Words of Power: Yes, POTUS has Smashed the Keystone XL Pipeline. This is a Victory for All Who Resisted The Madness. Now on to Paris! On to the Barricades!

Edward Hopper - Two Figures at Top of Steps in Paris (1906)

"President Obama’s decision to reject Keystone XL because of its impact on the climate is nothing short of historic -- and sets an important precedent that should send shockwaves through the fossil fuel industry. Just a few years ago, insiders and experts wrote us off and assured the world Keystone XL would be built by the end of 2011. Together, ranchers, tribal nations, and everyday people beat this project back, reminding the world that Big Oil isn’t invincible--and that organized people can win over organized money. But the win against Keystone XL is just the beginning, because this fight has helped inspire resistance to a thousand other projects. Everywhere you look, people are shutting down fracking wells, stopping coal export facilities, and challenging new pipelines." -- May Boeve, 350.org

"For more than 20 years, delegates from all over the world have met annually to discuss ways to mitigate the devastating impacts of a changing climate. This December, the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) will be held in Paris. Given how seriously we have already damaged the earth’s atmosphere, it is not hyperbolic to suggest that the fate of the human race rests on a robust global treaty to severely curb greenhouse gas emissions. But there are already alarm bells ringing over the influence that corporations will be allowed to wield at COP21. Our global capitalist system has enabled businesses to extract ever-greater resources and generate relentless pollution. Now, many of the same companies that are guilty of destroying our climate are being lauded as 'partners' and 'stakeholders' in the climate talks." -- Sonali Kolhatkar, Uprising

This is a profound victory. There are many more struggles ahead. But this is a moment of victory. And this victory would not have come to pass without the fierce, unyielding protest of a multitude planetary citizens. Nor would it have come to pass if McCain had won in 2008 or Romney had won in 2012. If you underestimate any of these contributing factors you fail to grasp the lesson wrapped in this victory. So next time someone tells you there is no difference between the two major political parties, remember this moment.

In spite of all the wrong that has been allowed to transpire over the last eight years (e.g., the rise of the TPP), the weight of that wrong would have been unspeakably greater if McCain had won in 2008 or Romney had won in 2012. Just as the weight of wrong we currently languish under would be far less if the Democrats controlled the Senate and the House. Just as the weight of injustice and insanity would be far less if there were not a 5-4 extreme reactionary edge on the Supreme Court.

If POTUS had done nothing other than avoiding war with Iran and scuttling the Keystone Pipeline it would have been difference enough to vote in 2008 and 2012. As bad off as we are, it would have been much much worse. It's not an excuse. It's not good enough. There is still so much to be done (and undone). But this victory is nevertheless a fact.

There are many more struggles ahead. But this is a moment of victory. And this victory would not have come to pass without the fierce, unyielding protest of a multitude of planetary citizens. Nor would it have come to pass if McCain had won in 2008 or Romney had won in 2012. If you underestimate any of these contributing factors you fail to grasp the lesson wrapped in this victory. So next time someone tells you there is no difference between the two major political parties, remember this moment.

Lean forward! On to Paris!

Do you know why 350 is the most important number in your life and the lives of everyone you love? Go to 350.org for the answer.

-- Richard Power

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Friday, November 06, 2015

Yes, POTUS has Smashed the Keystone XL Pipeline. This is a Victory for All Who Resisted The Madness. Now on to Paris! On to the Barricades!