Dakota Access Pipeline is, if completed, to bring hydro-fracked shale oil from Bakken oilfields in North Dakota to Illinois; a journey of over one thousand miles. ReZpect Our Water was formed in August 2016 by the Standing Rock Sioux of North Dakota to protect the source of water (Missouri River) for their reservation, and to protect their land. Already graves have been disturbed, and protestors attacked by private police (goons, and thugs) by pepper spray and dogs. This is a variation on the standard procedure that moneyed interests have always used in the United States. The United Nations knows of these actions: American Indians are 'an aboriginal people' and as such are in similar positions as are other people of the third world. Many such people feel a stewardship to the land, and naturally through their culture act as guardians of the natural world.
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe are suing, are trying to use legal methods in appeal to the courts, and government. The moneyed interest, the oil company, Energy Transfer Partners is determined to have its way. A coalition of Indians, environmentalists, and justice advocates are not the people that are respected by economic royalists. They have been successful in having a corporate media silence.
As i type this, there is a commercial on the television spouting their public relation bullshit by a pretty actress calling herself "an energy voter". These invented people want unlimited drilling and mining of oil, gas, and coal. The term 'energy' is a euphemism dressed in a science term. The same people who whore science for their screen to gather wealth, vigorously protest science to suggest climate change, and pollution. And now they have an actor in a suit, who says the same thing in another commercial before they come back to ABC national news.
Placing signs along MLK Jr. Blvd. at the American Indian Cultural Garden site
Well, we are all connected. Sunday the 11th, i was driving to Mass on Liberty/MLKJr., a line of autos behind me, Serbs parked and gathered to the right, and Indians gathered to the left. I saw a sign lettered with "Our sacred water", i knew of the pipeline out west and many Indians united in opposition. I wanted to get out and foto, but did not have a comfortable spot to turn off, and thought it rude if i stopped took some pictures, and jumped back in the car.
This is a news story. When i saw it, i did see it as the proper place for such a demonstration. That street is a cultural thoroughfare, and the Indians are standing on their designated land. It fit. Also, on a side note, i am reminded of the old Irish rebel song 'The Rising of the Moon': "O then, tell me Sean O'Farrell, Where the gath'rin' is to be" In the old spot by the river, Right well known to you and me".
A friend of mine, we will call him 'John' because his name is John, teaches geology at a community college. He and me knew of another prayer vigil near this spot. Saint Casimir is east of Rockefeller Park's cultural gardens. We, and many others came to a pray outside the church for 139 weeks. We wanted Rome to rescind the local bishop's closure. And so it came to pass, the 140th week we were inside the church.
A prayer picnic has been organised by “Pumpkin” Marian Renee Concha-Saastamoinen and Ruben Borunda. They plan to come every week, no matter what the weather, every Sunday at 11 a.m. at Native American Cultural Garden site, 781 Martin Luther King Blvd, in Cleveland, Ohio.
To-day, i joined them in a prayer circle. Now, i also had joined several times with the Hungarians as they held a prayer circle outside their closed church, St. Emeric. 'Emeric' is a version of 'America'. There was similarity. Singing comes naturally to these prayer vigils. The circle is a natural formation for people to enter, the form permits any number (certainly above two) to gather face to face, and it has neither beginning nor end. The circle promotes inclusion. People's bodies can naturally form symbols. Afterwards, everyone went to table for food and tamarack tea.
No comments:
Post a Comment