President Donald Trump has made the executive decision to continue the building of the Dakota Access and Keystone XL pipelines. The project would carry crude oil from BAkken in North Dakota to Patoka, Illinois. This plan goes directly against former President Obama's plan, helping environmental efforts.
Trump says the pipeline will me made of 100% "American steel" but the project is 90% complete, with only 57% of the steel "American" made, bringing up the question of how he will keep his word. In addition, he claims it will create a boom in middle class jobs and bring millions to local communities, but the question of "How?" is still in the air. Industry groups such as the National Association of Manufacturers claims it is a "long awaited victory" simply delayed by the Obama administration. Tribal nations and environmental activists have joined together for peaceful protests in hopes to make a change. Trump's plan puts the fossil fuel industry ahead of environmental issues and human and indigenous rights. This project is quite concerning becasue it disregards all progress that has been made in alternative energies. Rather than moving forward in technology, fossil fuels and the profits are more important to the Trump administration. It raises a red flag as to how the rest of the country will be doing forwards, or even backwards in environmental efforts. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/01/24/whats-next-after-trump-jumpstarts-dakota-access-pipeline/97018676/
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The Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus have announced that the show will be ending forever in May of 2017. This circus was composed of juggling acts, human oddities and a spectacle of animals. The show dates back to the mid- 1800's and was a popular event for families to attend. Kenneth Feld, the CEO of Feld Entertainment blames high operating costs, a change in public desire, and battles with animal rights groups for the closing of the show. Animal rights activists have fought for the wild animals forced into captivity and forcefully trained to perform acts and stunts. Supporters agree that there is no reason to make animals perform and it is "cruel and unnecessary". Another factor was the elephants used. The prohibition of bull- hooks was put into effect, and finally elephants were removed from the show all together. This led to a decrease in ticket sales and further declined the success of the show. This is no sad event though. With the circus now closing, the topic of mistreatment of wild animals will be brough to the light and hopefully a rippling effect will occur, causing other circuses to shut down for good. New laws are being passed, and companies are losing their fight, and progress is being made in the conservation of animals and their natural right to live freely. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/big-top-ringling-bros-circus-closing-44788007 This past week there has been an ogoing storm in parts of Nothern California and Nevada. It is due to an atmospheric river, creating a constant stream of rain and snow, all coming from the Pacific. In a rural area near Sacramento, residents were told to evacuate due to possible flooding of a nearby river, and those in Wilton were told to evacuate as well. Precautions were taken becasue it is unknown if the Cosumnes river will flood.
In addition to flooding, a blizzard alert was put into effect in the Sierra Nevadas for the first time in nine years. Scientists stress not travelling for the great dangers of the snow fall. In Lake Tahoe there were gusts of 60mph winds and the Sierra ridge had gusts of over 100mph. This storm is welcomed of course, with the drought California has been experiencing these past five years. However, there are still dangers at hand such as fludding and blizzards. It will be exciting to see how much snow is retained and how much snow melt will be available in the coming summer months. http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/northern-california-nevada-brace-storms-44669627 |
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April 2017
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