Prairie Rivers Network appreciates being invited to speak at the Native-organized Solidarity with Standing Rock Protectors in Champaign-Urbana! event held last Friday. The event had great turn-out and was inspiring. For those who missed it, here is a transcript of our statements at the event:
“Prairie Rivers Network is Illinois’ advocate for clean water and healthy rivers. We champion clean, healthy rivers and lakes and safe drinking water to benefit the people and wildlife of Illinois.
Pipelines burst every day. A wall street journal investigation found 1400 pipeline spills in just 4 years, and four out of every five of these spills were discovered by local residents – not the pipeline operators. The burden falls on the people who live on the land.
In Illinois alone, the Dakota Access Pipeline will cross the Mississippi, the Illinois River, and the Kaskaskia River. However, the pipeline doesn’t just cross big rivers. Apple Creek, Macoupin Creek, Mauvaise Terre Creek, Sandy Creek, Shoal Creek, Hurricane Creek, Flour Creek, Walnut Creek, Otter Creek, Brea Creek, Cedar Creek…the list goes on. Each of these, any of these, is threatened by this pipeline. The pipeline would be just upstream of at least 5 community water supply lakes and at least 5 community water supply river intakes. So we’re gambling with the drinking water of the people of Illinois.
The Dakota Access Pipeline also represents a national commitment to the fossil fuels, making climate goals harder to achieve. It will prop up an industry that damages our waters and lands, and kills our wildlife.
Prairie Rivers Network stands in solidarity with the Standing Rock people and people everywhere who want to protect their water, land and wildlife from oil pollution.”
The Dakota Access Pipeline Project explained: http://inhabitat.com/what-is-the-dakota-access-pipeline-project-we-explain/
