Environmentalists, liberal celebrities plan White House protest

A group of environmentalists and liberal celebrities are organizing civil disobedience protests at the White House against a proposed oil pipeline — with the emphasis on “civil.” In an open letter, actor Danny Glover, activists Bill McKibben, James Hansen, David Suzuki and others ask for volunteers willing to risk arrest at the White House from mid-August to Labor Day. At issue is the proposed TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline that would run from the Canadian oil — or tar — sands to the Gulf coast. Environmentalists have lobbyied against it because of concerns over the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions linked to the use of oil sands-based crude oil, as well as worries about potential spills and the impact on low-income and minority communities. The decision currently rests with the State Department, which is reviewing the environmental impacts of the plan and is expected to make a call on the project by the end of the year. "This is one issue where the president has total control — he has to grant or deny the necessary permits. Congress can't get in the way," said environmental activist Bill McKibben in a statement. "It's where Obama can get his environmental mojo back.”...more