Tell President Obama: Just Say No to the Keystone XL Pipeline

by Frances Beinecke, President, NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council)

This is a do-or-die moment for the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline.

Republican leaders in Congress have carried out their threat to pass a payroll tax-cut bill that contains a provision requiring President Obama to make a decision on the controversial Keystone XL pipeline in 60 days — without waiting for the full environmental review that has just begun.

The Keystone rider has nothing to do with tax relief. But Republican leaders cynically used what everyone agrees is the urgent need to extend the payroll tax and provide unemployment benefits to millions of Americans as an opportunity to score points with the oil industry.

The good news is that these anti-environmental lawmakers have overplayed their hand. The State Department has already said that it can’t make a decision on the pipeline in only two months — which means the President must reject this monstrously destructive project.

Yet, Republican leaders and oil giants are trying to put terrific pressure on the White House to approve the Keystone XL, spreading disinformation about the pipeline’s supposed job benefits and asking us to believe that making America even more dependent on dirty oil is good for national security.

Make no mistake: they are putting President Obama to the test right now. That’s why it’s more important than ever that we tell President Obama to stand up to Big Oil and reject the Keystone XL. It’s vital that he hear from hundreds of thousands of concerned citizens like you and me as soon as possible.

The Keystone XL pipeline — and the dirty tar sands oil it would transport — have no place in a nation building a cleaner, more secure energy future. You and I know it, and President Obama knows it. Now we need the President to demonstrate firm environmental leadership and reject the Keystone XL pipeline.

Take Action: Send a message to President Obama right now and ask him to reject the Keystone XL pipeline.

6 Reasons America Needs to Say “No” to the Reckless Keystone XL Pipeline

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Photo credit: NRDC

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Muriel S.

1:28PM PST on Jan 10, 2012

You know what to do Mr Obama.

send a green star

john h.

12:24PM PST on Jan 10, 2012

Steven B. there is no international oil corporation.

Steven B.

10:15PM PST on Jan 9, 2012

In the case of the Keystone xl pipeline the oil never belonged to us, we are just being used as a conduit for keystone to ship it's already sold oil to foreign markets from the oil storage facilities in New Orleans where the big tankers already load oil from gulf rigs.

10:08PM PST on Jan 9, 2012

NotKute & Jan H
It amazes me how stupid these drill baby drill republicans can be. the oil companies pay the leases and a stipend for each barrel of oil taken out but once it leaves the ground, whether in Alaska, the Gulf or any other oil field it, no longer belongs to the US but now belongs to an International Oil Corporation who runs the oil rigs and who has sold it long ago on the commodities futures markets and unless a national oil company can outbid China or Russia, Japan or any other energy starved country the oil does not come stateside but is shipped to the winning bidders refineries in their own countries. Is that too hard for you ninnies to understand. If it is I can draw pictures if the words are to advanced for you...

Sue G.

7:17PM PST on Jan 9, 2012

You know the right thing to do Mr Obama. Have courage. Just do it!

Dr C.

6:16PM PST on Jan 9, 2012

No matter where oil comes from , it is not a sustainable approach to energy. By continuing to prop up this buggy whip fossil fuel industry , we are reducing national security by insuring that as the world fights over a swindling supply our troops and treasure will be spent to secure it.

Instead of wasting our money on what is ABSOLUTELY NO ARGUMENT a dead end for energy we should instead invest in evolving our way to new , sustainable and conflict free sources of power.

Sandi C.

4:02PM PST on Jan 9, 2012

Noted signed

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John M.

12:47PM PST on Jan 9, 2012

Thank you for the article...