Nov 14, 2011

President Barack Obama

1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW

Washington DC, 20500

Subject:  Veto Keystone XL Pipeline Project

Dear Mr. President:

I represent the 99% and am asking you to protect the health of our planet and our citizens by Vetoing the Keystone XL Pipeline Extension Project.  The postponement to 2013 while the State Department is being investigated does not remove your power to speak for the people.  Stand up for the earth and future generations by not allowing politics to keep you from Vetoing the pipeline project now.  NASA’s top climate scientist, Jim Hansen, has determined, “If we go ahead and tap these unconventional resources, essentially it is game over for the climate.” 

Executive Director of the Indigenous Environmental Network, Tom Goldtooth, reminds us “First Nations in the tar sands region have consistently been making reports of devastation of their environment, their waters, air, and more recently their health.  Cancers linked to petroleum contamination are on the increase.” The Kalamazoo River remains closed due to toxic spills, EPA costs have run well over $500 million, and the EPA regional administrator said her office has never seen a river system affected by so much submerged oil. 

The EPA has rejected the State Department’s reports on this pipeline twice. The above stated real life situations will not go away now that the State Department has penned 57 responses to the 57 conditions that were set “above and beyond what is required by law” for the EPA to review. The “law” does not save forests that shield the earth from global warming by storing vast quantities of carbon in its wetlands, trees and soil, nor will the “law” undo the damage already done, nor protect future generations, nor will it create lasting jobs in renewable energy industries and rebuild the middle class. 

You alone have the power that can protect us.  We have faith you will stand up for the rights of people and nature, and keep your campaign promises for a sustainable environment.

We believe your legacy may very well rest on this decision.

Sincerely,

_____________________

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“Climate Change is not the Change We Asked For”