Donald Trump and Justin Trudeau back controversial oil pipeline

SBS World News Radio: Protesters have demonstrated outside the White House after President Trump revived two controversial oil and gas pipelines in the US

Donald Trump and Justin Trudeau back the controversial oil pipeline.

Donald Trump and Justin Trudeau back the controversial oil pipeline. Source: AAP

Only days in the White House and Donald Trump is determined to stamp his pro-American jobs mantra on his presidency.

He has signed executive orders to accelerate the construction of the Dakota Access pipeline and Keystone XL pipeline, halted by President Obama over environmental concerns.

"We're going to renegotiate some of the terms, and if they'd like, we'll see if we can get that pipeline built. A lot of jobs: 28,000 jobs. Great construction jobs."

The 1900 kilometre Keystone pipeline would run all the way from Canada to Nebraska and connect with other lines to refineries on the Gulf Coast.

It's prompted protests outside the White House.

"We stand....we stand...for water...for water...for life...now to stand here knowing definitively that they are gonig to move forward with it is upsetting."

But Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has welcomed the announcement.

"In both of my conversations I have had with President Trump now, Keystone Excel came up as a topic and I reiterated my support for the project. I've been on the record for many years supporting it because it leads to economic growth and good jobs. This is about the responsible approach on growing the economy creating good jobs for Canadians while we protect the environment for now and for future generations. This is what Canadians expect of us."

The Dakota pipeline is of a similar length and it's sparked controversy because the proposed route skirts the native American Sioux lands.

The tribe says the pipeline will disturb sacred sites and contaminate drinking waters.

Last year, Aboriginal activist and former NRL star Joe Williams joined protests in Standing Rock, North Dakota.

"The drilling and all the construction that's going on here at Standing Rock it's what we call...and we don't like to use this term...but we call it raping your mother. It's the complete destruction of our esarth and our mother and it's everything, it's so hurtful to our people and it's our people right across the world that have these same feelings."

The Sioux tribe's chairman has accused the President of breaking the law by breaching native American treaty rights.

But Donald Trump says it's about putting America first.

"From now on, we're going to start making pipeline in the United States. We build it in the United States. We build the pipelines. We want to build the pipe. It's going to put a lot of workers, a lot of steelworkers back to work. Okay. We will build our own pipeline. We will build our own pipes. That's what it has to do with, like we used to in the old days."

While foreshadowing speedier approvals for projects, the President also claims to be an environmentalist.

"But it's out of control and we are going to make a very short process and we are going to either give you your permits or we are not going to give you your permits but we will tell you quickly and generally speaking we are going to be giving you your permits and we are going to be very friendly."

White House press secretary Sean Spicer has told reporters the moves will provide a massive employment boost for the US.

"There's an energy revolution that's going to happen in this country and in spite of the bureaucratic and political barriers that have been put in place in the past. We are ready to move forward. Oil and gas production is up significantly in the past decade and our imports have been cut in half. The President's actions today will create tens of thousands of new jobs."

But environmental groups say the actions are merely a case of Donald Trump pandering to the oil industry with key members of his administration having previously worked for large energy companies.

It also comes as the new President institutes a media blackout at the Environmental Protection Agency - barring officials from posting updates to social media and speaking to reporters...as well as ordering a temporary suspension of grants to the EPA.

Actor Jane Fonda joining demonstrations in New York.

"We are in a whole new era. Where there is a catastrophe that's happened we have to take to the streets. I call him the predator-in-chief and we must never normalise him."

 

 






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4 min read
Published 25 January 2017 2:00pm

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