It’s the multi-pronged fight that never seems toย end.
Theย Alberta Tar Sandsย have been near the forefront of the North American energy and climate debate, thanks in large part to growing public concern and grassroots efforts likeย Tar Sands Action, a campaign led by climate activists to block construction of the Keystone XLย pipeline.
The temporary derailing of Keystone XL by President Obama – whoย in Januaryย delayed permissionย to construct the pipeline for the foreseeable future –ย was labeled a โvictoryโ by manyย activists.ย
But complicating the โvictoryโ narrative, Obama laterย granted permissionย to TransCanada Corporation to build the southern segment of the pipeline, the Cushing Extension, sometimes also referred to as the Cushing Marketlink Project, which will run from Cushing, Oklahoma to Port Arthur, Texas.ย
Pandering to Big Oil, Obama will visit Cushing on Thursday, the self-proclaimed โPipeline Crossroads of the World,โย to give a stump speech for his 2012 electionย campaign.
Theย Stillwater News Pressย explainedย the rationale for the visit thisย way:
The White House has announced the president will be in Cushing Thursday to discuss his ‘all-of-the-above‘ energy policyโฆThursday appears to some locals as an opportune time for Obama, who said he supports the southern leg, to get on board on the northern segment of the 36-inch pipeline fromย Canada.
CBC Newsย reportsย that โObama will make a speech at a storage yard that’s holding pipes to be used to build theย pipeline.โย
As the old adage goes, โA picture is worth a thousandย words.โย
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