Image Credit: heavy.com

Image Credit: vanityfair.com

There’s been a huge fight over the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL).

I’ve seen a bit of chatter about it on Facebook, but I wanted to address it here.

The image below is a map of the proposed pipeline, running from North Dakota to Illinois.

Here’s the facts from Energy Transfer: DAPL Pipeline Facts

Image Credit: thejournal-news.net

It’s been a mix of stop and go, for a while now.

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe filed an injunction, but a federal judge rejected it.

Then, the U.S. Army, Department of Justice, and Department of Interior announced they would stop work – temporarily – under a lake that is considered a crucial source of water for the tribe.

Several news agencies have covered this issue, but I don’t think it’s been nearly enough!

• Leonardo DiCaprio Stands With Great Sioux Nation to Stop Dakota Access Pipeline (EcoWatch, May 10th)
• Dakota Access Pipeline Protests: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know (Heavy.com, September 3rd)
• The Largest Native American Protest in History is Happening Right Now and You Need to Know About It! (The Earth Child.co.za, September 3rd)
• Green light, red light for Dakota Access Pipeline (CNN, September 9th)
• The Legal Case for Blocking the Dakota Access Pipeline (The Atlantic, September 9th)
• Take a Look at the Thousands of People Protesting the Pipeline in North Dakota (TIME.com, September 9th)
• N.D. Pipeline Protester: ‘It’s About Our Rights As Native People’ (NPR, September 12th)

What I can’t understand is how this issue has not received national coverage, up until recently. I’m glad that news outlets are starting to give it attention, but it’s tough to swallow that nearly four whole months went by (roughly May 10th to September 3rd) between coverage of the efforts to stop this pipeline and more protests.

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Here’s a caption from the Political Junkie News Media Facebook page from September 12th:

That headline, alone, convinces me that this story needs to be explored, investigated, and told, not ignored.

Image Credit: overpasslightbrigade.org

People Over Pipelines.

#NoDAPL

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂