Apparently the “water protectors” have to destroy the water supply to save it:
Those familiar with the camps near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, increasingly are distressed over the pits of human waste and garbage pockmarking the formerly pristine prairie revered by the Standing Rock Sioux as sacred ancestral land.
Rob Keller, spokesman for the Morton County Sheriff’s Department, said the protesters are “saying one thing and doing another” when it comes to safeguarding the environment.
And…
What’s especially alarming is that the camps are located in a flood plain, meaning that the waste and garbage will be carried into the Cannonball River and the water supply as the snow melts and submerges the area.
Mr. Archambault compared the environmental damage inflicted by the protesters to that of fossil fuel companies.
“We’re no different than the oil company, if we’re fighting for water,” said Mr. Archambault. “What’s going to happen when people leave? Who has to clean it up? Who has to refurbish it? It’s going to be us, the people who live here.”
National environmental groups backing the protest, including Earthjustice, the Sierra Club, 350.org and the Indigenous Environmental Network, did not respond to requests asking for comment, but Greenpeace did.
Greenpeace spokesman Perry Wheeler said the blame for any damage lies with those behind the $3.8 billion, 1,172-mile project, which Energy Transfer Partners is building almost entirely on private land in order to transport oil from the Bakken field in North Dakota to Illinois.
No, contrary to what Greenpeace has to say, the domestic terrorists who are illegally occupying federal land are solely to blame. And it is far past time the federal government needs to come down hard on them, and arrest the lot.
That said Greenpeace, using your analogy of guilt by association of possible worst case outcomes and practices every auto-maker is responsible for every highway death in America regardless of operator error.
Chuck, what did Native Americans do with human waste and garbage before the land they roamed and hunted freely was taken from them. And they were herded onto reservations. What happened to it, Chuck? Did they dig holes and bury it? Did the settlers do the same thing? Yes, enter outhouses – holes in the ground covered by a shack. When the hole was full, it was covered and replaced with another hole. But I understand why the protesters are the problem. Carry on, Chuck.
Methinks the old time American Indians didn’t have thousands all pooping with vast rolls of toilet paper all in one little area. And they ate twigs and berries, not Fritos and chili-dogs like these campers do. The poop quantity is factually higher at these camps and the papers and plastic water bottles and beer cans these people are piling up are ecologically unsound. The old time Indians would be shedding tears.
Do you know if the plastic water bottles and beer cans are being recycled? Have you been to the camp and witnessed the protesters eating Fritos and chili dogs? And their ancestors ate twigs and berries? Really? I know you’re old but I didn’t know you are THAT old. Lol
Greenpeace should have to clean up the mess when these people die or run from the cold.
Most of these protestors are there to just cause anarchy and do not care about the environment. Haven’t they heard of port-a-potties? How do they plan to keep warm this winter — burning wood (that pollutes too, you know) as in the olden days? By using the very products they are protesting, which invalidates their protest? Maybe just rope the area off, let them stay and live off the land like in the old days until they get hungry or too cold; and when they leave, just bulldoze all the crap under. I am one that is tired of all this nonsense.
Claiming to be for the environment why would they burn cars and tires which release extremely toxic materials into the air, soil and water?
It’s in a flood zone so anybody south of North Dakota on the Missouri river will be affected by this contaminated waste water. They are saying that they have 11,000 people in this small area. Now the protesters are bring their children in because they say it’s a learning experience. That makes me sick. Send those poor babies home.
You’ve been to the camp and interviewed the protesters to be sure they don’t care about their land and only want to be trouble makers? You live in the country, how do you dispose of your garbage? Burn it? Have a hole out back where you toss it?
Woodstock property turned out okay, wasn’t there but can only believe the protestors are a tad more organized in ND. HOw easily we can judge behind our keyboards….
”Tis the season
Domestic terrorists? Domestic terrorists? Historically, the U.S. government has sanctioned terrorist actions against indigenous people on this continent. Accusing Native Americans of terrorism is a projection of guilt.
The pictures of the protestors shown on TV are mostly able-bodied adults, not the old, retired, or disabled. I guess most people in this younger and healthy age group who aren’t protesting are wondering just how the protestors can get so much time off to go live and protest for weeks on end. Oh, I forgot, they don’t have to work; the govt supports them. So while living off govt largess (i.e. free or subsidized food, housing, health care, fuel), they are fighting the very same hand that feeds them. Maybe I should have tried that too back in the day, but that was impossible because they depended on ME and hubby to support them, not the govt. And some are bringing their kids because it is a “learning experience;” never mind attending school, which apparently isn’t necessary in the protestors’ minds because the govt will support them anyway.