Advancing the Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipelines

The Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines were both halted by the Obama administration but were given new life by President Trump this week. These pipelines would promote the extraction of oil from Canadian oil sands and the Bakken Shale in North Dakota. Moving oil by pipeline is probably safer than moving it by rail, but an even safer option is not to move oil at all and instead leave it in the ground. By further developing fossil fuel resources, rather than promoting energy conservation and development of alternative energy resources (e.g. wind and solar), we are moving in the wrong direction on climate change. Coming on the heels of the warmest year on record, Trump's actions demonstrate a stark disregard for the health of our planet and our children in favor of corporate profits.