Amy Goodman, host of the New York City-based leftist news programme Democracy Now! was charged with criminal trespass by the North Dakota state's attorney (prosecutor). The charge was changed to riot, then was dismissed due to lack of evidence when Goodman appeared in court on Monday. The charges stemmed from her presence at a protest in September against construction of the Dakota Access (Bakken) oil pipeline, after the protest was reported on her show.
Coverage:
(Score: 2) by Zz9zZ on Wednesday October 19 2016, @09:17PM
Turn that question back around, it goes both ways. It is generally pretty easy to tell who "the bad guys" are, they are the ones that don't allow discussion, ram their projects through regardless of objections, and in this story have their minions attack peaceful protesters with dogs and tear gas. Some people want civilization to continue on this big ball of dirt, others only want to get their short term profits so they can live out their greedy little lives in luxury.
While I understand the desire for the pipeline, and the short term need and benefit, my preference is to do away with the need by investing in renewable energy and fusion / thorium / fission. I already know we differ on this topic, but go ahead and respond anyway if you want.
~Tilting at windmills~
(Score: 1) by khallow on Wednesday October 19 2016, @11:29PM
But I do know this. We don't want only our bad guys to be the ones allowed to build pipelines and other such stuff. A society where peaceful protestors are allowed to shut down large infrastructure projects, unless some bad guy beat them up first, is not a healthy direction.
For example, a fair number of people here complain about "psychopath CEO" behavior. Here's an example of how you can encourage it. The protestors are aiming for destruction of this project. We're dangerously close to the only sort of person who can carry out this project legally or otherwise being a psychopath. That's typical of the terrible incentives we see in this society today.
While I understand the desire for the pipeline, and the short term need and benefit, my preference is to do away with the need by investing in renewable energy and fusion / thorium / fission.
That's fine. My view is that hydrocarbons whether from the ground or some renewable process remain a very efficient way to store energy for driving. And pipelines remain a great way to transport that fuel. And of course, there are trillions of dollars in infrastructure that directly uses hydrocarbon fuel for transportation. I think it would be foolish to throw that away.