#IStandWithStandingRock

The Dakota Access Pipeline is an underground oil pipeline that runs 1,272 miles long. The planned route begins in the Bakken oil fields in northwest North Dakota and travels through South Dakota and Iowa. The pipeline has been controversial in its impact on the environment as well as in its necessity. A number of Native Americans in Iowa and the Dakotas have opposed the pipeline.

These Native Americans have protested the construction of the pipeline and the treatment of these protestors has been a highlight in the media. These protests have gained international attention. During the latest clash between police and protesters, law enforcement officials used tear gas and water cannons in freezing temperatures to disperse a crowd of some 400 protesters trying to cross a blockaded bridge. These protestors are determined fight the construction of these pipeline that they say will bulldoze sacred sites on Native American reservations. Tribes also want to protect the Missouri River which is the primary water source for the Standing Rock Reservation, from a potential pipeline leakage.

Millions of people have joined in the fight against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline via social media. In October 2016, more than 600,000 ‘“checked in” at Standing Rock, according to Facebook. The action of “checking in” was used as a means of showing solidarity with those in Standing Rock fighting the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Social media has been an important instrument in spreading the word about what is going on at Standing Rock. There have been instances where protesters at Standing Rock have used Periscope, a live streaming service through Twitter, to show the public how protesters are being treated by law enforcement. These live streams lets people internationally see what is going at Standing Rock in real-time.

If you are like me, after reading all of this information you may feel like there is nothing that we can do to help being that we are so far from Standing Rock. This is in fact untrue. There are several ways to help those fighting the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock.

Sign a petition to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline.

https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-dakota-access-pipeline

Voice your opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Call:

North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple, at (701)-328-2200.

The White House, 202-456-1111

Energy Transfer Partners, pipeline owner--Lee Hanse, executive vice president, 210-403-6455.

Donate to the Standing Rock Sioux.

The tribe is raising money for legal, emergency and sanitary purposes via Paypal.