1,253 arrests. The biggest civil disobedience action in a generation.

[Willinois]

Here's an update for this who haven't been following the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline as closely. It's apparently the largest American civil disobedience action since 1977.

First, nine Nobel peace prize laureates sent a letter to Obama in opposition to the pipeline, including Archbishop Tutu and the Dalai Lama. Here's a portion:

Quote:The night you were nominated for president, you told the world that under your leadership--and working together--the rise of the oceans will begin to slow and the planet will begin to heal. You spoke of creating a clean energy economy. This is a critical moment to make good on that pledge, and make a lasting contribution to the health and well being of everyone of this planet.

In asking you to make this decision, we recognize the more than 1200 Americans who risked arrest to protest in front of the White House between August 20th and September 3rd. These brave individuals have spoken movingly about experiencing the power of nonviolence in facing authority. They represent millions of people whose lives and livelihoods will be affected by construction and operation of the pipeline in Alberta, Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

There's also a phase two planned around the State Department hearings and people "going to Obama campaign offices in polite but firm fashion."

I really hope that the advisers who told Obama it was a good idea to delay EPA's smog rule are paying attention to the outraged reaction among young people and environmentalists. The reaction if he approves the Keystone pipeline will be that outrage X10.

Sure, they'll vote for him over a Republican, but young people and the environmental community brought a lot more than votes to the table in 2008. How many volunteers and grassroots donors can he afford to lose? The oil and coal industry are going to support the Republican no matter what, so there's almost no political benefit to approving it. Obama's advisers had better consider whether approving this pipeline is worth risking his re-election. That's how important this issue has become nationally.