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Miracle: The World unites and Native Americans who protect water win #NoDAPL – I have a hunch that the future of Okinawa, seemingly hopeless, is likely to be changed. –
The news below can only be called as a
miraculous event. I picked up an article on the protests against Dakota access
pipeline on December 3. Surprisingly, the Native American Standing Rock Sioux
tribe has won. They opposed to construction of the pipeline for the reason of
contamination of water sources. The US Army Corps of Engineers announced that “it
will not grant an easement to the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under Lake
Oahe.” In response to the announcement, on 4 the Department of Army gave
explanation of conducting environmental impact assessment to study alternative
route. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers holds the jurisdiction of the planned
construction site but construction needs the permission of the Department of
Army. It seems that the Department of Army has decided to study another route
after consultation with Native Americans and the construction company.
Unless Native American and other activists
are deceived by the Department of Army and the construction company, this
outcome is a great victory for Native Americans.
We were surprised at the victory of Mr.
Trump in the presidential election. This outcome of protests is really a
surprise. The blog administrator says: “these protests have delivered a much
bigger message and inspiration to the world.”
We don’t know what will happen in the
future of Okinawa, which is seemingly hopeless. We can see “global trends are
changing” as shown in the last sentence of the comment.
December
6, 2016
Masatoshi
Takeshita
Note:
Shanti-phula has indicated some parts of
the following text in black boldface type or in red letters.
Excerpt from a Japanese article: News on the Other Side of the World – December 6, 2016 –
Miracle: The World is united and Native
Americans who protect water win #NoDAPL
Standing
Rock Victory Photos: Pictures of the Celebration
December 4 [Heavy and others]
Source:
Native American and other activists
celebrate after learning an easement for the Dakota
Access Pipeline at Oceti Sakowin Camp was denied on December 4.
The US Army Corps of Engineers announced
today that it will not grant an easement to the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross
under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation, ending a months-long standoff.
<snip>
The following words of praise are posted on
the Facebook, which win the sympathy of many people.
<snip>
“Something
happened. Something incredible. Something beautiful.
<snip>
Something that no religious leader has been
able to do.
Something no diplomat or peace maker of
human rights activist or group has been able to do.
<snip>
No
one but a few heard.
<snip>
They
stayed strong in prayer and in peace and never retaliated even under the
pressure of constant attack. And the words slipped out.
<snip>
Brothers
and sisters of all races and colors and religions and social backgrounds and
they stood united against the monster snake.
<snip>
There
were protests and marches and money collections and supplies donated to the
cause and people came from all over the planet.
<snip>
These
beautiful Water Protectors did the impossible.
<snip>
We
are for the first time in the history of mankind an entire planet united as
one!
<snip>
[References]
***
English translation of comment of the above
blog administrator
[Comment]
With the coming of the
day of forced eviction, I held my breath for fear of
developments to come. We heard unexpectedly good news.
Even adverse conditions have never tampered
their resolve. They have continued non-violent protests not only for humanity
but for all creatures. Protests have reached a big milestone.
We cannot say that practical problems have
completely resolved though the decision to reroute the pipeline was made.
However, Native Americans who protect water have won for now.
The TPP is about to be practically
cancelled because many citizens in the world rose up and said no flatly. There
were many things we have to learn from this pipeline protests.
Furthermore, these
protests have not only achieved rerouting the pipeline but have delivered a much
bigger message and inspiration to the world.
This protest activity aimed to protect
water indispensable to life activities of all creatures, that is, something
universal. Similar activities to protect not only water
but the whole of nature are still occurring in the world. Everywhere in
the world we see indigenous peoples and minority peoples nonchalantly
prosecuted even at official level.
In protests and
demonstrations, the authority such as the police openly commits excessive
violent act against unarmed civilians. The media
proudly covers “economic development”, which gives priority to profit at the
expense of citizens’ safe living. Many people in the world are protesting
against governments or corporations that try to protect rights to dirty energy
sources such as oil and nuclear power.
Many of veterans who rose up to provide protection
to Native Americans are also victims of economic activities (such as the
military industry and the oil industry). That’s why the veterans rose up in
empathy with them.
Although demonstrations
are staged all over the world, the voice of people is intentionally removed and
ignored in many cases. The mass media don’t cover a
story about such demonstrations. It’s the kind of thing that happens all the
time. Considering protestors won under such situations
even for a moment, it seems to suggest that global trends are changing.
I hope so.
(The rest is omitted)
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