This week, people across the world honored the environment and celebrated Earth Day. We are fortunate to be part of a community that values a clean and productive environment through sound public policy. The League of Women Voters has long fought battles to protect clean air and water, prevent harmful pollutants that contribute to climate change, and inform the public of what they can do to get involved in the ongoing battle to protect public health and the environment. This year, we’re urging President Obama to protect our climate and reject the Keystone XL Pipeline.
The proposed pipeline will threaten the safety of drinking water, promote bad energy policy and increase the greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. The Keystone XL Pipeline will stretch 1,700 miles across America to carry the dirtiest oil on the planet to be refined and then shipped overseas. A spill or major leak could devastate the aquifer that provides drinking and irrigation water to millions. If approved, the oil from the pipeline would generate three times more global warming pollution than conventional oil.
On Earth Day 2013, we’ve told President Obama that protecting the earth is about making important decisions to ensure the long-term health of our citizens, wildlife and agriculture.
The Keystone XL pipeline is all risk and no reward.
MARY ALICE SERAFINI
Fayetteville
President, League of Women Voters of Washington County
Opinion, Pages 5 on 04/29/2013