*cautious optimism*

[teenybuffalo]

Well, here's some good news for a change: the Dakota Access Pipeline is halted for now. The Army Corps of Engineers has denied the builders the permit, and the Army has agreed to "explore alternate routes

Comments

[asakiyume]

Amen

[teenybuffalo]

I was way too optimistic. Apparently all that's happened is that the Army Corps of Engineers has refused Dakota Access the permit to drill. There's nothing preventing them from drilling away anyhow and paying a massive fine for it every day, because it would still be cheaper than rerouting the pipeline. I'll watch the news today and see what happens. I have an awful feeling this move is going to mean the protestors and the rest of the world go, "Victory! Everyone stand down now," and then the company drills the pipeline anyway.

[asakiyume]

I think the protestors are very aware of that risk, and the core group is likely to stay. It's definitely true that this sort of thing is a war of attrition, with the powerful hoping to exhaust the weak.** But hopefully an awakened public will listen when the core protestors point out continued moves on the part of the company, and continued pressure can result in something more permanent. But yeah, while this is cause for celebration (I still think), it's not permission to stamp "DONE" on the file and move on.

**Edited to say, the weak are not actually weak. They're just weakER, in a conventional sense, than the powerful.

[gaudior]

The weak have fewer resources, but no less will. Possibly more, actually-- the powerful are less used to having to deal with difficulties, and also probably have the ability to get what they want some other way. So!

I agree about celebrating-- this is still a victory, even if a temporary or uncertain one. Our country's army has several hundred years' history of attacking native peoples in the interests of white wealth-- the fact that they were convinced not to do so today is actually still a big deal.

[sartorias]

I am trying not to dread what Trump's horrors are going to unleash. But for now: huzzah!