required than the project has offered. It should be rejected. Canada has a well-documented poor record of environmental protection in the minerals industries. They always soil their own nest when it comes to mining, etc. We don't have to follow suit just so that the oil industry can become richer than it already is.

[wildeowens]

06:25 PM on 09/06/2011

America, per person, produces 7 times the amount of greenhouse gases that China does per person. In fact, Americans, per person, contribute more to greenhouse gas emisions than any other industrialized nation in the world does per person. Maybe if Americans weren't such fuel hogs displaying a total disregard for the planet, America wouldn't feel the need to invade all those oil-producing nations in order to control the price of oil, to supply America's insatiable need for it, killings millions in the process. And maybe if American politicians weren't such corporate wh$$es, including the Democrats, they'd actually stand up and fight for the values that they profess to have--like concern for the environment. My guess is Obama will sell out to Big Oil just like he sold out to the health insurance industry last year. Hope I'm wrong.

[wildeowens]

06:07 PM on 09/06/2011

This kind of oil is highly corrosive and toxic, making the pipelines more prone to leakage, making the land and water and air less safe for the 1000-plus mile stretch, including farmland, that it will be built through in America. The refining of it is also more toxic, making the environment less safe in Texas, where it will be refined. After Exxon initially lied and said the pipe that leaked in Yellowstone recently wasn't carrying tar sands crude, they now admit it did carry this toxic type of oil. Big surprise that an oil company lied. I'm still waiting for Exxon to pay those damages for The Exxon-Valdez spill in Alaska. Or BP and the government to stop lying about the extent of the damage to the Gulf of Mexico from THAT recent catastrophe. Obama needs to start becoming the progressive he originally pretended to be and stand up to the corporate pigs who dictate policy in this country to all of our detriment.

[wildeowens]

05:37 PM on 09/06/2011

Yeah, let's keep building more oil pipelines and using more oil and other fossil fuels. Then the when the next natural disaster comes, before recovering from the last one a week before, we can all stick our heads in the tar sands and wonder if man's use of fossil fuels has anything to do with it or if it's the 2nd coming of Jesus.

[ilovebilliards76]

12:49 PM on 09/06/2011

Dito to the comment below. If we don't take it, China and other countries will. Rather than being less dependent on foreign oil, we will be helping foreign countries who will take it under much looser restrictions. Do your research and you will find that the companies who will be building the pipeline have already agreed to over 50 concessions above and beyond federal regulations. You so-called environmentalists can actually look into it, or just stick your head in the sand and ignore the facts. Before you respond, consider that I car-pool, and drive myself as little as possible. My house is eco friendly, etc. BUT, you can't be ignorant of the fact that for right now we need this oil.

[Magickalgirl]

10:54 AM on 09/06/2011

I have two children to care for, a home to maintain, a husband to look after... But once these jobs are done... I will be there! When no one else depends on me getting out of bed in the morning, I will be the activist in the jail cell next to you. Keep up the good work, for a honorable cause, protecting our fresh waters, our fertile lands and the health of our people. Wish I could be there.

[Magickalgirl]

06:39 AM on 09/06/2011

This country is becoming just outrageous... I haven't even seen ONE open discussion on this endeavor. Sweep it under the rug, just sweep it under the rug.

[girldog]

06:45 AM on 09/06/2011

You're right, the msm is hardly covering this story. Their has been a lot of articles/discussions on it here at huffpo. Welcome to the discussion.

[Kevin Rayburn]

01:49 AM on 09/06/2011

do you enviromentalists actually think it is a good ideal to let china have this oil? look at their record on the enviroment. the reality (good or bad) is the oil sands will be mined, a pipeline will be built to somewhere, so we (as in the USA) can either have SOME control over where this oil goes and how it is used or you can just protest and really accomplish nothing other than letting a very accomplished polution producing country have at it....just seems like y'all are not really accomplishing your own goal.

[Bluesbreaker]

05:08 AM on 09/06/2011

China won't get it anymore than we'll get it if the pipeline is built. Oil is a commodity that's bought and sold on the global market. Let Canada build a pipeline to Vancouver and build the refinery there. Keep all of the construction, oil spills and pollution related to tar sand oil production in Canada. They can bear all the costs and consequences of a vertically integrated tar sands production process.

[girldog]

06:37 AM on 09/06/2011

Right now there are really only two choices for where to build the pipeline, across Canada to their west coast, or south through the US to the Gulf of Mexico. The Canadians have already said a loud and clear no to building it across Canada (for environmental reasons). If we also say no to the pipeline, we will have accomplished a lot in terms of speaking up for the environment.

[CompassionFirst]

10:04 PM on 09/05/2011

'Janey, put on your shoes, we're going to go bail grandma outta jail'. 'mommy, why is grandma in jail?' 'oh honey, =she was sitting in front of the white house/' "mommy, they aren't going to put me in jail for sitting in front of the tv, are they?' ' No sweetie, only if you sit in front of a book'

[CompassionFirst]

09:59 PM on 09/05/2011

since when is it allowable to put a grandma in jail for sitting? is it illegal to sit in front of the white house? whats the arrest for exactly? sitting?????????

[girldog]

06:39 AM on 09/06/2011

Apparently, there is no more protesting in front of the White House since 9/11.

[iknowscottyknows]

07:41 PM on 09/05/2011

Well, I guess it keeps them from doing any real damage. And they think they've accompilshed something. Win-win!

[girldog]

06:43 PM on 09/05/2011

http://www.keystonepipeline-xl.state.gov/clientsite/keystonexl.nsf/CommentFset?OpenFrameSet

The State Dept is taking comments until 10/9/11. Take a minute to let the govt know what you think of this environmental disaster.

[Gottlieb]

11:19 PM on 09/05/2011

Fanned and favorite for supply the link. I am going there now to comment.

[girldog]

06:18 AM on 09/06/2011

Tht's great! f/f back

[lbsaltzman]

04:41 AM on 09/07/2011

F&F & badged.

[girldog]

06:20 AM on 09/07/2011

Thanks, same back...hope yo send in your comments :)

[NY Guy]

04:20 PM on 09/05/2011

They can protest all they want. This pipeline is going to get done. Might as well move onto the next topic on your list.

[girldog]

06:39 PM on 09/05/2011

Why do you feel so sure that your opinion is the right one?

[Jeffrey L Mooney]

07:06 PM on 09/05/2011

NY Guy may be right. We need more people protesting. Call your representative. I did. Don't let big oil continue destroying our planet. Vote democrat and demand that the use of fossil fuels be stopped before it's too late (if it's not already).

[NY Guy]

07:10 PM on 09/05/2011

Really big bucks are involved, gonna be hard to stop.

[RickW44]

09:01 AM on 09/05/2011

Thank you for everyone who went out to protest. Thank you for fighting for America's best interests.