Many believe that one of the big issues for those who voted for Obama is his stance on climate change and the phrases he used about global warming when he addressed the country on election night.
An estimated 35,000 people gathered in Washington D.C on Sunday to be part of the biggest environmental demonstration in history. People, including students, Native Americans, and civil rights activists from 30 different states, were bussed in to have their voice be heard, carrying banners and picket signs containing the slogan,“Forward on Climate”. Their aim is to stop the Keystone XL pipeline project from going through, and they say Obama has the sole power to do so.
Protesters are urging president Obama to prove that he is serious about his stance on climate change and to put a stop to the pipeline that would run from the tar sands of Alberta, Canada, to Texas’s Gulf Coast.
Many believe that one of the big issues for those who voted for Obama is his stance on climate change and the phrases he used about global warming when he addressed the country on election night. They feel this is a perfect opportunity to show, not only to his supporters but to the rest of the country, that actions will be taken to prevent further damage to the environment due to carbon emissions and oil spills.
Even in his recent state of the union address, the president spoke at lengths about the need for action on climate change and carbon emissions. Activists feel if this pipeline is allowed to be constructed, the ecological damages would be catastrophic. They assert that it is not a matter if there could be an oil spill, but when.
It is their contention that rejecting this project would not only help protect the surrounding environment, but also help to bring further environmental awareness to the mainstream. Protesters who spoke to the crowd, conjured memories of past oil spills, including the infamous BP spill.
At this point, it seems support for Obama and his administration is still strong, but if he gives in to pressure from the oil industry, and the Canadian government, to sign the 5.3 billion dollar contract, supporters and environmentalists alike will quickly lose faith in him. The 35,000 protesters that showed up in Washington D.C. on Sunday have clearly drawn a line in the sand and are now waiting to see which side Obama will end up on.
