A Tale of Two Agencies… Failing Minnesotans.

Tags

401, 404, Aquifer, Aquifer Breach, Breach, Clearbrook, Clearwater County, Enbridge, Health Professionals for Healthy Climate, Honor The Earth, HP4HC, Line 3, Line 93, MN350, MPCA, Pipeline, RISE Coalition, Sierra Club, Tar Sands, Violations

Here’s my latest missive to the MPCA.

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Dear Ms. Kuskie,

I’m wondering if you can answer some of my questions regarding the continued concerns we have along the Enbridge Corridor.

While I’ve been reaching out to the MPCA’s reported Tribal Liaison, I’ve had no response.

As an abutter to the project, who’s been working with my friends, including many Native women leaders, for years now… to stop this project through Indian country, I was hopeful that my that my questions would matter to the MPCA and would get response.

Perhaps you can tell me what, if anything, is being done to address the frac-out conditions that appear to be still rising in the Mississippi Headwaters River Valley here?  The beavers have noted it and are working to mitigate.

11-10-21 Photo of Mizi-Ziibi with Miskwaabiimizh from Amik (Mississippi River with Red Willow from Beaver)

They, Amikwag, seem the only ones doing anything about our environmental concerns along Line 3, or Line 93, as Enbridge had dubbed their new project, as is evidence by the Red Willow (Miskwaabiimizh) being placed in the flow of Misi-ziibi just downstream of the pipeline crossing. 

Let me know if you have any answers regarding the ongoing disturbances to our flora and fauna along this project, which continues to gain attention… especially as Enbridge continues to be ever present in our neighborhoods up here in Clearwater County.

Just yesterday we saw a large Precision Pipeline semi trundling past the house mid-afternoon.

Maybe you can tell me what is happening in the forests and wetlands near my home?

Thanks for your consideration.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

While prior to construction the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources was given less attention than the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (as the agency responsible for the 401 Clean Water Permit), it seems the DNR and MPCA have now switched places with the DNR getting most of the attention and the MPCA getting little.

Not that paying attention to the DNR construction permits would have made a difference… because Enbridge willfully violated those permits in their actions that burst open the Aquifer at the Clearbrook terminal.

But the lack of oversight was clear from both Agencies.

Both Agencies failed to stop this project when, by all rights, they should have.

Problem is… no Minnesota State Agency appears to have wanted to stop the Project.

The story most telling of their unwillingness to stop the Project goes way back to February 5th of last year, almost 2 years ago now.

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A group of Minnesota scientists – including retirees from both MDNR & MPCA as well as Healthcare Professionals for Healthy Climate (HP4HC) and Science for the People – Twin Cities (SftP), joined Indigenous Leaders from RISE Coalition and Honor the Earth, along with state non-profit groups (Sierra Club & MN350), along with legal and spiritual representation, to FINALLY meet with MPCA staff to discuss how they could work to deny the 401 permit for the tar sands pipeline project – opposed by all these groups. 

Our membership included membership from White Earth Reservation, which continues to oppose the Line 3 project to this day, and is supporting multiple legal challenges from the 404 Permit issued by the US Army Corps of Engineers to the White Earth Tribal Court case where Manoomin is suing the state DNR for the Right to Life.

The arrival at the MPCA that morning was different from other times we’d visited the MPCA for meetings. While many of the representatives had traveled hours from Northern Minnesota, hoping to, as usual, gather in the cafeteria for refreshment and review prior to our meeting,  the desk staff refused us entry. The first members of our group were two young white men, one representing MN350 and one Honor the Earth. Others of us – still on the road – were contacted for help and we reached out to MPCA staff to determine what the problem might be. On arrival of my caravan, which included retired MPCA staff, two citizens who live along the Enbridge route, and a pastor (all white), and following some additional discussion, we were eventually led back to the cafeteria by an MPCA staffer.

To show the level of concern and fear of Minnesota Citizens in our Agencies, then-Commissioner Laura Bishop came personally to the cafeteria to explain, “they thought you might be protesters.”

She apologized and left us to our lunch. It was only in hindsight that we’d realize why they may have been so touchy… as they were readying a weapon that aimed to derail the public… and it was just about to launch.

On arrival to the MPCA conference room, we were welcomed and seated. And then came the moment of truth for me in this campaign, the moment that I realized how FUCKED we were when it came to the MPCA.

Commissioner Bishop came into the room as the meeting began and gleefully announced that, AS WE SPOKE [Oh, boy!], the MPCA had just issued a memo noting…

wait for it….

The MPCA had Issued a Draft APPROVAL for Enbridge’s draft 401 permit!

All I could think, as this bombshell exploded was:
Why. THE. FUCK. Are WE even HERE? 
If the decision had already been made by the Agency?

Just another in the short list of “let’s pretend we’re gonna listen to the Water Protectors” meetings that were never intended to truly hear us. Instead, we were left to work on how to make the public hearings as ROBUST for Public Comment as possible. [Though it would later become clear, that testimony would also be largely ignored by the MPCA.]

Peter Tester, who became Commissioner temporarily when Laura resigned the following summer (on the cusp of being fired by the Senate, and likely to assure she could be placed AGAIN in a position of influence, which dismissal by the Senate would preclude) made a couple big promises that day, neither of which were fulfilled.
1) To review and consider any documentation we could provide to show why the permit should not be granted.
2) To be accountable to us.

Since that meeting, one of the VERY FEW given to Minnesota citizens hoping to Stop the unnecessary Enbridge pipeline project, all that we’ve seen from the MPCA and DNR has been failure.

1) Failure to WATCH Enbridge as they worked on one of the largest infrastructure projects to not benefit Minnesota that has ever crossed the state.

2) Failure to pull permits when Enbridge violations were discovered.

There are many places the states agencies failed us and a few of the most egregious during construction were:

1. Enbridge’s frac-out into the Mississippi River at the second crossing. 6000-9000 gallons of drilling mud frac-out into Misi-ziibi… DURING A PERIOD WHEN DRILLING WAS RESTRICTED FROM HAPPENING! [June 25th – violating the April 1- June 30 restriction period.] This was the first of frac-outs that occurring in Mississippi River. [MPCA FAILURE]
2. July frac-outs into Misi-ziibi Headwaters at the first crossing, where frac-out materials were left in the wetlands and, to this day, continue to show presence in the River Valley. [MPCA FAILURE]
3. Unbeknownst to citizens, until the mid-September notice, Enbridge willfully violated their construction permit, not informing the DNR of an aquifer breach for almost 5 months! Even though the DNR knew of the problems and it’s effects by early July, no notice was given to citizens for TWO MORE MONTHS… as Enbridge construction continued along the remainder of their corridor. [MDNR FAILURE]

I ask AGAIN:
IF THESE PERMITS ARE NOT ALLOWING US TO STOP PROJECTS THAT VIOLATE THEM, WHAT IS THEIR PURPOSE?

And now we see:
1) A lack of work to remedy failures to the 401 permit on the frac-out concerns that remain.

2) Continued and apparently failing work by Enbridge to remedy the KNOWN Aquifer Breach in Clearbrook. TEN (10) full months since it happened now! LONGER THAN IT TOOK TO BUILD 337 MILES of Tar Sands Pipeline across our state… which was apparently the priority to remedying the aquifer breach threatening fragile calcareous fens. [FFS. If this doesn’t awaken people to the State’s priorities, will anything? (see more on that at the end of the blog…)]

3) No public transparency to the other two Breaches reportedly in existence per the DNR.

As we saw with COP26, our Agencies and “Leaders” are failing us. Not just here in Minnesota, but around the world, as they appear bound to helping their fossil fuel friends continue to destroy our planetary home.

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Want to read more on the forest devastation being driven by our fossil fueled world? Check this out.

Want to read more on groups working to hold the Minnesota DNR accountable? Check out this recent blog post from Agate‘s Stephanie Hemphill.

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Update: Received a response from Ms. Kuskie on 11/30/21 (after I re-requested a response):

Hi Jami,

Apologies for the delayed response, I was out of office last week. Though primary construction of the line is generally complete, the MPCA continues to review monitoring information and oversee ongoing work, and the independent environmental monitors are still active. HDD work, where pressurized drilling mud was in use, ended in early August, and the MPCA made available information on the “frac outs” reported to us around that time. I apologize for being unable to provide further detail at this time; Minn Stat 13.39 classifies as non-public data related to active investigations.

Thanks for reaching out last week and for sending me a nudge today.

-melissa

Response – or should I say Non-response… from Ms. Kuskie 11/30/21 13:26

Apparently, the public doesn’t need to know anything.

Criminal Charges Pending Against Enbridge

Tags

Clearwater, DAPL, Enbridge, Line 3, Line 93, MN DNR, MPCA, PUC, Red Lake Nation, RISE Coalition, Standing Rock, White Earth Reservation

It’s been another whirlwind of a week in Enbridgeland.

As most find themselves accepting a future Enbridge wishes – and promotes daily on the radio still… and with large ads in the paper too? [I wouldn’t know as we don’t get a paper. Perhaps for the best to not have to see Enbridge lies…] Their favorite, in these end days, is the one about how well Enbridge works with the Tribes. [FFS. They’ve done all they can to DIVIDE Tribes!]

This weekend, we discovered a new tagline – financed by Enbridge I’m guessing, based on the large billboards and signs being for the companies who have long supported the Line 3 project …for what recompense, I know not, though perhaps some foolishly support them without compensation? These new signs are perhaps the scariest yet… so I’ll save them for the end of the blog.

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Yet regardless of all their advertising, Enbridge could not be in a much bigger mess at this point in the game.

As we saw with Dakota Access Pipeline on their final river crossing, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe brought out tremendous support AGAINST a pipeline running through [not the white neighborhoods of Bismark… but] the Native lands of the Sioux People. All along the Line 3 process in Minnesota, we’ve seen the strong and vocal opposition, based in science and standing on the treaty rights of the Anishinaabeg.

Yet these citizens were stymied again and again by state agencies in apparent collusion with Enbridge as commissioners were nearly completely unwilling to meet with citizens or scientists, state representatives literally campaigned for the oil transport company to be paid millions of dollars in back taxes, and even the MN Court of Appeals seemed to find that, even though there was no demand forecast provided… deferring to the Public Utilities Commission was A-OK anyway!

Nevertheless, Enbridge is finding its project also falling apart at their last crossing… of the Clearwater River, no less. Ironic, no? As they are trying to wrap up construction, there is evidence of a frac-out once again.

We saw on July 20th the public outrage grow as Enbridge experienced mulitple frac-outs as they drilled under the Mississippi Headwaters in Clearwater County. These failures followed unreported frac-outs at the Willow River after the company had already drilled under the Mississippi’s second crossing (near Palisade – outside the allowable construction period no less, which restricted work from 4/1-6/30 each year – though a reported frac-out of 6000-9000 gallons of drilling mud occurred on… June 25, 2021) of Enbridge’s preferred route for their new pipeline, now named Line 93 as the official line markers are installed along the new corridor. It took public monitors and Senators and Representatives writing to the MPCA to FINALLY hear from the agency of the more than two dozen frac-outs that had already happened!!

To this DAY, STILL the Mississippi Headwaters continues to show evidence of frac-out drilling mud seeping up through the wetlands and rising to the water surfaces, and into Misi-ziibi. All coming downstream to a drinking water source near you?

RISE Coalition, Red Lake Treaty Camp, Camp Migizi, Honor the Earth, and Indigenous Environmental Network are holding Enbridge accountable for their destruction of our wetlands, waters, and lands. While the MN DNR and MPCA seem to do near nothing but allow Enbridge to continue said destruction. [Love Forever to Ron Turney…]

That was just the beginning of their HDD (Horizontally Directional Drilled) water crossings and their luck has continued to be poor as we now see the frac-outs at the Clearwater River, as well as the larger problem of Enbridge’s VIOLATION of their Construction Permit which resulted in their BREACH OF AN AQUIFER in Clearbrook – WAY BACK IN JANUARY… which the DNR claims to not have known about until June 15, 2021, and for which the public was not informed until just this month. This aquifer CONTINUES to leak as Enbridge finds no way to remedy their rupture. NINE MONTHS LATER… [FFS, I could make an entire HUMAN in that time!]

Keep in mind that June 15th was just ELEVEN (11) DAYS after the DNR approved an almost 10-fold increase in dewatering allowance for Enbridge. DID NO ONE CONNECT THE FUCKING DOTS ON THIS SHIT??? FFS How thoughtless ARE the DNR agency representatives???

Separately, the DNR has also referred this matter to the Clearwater County Attorney for criminal prosecution. The DNR has determined that Enbridge Energy violated Minnesota Statute 103G.141, subdivision 1, which makes it a crime to appropriate “waters of the state without previously obtaining a permit from the commissioner.”

The criminal referral and civil enforcement orders resulted from an investigation of Line 3 construction activities near Enbridge’s Clearbrook Terminal. Should the company violate the DNR’s restoration order, it would be subject to additional misdemeanor charges under state law.”

DNR Announcement of Orders Against Enbridge

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On Saturday, we discovered a large Enbridge holding tank farm in SE Bagley, just between the golf course and the nursing home facility in a small cul-de-sac neighborhood of quiet homes. On discovery, I wasn’t sure what this holding tank facility was all about, though on review of the footage at home that evening, I determined these were likely settling tanks for the large amounts of water Enbridge was removing from our landscape as they try to finish their work.

What are the contents of these tanks?

It seems two things, based on aerial and on the ground footage… and NO INPUT FROM THE DNR OR MPCA to Citizens of the dangers entailed.

First, they appear to be tanks for the frac-out contaminated waters vaccuumed from their HDD locations to be placed for settling – as their designed dewatering systems were FAR TOO INSUBSTANTIAL to accommodate the LARGE QUANTITIES OF FRAC-OUT CONTAMINATED WATER.

Approved Dewatering Site – 260th Street crossing of Line 93 in Clearwater County

Enbridge dumps water in here and hope the bales filter out any sediments as the liquid – water with any contaminants from the trench – flows back into the environment. Or so I hear… never saw one in use here in Clearwater County.

This was taken at the 250th street crossing where these dewatering stations never were installed.

Second, with the aquifer breach near Enbridge’s Clearbrook Terminal, it seems clear there could also be water coming from that location as well. AND at least one truck leaving this job site was marked not as “Non-Potable Water” but with HazMat Code 1993 – FLAMMABLE LIQUID.

Access Road 15C is at the Aquifer Breach at Enbridge’s Clearbrook Terminal

We saw multiple trucks leaving an area on Fairgrounds Road directly east of the Bagley dump. Not only did we see dump trucks (one that dumped its load in the dump) and “Non-Potable Water” trucks, but also another with HazMat Code 1993 – FLAMMABLE LIQUID, following that one directly to the tank farm facility SE of Bagley.

HazMat Tool Info

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SOOOO….How did this Breach of the Aquifer happen?

It seems Enbridge decided to willfully violate the Construction Permit for their “Line 3 Replacement” project… which we all know now is a relocation and expansion project as their easement was clearly was cut for more than a single pipeline installation.

The Administrative Penalty Order issued to Enbridge found Enbridge far exceeded plans presented to the state of Minnesota for only an 8′ deep trench in the area:

Beginning on about January 21, 2021, and continuing through the date of this APO, Enbridge has violated Minn. Stat. § 103G.223 by causing reductions in groundwater resources available to the Leon 33 calcareous fen (Steenerson and Deep Lake Fens) (calcareous fens) without an approved calcareous fen management plan. In 2020, Enbridge informed DNR, in its request for a no effect concurrence, that its construction activities were unlikely to negatively impact the nearby calcareous fens because Enbridge intended to excavate about an eight foot deep trench. Instead, when Enbridge constructed the pipeline at or near the Clearbrook Terminal, Enbridge excavated an eighteen foot deep trench and installed sheet piling to a depth of 28 feet. Because Enbridge deviated from its plans, Enbridge breached an artesian aquifer, causing uncontrolled flow of groundwater. The uncontrolled flow affects the same aquifer that upwells into the Leon 33 calcareous fen (Steenerson and Deep Lake Fens) and is located approximately 4,800 feet northwest of the calcareous fens. Enbridge failed to submit a calcareous fen management plan for DNR approval prior conducting an activity that may drain, or otherwise degrade, wholly or partially, a calcareous fen.”

DNR Administrative Penalty Order dated 9/16/2021

This situation is also noted in the Restoration and Replacement Order:

In an email to Randall Doneen dated July 7, 2021, Kristen Lenz of Merjent, Enbridge’s consultant, stated that as of March 19, 2021, the quantity of water pumped was estimated at 3.8 million gallons. Enbridge had not taken any flow or volume measurements since March 18. Attachments to the email showed that the depth of the bore pit was 18 feet deep by 45 feet long by 12 feet wide. The sheet piling was 30 feet long with 28 feet installed into the ground. This email contained maps, boring logs and other information about the area.”

DNR 9/16/21 RESTORATION AND REPLACEMENT ORDER Finding of Fact #15

Enbridge Lies FB Acct

That many still support Enbridge is a sign of a poor media capacity to shine the light on the egregious way Enbridge is already damaging our state, including for the last nine months, by bleeding water from our landscape – itself experiencing severe drought – as the pipeline company begged the DNR for a HUGE increase in their use of water from the state, all while not revealing their company’s BREACH of an Aquifer because they FAILED to CONFORM to their Construction Permit Requirements!!!

The media has failed – always seeming to drink the Enbridge kool-aid… perhaps because of all those big ads… that generated much-needed revenues during a pandemic? From scarcely reporting on the death and near-death of two Enbridge employees early on in the project work… to barely noting the inclusion of Enbridge pipeliners involved in sex crimes across the north… to not reporting on the police brutality by DNR Officers, State Troopers, and local law enforcement – with much exception here in Clearwater County where we’ve seen Sheriff Halverson honestly, fairly, and transparently enforcing the law. And while they are not covering those very serious and traumatic events, we watch them give the same short shrift to explaining to the public how the state agencies and local citizens have been duped by Enbridge money and propaganda. The media seem just another paid promoter for Enbridge.

Which brings me back to those scary new banners.

Now I know where I’m NOT getting a trailer if I need one…
#Boycott King of the Road Trailers

For those who cannot easily name their product, they choose another word in their star-spangled banner ads:

At US Hwy 2 and Clearwater County 2 – the Heart of Enbridgeland?

I’m hoping this time, the public sees the already atrocious concerns being raised simply by Enbridge’s CONSTRUCTION process, and that they will certainly be rising to assure Minnesota is protected from this foreign corporation destroying even MORE of Minnesota than we’ve seen to date.

We surely have seen that no one in the State Agencies are coming to our rescue.

Update 9/29/21:

Bad news: PUC apparently giving Enbridge the Green Light… even though there is SO MUCH MESS STILL REMAINING! Exposed and incomplete wiring not done at many crossings along the RA-05 portion of the route – even at the Clearbrook Terminal.

Photo taken 9/26/21 at east side of Highway 92 just west of the Clearbrook Terminal.
These kinds of loose wires are rampant throughout the county, yet Enbridge proposes their project “complete”??? Who inspected this fucking project? Apparently, Minnesota Agencies trust Enbridge for that too…

This was taken on 9/25/21 at the Line 93 (that’s its new name…) crossing of 298th Street.

Note the VERY WIDE CORRIDOR which Enbridge seemingly hopes to be able to move all their pipelines into – as their easements for their pipelines thru Leech Lake Reservation end in 2029. Wishing more had understood the critical reasons we have worked so hard to #StopLine3.

To Worse: Inewz.TV reports Enbridge plans to flow tar sands by Friday.

Cree Prophecy? Chief Seattle quote? Debwewin. Truth.

Today, RISE Coalition, Red Lake Nation, and White Earth Nation all stand in opposition.
Stand with them in every way that you can.
Miigwech.

Update: 10/18/21 – And STILL the Enbridge Aquifer Breach at their Clearbrook Terminal… remains unresolved.

A Message from RISE Coalition

Tags

Clearwater County, Dawn Goodwin, Enbridge, Gaagigeyaashiik, Line 3, Mississippi River Valley, RISE Coalition

Prayer is a Freedom Guaranteed by the First Amendment. Today’s blog is dedicated to Camp Firelight and their ongoing ceremony to protect all the life in this place from the dangers of Enbridge’s Relocation and Expansion Tar Sands Pipeline Project.

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Today at Firelight camp where we are peacefully asserting our treaty rights by occupying space and holding ceremony, we received this eviction notice from Enbridge.

RISE Coalition rejects Enbridge’s empty trespass claims, stands on treaty rights. For the past week, Anishinaabe band members have exercised their treaty rights and peacefully occupied a site on the Mississippi headwaters where Enbridge plans to drill its Line 3 pipeline under the river. They have been joined by many non-Indigenous allies who are invited guests.

Today, Enbridge issued a letter alleging that a ”certain group of people” is trespassing on its pipeline easement and demanded that we depart the premises.

We respectfully decline.

We are not a “certain group of people,” but members of various bands of Anishinaabe people with constitutionally guaranteed rights to hunt, fish and gather on lands that we ceded to the United States government.

Throughout the multi-year Enbridge Line 3 review process, Enbridge and the state of Minnesota have remained willfully ignorant of our rights established under the treaties of 1837, 1854 and 1855. Our treaty rights are the supreme law of the land, according to Article VI of the U.S. Constitution. These take precedent over any state-approved easement or trespass laws.

We dispute many of the assertions in Enbridge’s June 12 letter.

Enbridge continues to call this a “replacement project.” It is not. It is a new and larger pipeline along a new route. That’s not a replacement.

Enbridge’s letter states that “trespassers claimed to be present on the site to conduct religious ceremonies.” It was not a claim but a fact. The ceremony is ongoing. Our people continue to fast and pray for the protection of the water and the land.

Enbridge’s letter said we have “caused significant damage to property and equipment.” This is not true. There was nothing here when we arrived other than a wood plank road that was already carved up by the coming and going of heaving equipment. There was no equipment here to damage.

Enbridge’s letter states that we are “endangering the health and safety of construction workers and the trespassers themselves.” Speaking for ourselves, we do not feel endangered. Nor have we seen any Enbridge workers since we arrived who might be endangered. This is corporate hype to create fear; our presence is peaceful nor are we trespassing.

Truth is, it’s Enbridge and its workers who have endangered the health and safety of our Indigenous peoples. Enbridge began Line 3 construction while the pandemic was still out of control. Indigenous peoples have suffered disproportionately from COVID, yet the state and Enbridge showed little concern.

Further, Indigenous people have repeatedly raised concern about an increase in sex and drug trafficking due to the influx of out-of-state Line 3 construction workers. Enbridge wrote a weak Human Trafficking Prevention Plan and the state rubber stamped it. The state imposed no reporting requirement on sex trafficking arrests, let alone imposed any sanctions on Enbridge for violations. This was callous and irresponsible.

Enbridge’s letter states it has made “multiple overtures” to the trespassers. We are confused by this statement. The June 12 letter was the first communication we received.

Enbridge refers to us as “criminals.” Enbridge is the criminal. It’s been cited multiple times for safety violations. It’s responsible for the 2010 crude oil spill in Michigan’s Kalamazoo River that took several years and $1.2 billion to clean up.

In the most recent outrage, Enbridge is seeking to mess with more of our clean water. It originally asked the state for a permit allowing it to dewater 510 million gallons of water for construction. On Friday, it amended its request to 5 billion gallons of water, or ten times the original amount. And this during a state drought.

Enbridge and the state of Minnesota have repeatedly failed to respect our treaty rights, our lands, and our water.

We wait with great anticipation to hear the decision on a major lawsuit before the Minnesota Court of Appeals challenging Line 3 permits. We will have more to say tomorrow.

RISE, Resilient Indigenous Sisters Engaging, includes women Leech Lake, Fond du Lac and White Earth, who came together to Stop Line 3.

Gaagigeyaashiik Dawn Goodwin, speaking for Firelight Camp and RISE Coalition June 13, 2021

Credit: Seekjoy video linked below 6-13-21

Seekjoy video of the above response from Gaagigeyaashiik Dawn Goodwin 6/13/21

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In Clearwater County, Sheriff Darin Halverson has been working to keep the law in the Mississippi River Valley and that means he will be enforcing the Constitution. I am hopeful that today, that peace will continue.

Let’s Not Get Caught Doin’ Nothin’

Tags

Indigenous Environmental Network, Minnesota, NECESSITY, RISE Coalition, Valve Turners

The ideas are flying fast and furious these days. So much seems to be happening so fast… with no certainty as to where we are going or how we will get there.

As the Old World continues to hold sway, we see a NEW WORLD opening…

• Increasingly, many are working from home… and most don’t want to go back to the office.
• Homeschooling on the rise as parents want to minimize the risk of children bringing home the virus.
• Consumer spending is down… but the Stock Market is up?
• Businesses not necessary to LIFE are folding… though some still work to prop them up… [in denial and desperation?]
• Social unrest continues to grow… worldwide.
• Mother Earth is bringing much big change in the form of fires, floods, drought, a pandemic (FFS), and… Her simple inability to support the number of people currently residing here is becoming quite clear.

As business works to try to get people back into offices, smart companies are realizing the benefit of NOT continuing with Old Ways… the overhead of big office buildings, salespeople flying all over the world, and the like are being recognized for the HUGE waste they create. [And people are enjoying not having to wear pants to work. I could have told you about this LONG AGO – working from home was a pretty amazing several years back in the early 2000s.] I can attest to the cost savings working from home brings to a family. As well as the connectivity.

Connectivity is what I believe will save us. If we, in fact, retain enough time to save humanity from itself. [For the record, I don’t believe we’re worth saving if we are gonna continue with Old World ways.]

As families face hardship from lost income or jobs, death or sickness of loved ones, difficulties finding enough fresh food, and other calamities, the WORLD is awakening to the understanding that some few have managed to amass great wealth and privilege… pretty much on the backs of the larger populations who are mainly being pillaged for their work, children, land… until they are left without enough to survive. These oppressed have lost more and more political power in the past decades and it seems a time when governments worldwide are failing to account to their people and… the world is UPRISING in response.

Here in the US, it’s time to clean house, re-evaluate priorities, and find a new way forward. One that works for the masses, not just billionaire oligarchs. And good news! There’s (almost) NOWHERE TO GO!

There are a limited number of places to go for US citizens… and most of those look like destinations where you’re going to see first hand the crises the planet is facing? Albania, Belarus, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Mexico, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Zambia. Looks like anywhere you want to go, there might be a chance to see war?

Limited choices for US travellers 9-26-20

So what is to be done?

I’d suggest finding a place that needs care and attention and giving it.

My efforts of late are to support local Indigenous groups that are focusing on Treaty Rights and the Rights of Nature. Groups like Indigenous Environmental Network have been successfully doing this work since the 90s. Even more locally (since IEN is pretty local in some big ways), RISE Coalition is a group of Resilient Indigenous Sisters Engaging to bring education and understanding to all people on how to support Treaty Rights for the Indigenous, which in itself offers protections for us all.

We stand in solidarity to protect the land, water, fire, and air for the next seven generations. We do this by educating, empowering, and inspiring our neighbors, friends, and allies.”

RISE Coalition FB page

And just now, a new film is emerging that speaks to the issues particular to Northern Minnesota. NECESSITY is bringing awareness to the crises our planet faces… and what each of us can do to help resolve them. I’d encourage each of us in Minnesota watching to learn more about what is happening in our state, and how it is affecting the Indigenous… and us all.

NECESSITY traces the fight in Minnesota against the expansion of pipelines carrying highly toxic tar sands oil through Native lands and essential waterways in North America. Front line communities–Native Peoples and communities of color–suffer the most immediate and severe consequences of the climate crisis: impacts on physical and mental health as well as territorial desecration and displacement. Yet with painful histories have come deep insights, forms of resilience and modes of resistance. This feature-length documentary follows indigenous leaders and white allies, using direct action to protect the sacred and demand justice. Legal experts discuss the record of disparate treatment in the justice system and the legal strategy of the necessity defense, which makes a moral case for acts of civil disobedience, while medical and scientific experts address the health effects of fossil fuels and dangers of pipeline and refinery infrastructure. Capturing the natural beauty of the region as well as the vulnerability of local habitats, aesthetic and stylistic elements drive the action forward, including animated maps with illustrations. The filmmaking team builds collectively on their training in psychology and anthropology.”

Necessitythemovie.com summary

Find your path forward to solutions… it’s literally the fight for our very lives.