- Title: USA: "Cowboy Indian Alliance" holds rally against Keystone XL pipeline
- Date: 26th April 2014
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (APRIL 24, 2014) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS MARCHING ON STREET PROTESTERS MARCHING FRONT OF PARADE OF PROTESTERS MARCHING DOWN STREET COWBOYS ON HORSEBACK CLOSE UP OF PROTESTERS' FEET AS THEY MARCH WOMAN HOLDING "NO XL" SIGN/ WOMAN HOLDING "SAY NO TO BIG OIL" NATIVE AMERICAN PROTESTERS CHANTING AS THEY MARCH PROTESTERS MARCHING DOWN STREET
- Embargoed: 11th May 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- City:
- Country: USA
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA5B710HNVBKXJT8HRMHA9AX3YT
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Thousands of Native Americans and ranchers marched on Washington D.C. to protest against the Keystone XL pipeline Saturday (April 26).
The eventa week of protests by the "Cowboy Indian Alliance" in the nation's capital to urge President Barack Obama to vote against the pipeline that many say will hurt the environment.
"I think that we're going up against a lot of people who have a lot of money, what we have to do is we have to align so I like the idea that the cowboys and the indians have mutual problem and they are aligning together to talk about it and to get their voice out there," said Maryland resident Irving Gaither.
Obama has said he will have the final say on whether to allow the pipeline connecting Canada's oil sands region to Texas refiners, and several government agencies had been given until May to weigh in. This had raised expectations of a final decision by mid-year.
Keystone opponents - among them environmentalists who make up a part of Obama's political base - say consuming carbon fuel to wrench oil sands crude from the ground will worsen climate change and the pipeline meant to carry up to 830,000 barrels a day will only spur more production.
Actress Daryl Hannah and musician Neil Young took part in the rally with the hope of mobilizing public opposition to the pipeline.
"I'm here because I feel we are all threatened by what's happening as a planet. We're threatened. I feel that the fossil fuel age is ending, it's having it's first death gasp and we need to keep pushing. We need to stop this pipeline which is bring this really bad fuel from Canada from the tail of the snake all the way down to the head of the snake in Texas," Young said.
Canadian energy firm TransCanada Corp is behind the proposed pipeline that would carry crude from Alberta's oil sands to refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast.
The project already weathered a State Department environmental review, which was required because the project would cross international borders. Several other agencies also are doing reviews, and Obama has the final say.
Supporters of the $5.4 billion pipeline say it would create thousands of temporary construction jobs and improve U.S. energy security. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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