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Cherokeean Herald
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
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opinion
Protesters are out of bounds
Clearing misconceptions about Keystone XL
KENNETH WHITE
JOHN MAYO
Rusk
Nacogdoches
It’s to be expected that TransCanada spokespersons James Prescott and James Miller would run loose with the facts and engage in hyperbole; after all they are “spin doctors,” – it’s their job. But, it is disappointing when so many media outlets quote their inaccurate spin as if it were gospel. TransCanada and many in the fossil fuel industry continue to refer to the diluted bitumen being forced through their pipelines as “crude oil.” It is not crude oil. Actual crude oil is pumped from the ground as a lighter than water liquid and sent to refining. Tar sands bitumen is more akin to soft asphalt. Tar sands bitumen is mixed with highly toxic liquids and gasses forming diluted bitumen, to be forced through a pipeline at high pressure destined
for specially prepared refineries here in Texas. The “spin doctors” won’t tell you diluted bitumen is heavier than water, and the gasses included in this mix are heavier than air. When leaked, the toxic liquids will permeate river beds, sandy soils and faults and could permanently pollute our ground water, and the harmful gasses lie close to the ground and sicken humans as it does at the Kalamazoo River spill. This is why highly corrosive diluted bitumen is especially dangerous. It poses imminent danger from extraction in Canada, through our heartland, to the Gulf; especially at the Ogallala and Carrizo Wilcox aquifers, rivers and faults. Considering documented incidents of substandard workmanship and failures of the TransCanada XL I pipeline (online
2010: 14 leaks in the first year, 35-plus since, including a 400 barrel geyser), TransCanada bitumen pipelines represent unacceptable risks. Another repeated false claim that this “oil (will) reduce dependence on foreign product” flies in the face of reality. Know this – it is foreign product. It’s not a traded U.S. commodity. TransCanada sends their diluted bitumen direct to refining, and sells the refined product outside the U.S. That makes our homeland a cheap conduit for TransCanada’s profit machine. What do we get… unusable property, toxic pollution and increased global warming. Mr. Prescott, I say “that would be lunacy.” Mr. Mayo is part of the Landowners Rights Alliance.
Dec. 1 was a great day for a parade CONNIE PARSONS Rusk
Dec. 1 was a beautiful day to host the Rusk Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade. I would like to thank the following for helping to make this year so successful: Lee Pearman, Bob Pearman, Paul Laney and Tim McRae for providing new vehicles from Pearman Motor Company, Bacon Autoplex and Bill McRae Ford. Thanks to chamber and city officials for helping pick up and return these vehicles: • Bacon – Chamber and City Officials: Bob Goldsberry, Mike Murray, Derrick Collier, Gary Epperson • Bill McRae – The Garden Club - Cissy Crysup, Wally Walker, Marcie Art and Dorothy Graham • Pearman - The Lions Club - Vic Wharford, Sam Mormino, Ann Brown, and Jan Hardy from Flowers n Things • Toyland Farms – Kay “Baby” Epperson • Steve Norton – County Commissioner • Rusk Fire Department – Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus who came in from the North Pole for this event
• Houston White and Tara Hood with the Rotary Club of Rusk Dignitaries and clubs: Garden Club; Mayor Angela Raiborn; The Lions Club; 2012 Chamber President – Toni Meador; Brenda Dominy, Justice of the Peace, Pct 1; Craig D. Caldwell, county attorney; 2012 Grand Marshall - Mike & Cissy Crysup; City Treasurer Patsy Lassiter and County Clerk - Laverne Lusk, who rode together; Linda Little, Tax Assessor-Collector; Kelly Traylor Cty Commissioners; Jamarria Brooks, Fair on the Square queen; Elmer Beckworth, district attorney. Also, special thanks to the City of Rusk; James Campbell, Cherokee County Sheriff; Harry’s Building Materials; Lynn Kelly, Constable; Maydelle, Reklaw, Alto, New Summerfield and Rusk Fire Departments; New Birmingham Golf Club; New Summerfield Police Department; Rusk Chamber of Commerce; Jan Hardy, Jeannie Plyler and Thomas Parsons from the Keep Rusk Beautiful Committee; Rusk Police Depart-
ment; T’s Tumbling, Cheer and Dance; Charlie Glen and his 1934 Ford; Civic Theatre (Narnia); Leslie Birdwell; Linard Dowling wagon and horsemen; Miss Jacksonville Rodeo Association; Rusk Junior High and Rusk High School bands, cheerleaders and football players Many thanks to the three judges for stepping up and doing such a great job. The following floats that participated this year are listed in alphabetical order. Scores will be posted at the Chamber. Awana East Side Baptist Church; Boy Scout Troop 405; 2nd place, Branded by Christ Cowboy Church, Rusk; Cherokee Trails Rehab and Nursing Facility; Christ the Redeemer and walking unit; Cub Scout Pack 227; Cub Scout Pack 405; honorable mention, Eastex Fine Arts & Pioneer Spirit; Gallatin Missionary Baptist Church; Rusk Church of Christ; 1st place,
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protest. They were denied the right to protest on private property, which is accurate according to the law. Don’t these people have something better to do with their lives than to follow a pipeline around trying to stop the construction of it? Don’t they have a job to work at, or a school to attend? Is this part of the “Occupy Wall Street” crowd last year, that littered lower Manhatten with filth and garbage, urine and feces deposits in the open where pedestrians could view and smell this? I suggest these people make better use of their time by protesting Planned Parenthood and their abortion clinics. Maybe they might help stop the “slaughter of the innocents” being carried out everyday in clinics nationwide, much in part paid for with your tax dollars. Again, I want to compliment the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department and Capt. John Raffield on a job well done.
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I’m puzzled as to why someone would chain themselves to some equipment on private property, and then some folks complain when the law enforcement officials resort to pepper spraying the individual(s) to safely remove these protestors from private property. The sheriff’s deputies gave the protestors of the Keystone Pipeline ample time to remove themselves from the equipment and private property so they could continue their protest off of the property as long as it was peaceful. However, these protestors refused to comply with a reasonable order and thus brought their own punishment on themselves by refusing to comply with reason. I fully support the way the law officers handled this. They were doing their lawful duties in my opinion. The ones who think the pepper spraying was too harsh should ask themselves which side of the law they are on. No one was denied the right to a peaceful
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