First of all, what is #NoDAPL?

#NoDAPL is the hashtag for the campaign against the construction of the North Dakota access pipeline organized by the standing ‘Rock Sioux’ nation, which started on April 1^st 2016 in Standing Rock, North Dakota.

This North Dakota pipeline would transport crude oil uniquely across 50 different counties and 4 large states such as: North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Illinois.The pipeline would thus cover 1172 miles and further cost $3.8 Billion, an amount which was strongly taken into consideration by the state citizens.

Three basic positive aspects of the North Dakota pipeline include the connection between Bakken and Three Forks production areas in Dakota with existing pipelines in Illinois. The pipeline would employ new advanced pipeline technology to ensure safety and reliability, creating new jobs. Lastly, the project will also address transportation strains in the Upper Midwest created by the dramatic increase of crude oil production in the production areas of North Dakota. A lack of rail cars to move grain out of South Dakota has magnified the problem. Tariffs on grain railcars have drastically increased from $50 to nearly $1,400 per car. These cost increases can carve up to $1.00 from every mass of corn shipped. The Pipeline will therefore help ease transportation shortages for agriculture and other industries.

The main problem with the construction of the crude oil pipeline is that it would cross the Missouri and Cannonball river, land which is sacred to the Sioux people of standing rock reservation. This created a movement started in North Dakota which went all the way to San Francisco city last night, as tribal nations across the country are officially supporting the Sioux nation of standing rock. Descendent from exactly 87 different tribes are taking part in this riot, thus it was recorded to be the largest coming together of tribal nations in 140 years. According to the Common Dreams website, today 120 Native Americans have converged at what is known as Oceti Sakowin, a protest camp in the path of the Dakota access pipeline, just outside the Standing Rock reservation. (BDG. September 14 2016)

Further, #NoDAPL is getting some serious attentions from celebrities such as: Dr. Jill Stein, Mark Ruffalo, Bernie Sanders, Susan Sarandon, Leonardo DiCaprio and Shaileen Woodley, whom are all against the destruction of land scape to create the pipeline.

Here below is an example of the many tweets sent in honor of #NoDAPL:

Additionally, Mr. Sanders publicly stated that, “What we have got to tell Mr. Trump: We are not going silently into the night. The stakes are too high for the future of this planet.”(Sen. Bernie Sanders. 2016). Showing the peoples engagement and will to stop the unbearable mistake. “Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Chair Dave Archambault II called the move an act of “desperation,” noting:Dakota Access previously told the Court that if they were not delivering oil on Jan. 1, 2017, their shipper contracts would expire and the project would be in jeopardy.” (Deirdre Fulton. November 16 2016.) A final negative aspect on the North Dakota crude oil pipeline construction is that if the pipeline were to break, drinking water from the Missouri river would be contaminated within five minutes, killing a major drinking water source.  Thus, #NoDAPL has now become #NativeLivesMatter!

Bibliography:

1. “Dakota Access Pipeline.” Dakota Access Pipeline. Transfer Partners, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2016.
2. Http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCex-oWgf_YRhq84RSk60lng The Native Minute. “What Is #NoDAPL?” YouTube. YouTube, 30 Aug. 2016. Web. 17 Nov. 2016.
3. @wagingnv Nick Engelfried. “How #NoDAPL United a Movement for Indigenous Rights.” Waging Nonviolence. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2016.
4. “What You Need to Know About #NoDAPL and Why It Isn’t Over.” RSS. Kelly Hayes, 01 Nov. 2016. Web. 17 Nov. 2016.