RFK, JR, DARRYL HANNAH IN WHITE HOUSE PIPELINE PROTEST ARRESTS

Daryl Hannah, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. arrested at White House protest against Keystone oil pipeline; The 'Blade Runner' actress and political scion were arrested with activists from the Sierra Club protesting the $7 billion oil pipeline. The protesters tied themselves to the White House gate before they were arrested.

February 13, 2013 (AP via NY Daily News)

“Prominent environmental leaders…were arrested…after tying themselves to the White House gate to protest the Keystone XL oil pipeline…[Sierra Club] Executive Director Michael Brune…Activist Bill McKibben, actress Daryl Hannah, civil rights leader Julian Bond and environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr…[and] several dozen other activists…[were demonstrating] their opposition to the $7 billion pipeline, which would carry oil derived from tar sands in western Canada to refineries along the Texas Gulf Coast…

“The protesters are demanding that President Barack Obama reject the pipeline, which they say would carry ‘dirty oil’ that contributes to global warming. They also worry about a spill…Many business and labor groups support the 1,700-mile pipeline as a source of jobs and a step toward North American energy independence.”

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“The 4-year-old project has become a flashpoint in the debate over climate change, with opponents labeling it a ‘carbon bomb’ that could trigger global warming. Supporters call that rhetoric overblown and say Obama should approve the pipeline as part of his ‘all of the above’ energy policy…[supporting] domestic energy development…[The protest came hours before the American Petroleum Institute, the largest lobbying group for the oil industry, again urged Obama to approve the project]…

“Obama has called climate change a serious threat and urged Congress to combat the phenomenon in his State of the Union speech…If Congress fails to act, he will use executive authority to take steps to cut greenhouse gas pollution and encourage increased use of cleaner sources of energy, Obama said…Obama has twice thwarted the Keystone XL pipeline because of concerns over its route through sensitive land in Nebraska, but has not indicated how he will decide on the pipeline now that Nebraska's governor has approved a new route. The State Department has authority over the project, because it crosses an international border, but most observers expect Obama to make the final decision…”

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