"Dozens Arrested at White House as Pipeline Protests Begin"

"Dozens were arrested at the White House Saturday as protesters began a two-week sit-in expected to draw over 2,000 opponents of a proposed pipeline from Canada to the US Gulf Coast."



"'President (Barack) Obama can stop this climate-killing disaster with the stroke of a pen,' said Bill McKibben, spokesman for Tar Sands Action, the environmental group that organized the protest. Tar Sands said on its website that more than 70 people were arrested Saturday.

'This is the most important environmental test that President Obama has faced. He has to decide whether or not to grant permission for this giant pipeline,' said McKibben.

A total of 2,200 people from all 50 states are expected to take part in the event, which is designed to pressure Obama to deny a permit for the $13 billion Keystone XL pipeline project due to stretch across 1,700 miles (2,700 kilometers)."

AFP had the story August 20, 2011.

SEE ALSO:


"Tar-Sands Protestors Get Longer Jail Sentences Than Expected" (Grist)

"Oilsands Pipeline Protests Outside White House Lead To Arrests" (Postmedia)

"Arrests Continue at White House Oil Pipeline Protest" (E2 Wires)

"Environmentalists Put Obama To Test on  Climate Over Pipeline Plan" (McClatchy)

"Protest Makes Canada-To-U.S. Pipeline Project Newest Front in Climate Clash" (Greenwire)

"Dozens Arrested at Protest of Oil Pipeline" (Wall St. Journal)

"Police Arrest Dozens Protesting Oil Pipeline at White House" (Reuters)

"Is Canadian Oil Bound for China Via Pipeline to Texas?" (National Geographic)

"A Climate Change 'Bummer Outer' Comes to Washington" (ClimateWire)

"Climate Scientist Willing To Face Arrest at Tar Sands Pipeline Protest" (Guardian)

Source: AFP, 08/22/2011