Pipeline Monologue Project

For this project we needed to write monologs from the perceptive of someone that had to do with the Keystone pipeline project. This project helped me understand more about what was going on with the Keystone project. The best thing about this project was the knowledge I gained from the research I needed to do to be able to write my monologs. I wanted to look at the project from different perspectives which is why i wrote one monolog from each side of the matter.

Written By Rose: My Land
Talking to a truck dealer, given him the tomatoes, and complaining about the pipeline

“He’s just some environmentalist person who happens to be living in Texas.”  That’s probably what some people think when they hear my story. But it’s not true. I’ve lived here all my life. Passes box of tomatoes to the driver as he starts to pack them into his truck to sell. Once I was old enough I bought my old land, and started my family on that land. Where I live had never been a problem and it had always been my land until TransCanada decided to show up one day. They randomly showed up on my land, I wouldn’t have even known they were there unless I had seen the stakes they had placed through out my property, later that month I received a letter in the mail asking for my permission to look at my property. To bad for them, I had already pulled out the stakes and made up my mind that I wouldn’t be a part of this. A couple months latter I received another letter telling me that if I didn’t accept they would take me to court. Of course I quickly accepted and let them come under the conditions that they would give me a 24 hour warning and that I would be with them every time. But they only followed through on that agreement once. After that time I would find them on my land claiming it must be a misunderstanding of some sort. Now I’m not just being an over protective landowner. I have concerns that are legitimate. I’m this pipeline ends up happening it will take up 50 ft. of my land. Once the pipeline is placed that land can never be replanted. There is also the strong possibility of erosion from the pipe rusting. Lastly the pipeline would be harmful to many people due to the fact that the pipelines have to be heated. This is a bad thing because it will affect the grounds temperature and plants are very sensitive to ground temperature. Altogether there is another side to the Keystone XL pipeline that TransCanada and our government it not telling us. Passes the last box to the man and the truck driver responds with a solemn node and tells him he understands what hes going through.

Written by Rose: What to do?

“There seems to be a lot of controversy over this matter sir” “Do you really think risking our environment is worn the money?” Questions and questions are asked to me about this project. The Keystone XL pipeline could possibly be the most controversial project I’ve worked on yet. This project started out with only benefits in my mind. Think about it, our economy is going through one a huge crisis. We need whatever help we can get to boost our economy. Why don’t people just see it that way? This project will provide 20,000 high wage jobs. Not to mention the amount of money that our nation will gain from this. The tar sands have so much oil that we can depend on it being around and providing us oil for at least a hundred years. This will give us more energy security then we have had in the past. As an organization we are dedicated to minimizing environmental impact. The possibilities of a spill are highly unlikely and if they do spill we understand that it is our full responsibility to clean up. Also we understand our responsibility for an alternative water supply if ground wells are affected. Why don’t people see the positive things this project has? Have they completely ignored the fact that pipelines are the safest, most reliable economical and environmental way to transport oil? I just wish people would look at the other side of the matter and see that there are positive things this project could bring to the table.

Written by Roger:

Are My Hands Clean?

Every time I clock into my job I wonder, how all this oil I’m extracting is really making my hands any cleaner then they really are?

(Grabbing my gloves and jumps suit off the rack)

Working for a job that is extracting too much of the tar sand here in Canada and is overflowed with oil, they say they have a plan to move it to a United States refinery in Texas. I’ve been working with Shell to provide for my wife and kids back home, by mining the tar sands of Canada, which are not a pretty site to behold. Usually more of a barren land without nature, some say lands wealth, but I see nothing but destruction of our earth. Plus building a full proof pipeline through 6 states seems impossible to many workers and not just me. Just this past summer while shipping oil through the pipeline placed in Montana, the oil from Exxon exposed major spills through out the pipeline. Causing the land around it to become devastated with oil ruining the Yellowstone River and contaminating their major water source. I can’t imagine anything worst then building one through 6 well populated US states, and even guarantee that it won’t leak and cause big problems around those areas. I wonder am I contributing to these acts since I’m currently working for shell my hand can’t be as clean as I think they are. Causing destruction to the earth just to make an honest dollar and provide for my family. I wish I was in a higher position so I could do something better for this abundance of oil, there has to be another way out of this mess; but seeing as though I’m just a worker what can I do. Losing my job couldn’t be an option because the wealth around here is made through the trade of oil. Working with oil makes me feel that every day we take for granite our earth’s resources to make a profit, but all we are doing is soiling the ground that we eat, drink, and sleep off of.

Written by Roger:

Jail of Opinions

(Sitting against cold wall in Washington D.C. Jail looking through the bars of the cell staring at the Poster of Barack Obama)

            Back in 2008 I chose Barack Obama to be my president of the United States, now that the keystone pipeline bill is getting pass by congress we can now see why we chose him to be our leader. He can save us from being a country that only cares of money and energy, to being the country that is willing to make the right decisions for our environment. I’m sitting in a cellblock in Washington D.C. jail, not because I’ve done something wrong only because I’ve spoken my opinion, yelling through the outer gates of the White House. Like many others I sit here because our government care only about profit and will stop at nothing to get their top dollar. They only are proving this when they decided to pass this bill for the formation of a mile lone pipeline that would run from southwest Canada through 6 state well-populated states to a refinery in Texas. I’ve seen the BP oil spill of the gulf and read of how it effected their waterways and killed animals and sea life. At this point I believe we are almost reaching a point where we have a choice to make, to save our earth or make a profit off of it. To me this choice is obvious save the earth we need to take care of our planet instead of building a pipeline that would be prone to leaks and spills that would affect our earth. Obama decision could be game over for the environment or a lucky save that would help our days on earth stretch a little longer. This jail cells are cold, but if I’m ever going to get my opinion heard I have to keep protesting the Keystone XL pipeline.

Written by Roger Bracy and Rose Knibbe: Pipeline

That little bird, with its hatching eggs, doesn’t know that soon that tree will be along one of the biggest pipelines in the U.S. The future for this bird is not going to be bright while I’m around. There is so much controversy over me. There are environmentalists who don’t want me to be around and then there are the planners of this project. They act as though I am there new best friend. I am the keystone XL pipeline. To be honest I am a little bugged that no one has asked me my opinion on this project. They probably just assume I want to be placed on strangers land. But if they asked me I would tell them I didn’t know how I feel about this project despite the fact its revolved around me. Sure of course I want to exist but is that all worth sacrificing peoples land? I would need a lot of up keep and I can’t tell if they would be able to take care of my high demands. Seeing as Trans Canada is trying to make me 1,700mi long, I can’t remember the last time they built one of my pipes this long. Also the pressure that is put on me to 800,000 barrels of hot crude oil is just too much not to leak. The area I’m around is counting on me to keep their waterways clean, if I do leak they will never forgive me. Plus laying my pipeline would create erosion around the land and kill and disrupt the environment. 

 

Pipeline Monologue Project

Are My Hands Clean?
(written by Roger Bracy)

Every time I clock into my job I wonder, how all this oil I’m extracting is really making my hands any cleaner then they really are? 

(Grabbing my gloves and jumpsuit off the rack)

Working for a job that is extracting too much of the tar sand here in Canada and is overflowed with oil, they say they have a plan to move it to a United States refinery in Texas. I’ve been working with Shell to provide for my wife and kids back home, by mining the tar sands of Canada, which are not a pretty site to behold. Usually more of a barren land without nature, some say lands wealth, but I see nothing but destruction of our earth. Plus building a full proof pipeline through 6 states seems impossible to many workers and not just me. Just this past summer while shipping oil through the pipeline placed in Montana, the oil from Exxon exposed major spills through out the pipeline. Causing the land around it to become devastated with oil ruining the Yellowstone River and contaminating their major water source. I can’t imagine anything worst then building one through 6 well populated US states, and even guarantee that it won’t leak and cause big problems around those areas. I wonder am I contributing to these acts since I’m currently working for shell my hand can’t be as clean as I think they are. Causing destruction to the earth just to make an honest dollar and provide for my family. I wish I was in a higher position so I could do something better for this abundance of oil, there has to be another way out of this mess; but seeing as though I’m just a worker what can I do. Losing my job couldn’t be an option because the wealth around here is made through the trade of oil. Working with oil makes me feel that every day we take for granite our earth’s resources to make a profit, but all we are doing is soiling the ground that we eat, drink, and sleep off of.

Jail of Opinions 

(written by Roger Bracy)

(Sitting against cold wall in Washington D.C. Jail looking through the bars of the cell staring at the Poster of Barack Obama)

Back in 2008 I chose Barack Obama to be my president of the United States, now that the keystone pipeline bill is getting pass by congress we can now see why we chose him to be our leader. He can save us from being a country that only cares of money and energy, to being the country that is willing to make the right decisions for our environment. I’m sitting in a cellblock in Washington D.C. jail, not because I’ve done something wrong only because I’ve spoken my opinion, yelling through the outer gates of the White House. Like many others I sit here because our government care only about profit and will stop at nothing to get their top dollar. They only are proving this when they decided to pass this bill for the formation of a mile lone pipeline that would run from southwest Canada through 6 state well-populated states to a refinery in Texas. I’ve seen the BP oil spill of the gulf and read of how it effected their waterways and killed animals and sea life. At this point I believe we are almost reaching a point where we have a choice to make, to save our earth or make a profit off of it. To me this choice is obvious save the earth we need to take care of our planet instead of building a pipeline that would be prone to leaks and spills that would affect our earth. Obama decision could be game over for the environment or a lucky save that would help our days on earth stretch a little longer. This jail cells are cold, but if I’m ever going to get my opinion heard I have to keep protesting the Keystone XL pipeline.

My Land

(written by Rose Knibbe)

(Talking to a truck dealer, given him the tomatoes, and complaining about the pipeline)

“He’s just some environmentalist person who happens to be living in Texas.”  That’s probably what some people think when they hear my story. But it’s not true. I’ve lived here all my life. 

(Passes box of tomatoes to the driver as he starts to pack them into his truck to sell.)

 Once I was old enough I bought my old land, and started my family on that land. Where I live had never been a problem and it had always been my land until TransCanada decided to show up one day. They randomly showed up on my land, I wouldn’t have even known they were there unless I had seen the stakes they had placed through out my property, later that month I received a letter in the mail asking for my permission to look at my property. To bad for them, I had already pulled out the stakes and made up my mind that I wouldn’t be a part of this. A couple months latter I received another letter telling me that if I didn’t accept they would take me to court. Of course I quickly accepted and let them come under the conditions that they would give me a 24 hour warning and that I would be with them every time. But they only followed through on that agreement once. After that time I would find them on my land claiming it must be a misunderstanding of some sort. Now I’m not just being an over protective landowner. I have concerns that are legitimate. I’m this pipeline ends up happening it will take up 50 ft. of my land. Once the pipeline is placed that land can never be replanted. There is also the strong possibility of erosion from the pipe rusting. Lastly the pipeline would be harmful to many people due to the fact that the pipelines have to be heated. This is a bad thing because it will affect the grounds temperature and plants are very sensitive to ground temperature. Altogether there is another side to the Keystone XL pipeline that TransCanada and our government it not telling us. 

(Passes the last box to the man and the truck driver responds with a solemn node and tells him he understands what he's going through.)

What to Do?

(written by Rose Knibbe)

“There seems to be a lot of controversy over this matter sir” “Do you really think risking our environment is worn the money?” Questions and questions are asked to me about this project. The Keystone XL pipeline could possibly be the most controversial project I’ve worked on yet. This project started out with only benefits in my mind. Think about it, our economy is going through one a huge crisis. We need whatever help we can get to boost our economy. Why don’t people just see it that way? This project will provide 20,000 high wage jobs. Not to mention the amount of money that our nation will gain from this. The tar sands have so much oil that we can depend on it being around and providing us oil for at least a hundred years. This will give us more energy security then we have had in the past. As an organization we are dedicated to minimizing environmental impact. The possibilities of a spill are highly unlikely and if they do spill we understand that it is our full responsibility to clean up. Also we understand our responsibility for an alternative water supply if ground wells are affected. Why don’t people see the positive things this project has? Have they completely ignored the fact that pipelines are the safest, most reliable economical and environmental way to transport oil? I just wish people would look at the other side of the matter and see that there are positive things this project could bring to the table. 


Pipeline

(written by Roger Bracy and Rose Knibbe)

That little bird, with its hatching eggs, doesn’t know that soon that tree will be along one of the biggest pipelines in the U.S. The future for this bird is not going to be bright while I’m around. There is so much controversy over me. There are environmentalists who don’t want me to be around and then there are the planners of this project. They act as though I am there new best friend. I am the keystone XL pipeline. To be honest I am a little bugged that no one has asked me my opinion on this project. They probably just assume I want to be placed on strangers land. But if they asked me I would tell them I didn’t know how I feel about this project despite the fact its revolved around me. Sure of course I want to exist but is that all worth sacrificing peoples land? I would need a lot of up keep and I can’t tell if they would be able to take care of my high demands. Seeing as Trans Canada is trying to make me 1,700mi long, I can’t remember the last time they built one of my pipes this long. Also the pressure that is put on me to 800,000 barrels of hot crude oil is just too much not to leak. The area I’m around is counting on me to keep their waterways clean, if I do leak they will never forgive me. Plus laying my pipeline would create erosion around the land and kill and disrupt the environment. 


Pipeline Monologue Project

This project was a very productive project, it makes me really put my self in other peoples lives and take on the effect that the Pipeline will have on people.This projects really helps people to decide what their opinion is on the the pipeline. Last it helps to show people what the government is willing to do for a better economy. 

The single mother takes action.

{As she gets up form her front seat and steps up to the microphone}

I am Bon Qui Qui a loving single mother of four. I want to voice my opinion on the TransCanada XL Pipeline. {She says while picking up the paper with her speech written on it.

 I think this is very important factor that could change my children’s lives and me in both positive and negative ways. I would 1st like to thank my state representative for picking me as one of the people to speak at this meeting. She grips the microphone as if she was nervous and then says

 “ I Love my Children” but I also would love for them to have a better future. This is a plan that is proven to provide many more jobs, but the jobs aren't safe working around air-born chemicals eight hours or more a day. Also it is not safe because if the XL pipeline were to break, crack, or get a leak there may be chemicals that could endanger the workers. This is where loving my kid’s come into factor. Since the love I have for my kids is the thing I put first she says as she releases her tightened grip on the microphone and smiled. I love my kids and this what makes me both for and against the TransCanada XL pipeline the life of my children could be put into danger if the chemicals were to be spilled out or leaked into our water resources which can be dangerous for my children to drink. If this does happen to the faucet water the there would be no other way for me to provide water for my children since I am already unemployed and bottle water is to expensive to fit into my budget.

Put two things that are important to me in life hand and hand I’m not quite sure if I’m for it or against it because I want to best possible future for my children and I would love to get them the things the want when they want it, which consists of getting a good enough job. Also I would love to give my children as much safety as possible and the TransCanada XL Pipeline is not guaranteed to be safe. So with that said I think it should be held off until it is completely safe. She stoops toward the microphone and says “Thank You”. Then walks off while being applauded. 

 

Making a good end of career reputation.

Hello, everyone and Welcome to the TransCanada XL Pipeline meeting. I am Ed Stelmach and you all know me as the Political Leader of Alberta Canada. Today I will be addressing my views on the XL pipeline.  He puts his paper on the podium.

I will be backing down from office on October 1st and my decision is to go with the XL Pipeline. I would support the TransCanada pipeline because Alberta Canada is such a beautiful and natural place and with the XL pipeline being a provider of natural oil that will make our economy better I think this was a very brilliant plan. He Picks up his paper and begins to read the viewpoints of his speech.

Alberta Canada will be very lucky if this plan goes through because it will bring many tourist, many allies and, many other countries to rely on our natural resources. This will provide Canada with help if we ever need it and a bundle of money coming from different things. This also will not take up as many resources as it will be producing. This wont be using as many resources because after the needed resources are used once they are reused. An example of this is the water that the XL pipeline uses, once it is used once it is used continuously for the rest of the process. He flips his page and begins to look over it as if decided not to say everything he had written.

I want the best for my citizens and I would like to lift the burdens of poverty, a failing economy, and higher taxes. I would like for them to have things like better education, easier living styles, and less of a stress form working tremendously hard every workday for their families. This is the opinion that I have and after being in office like I was it might make you have the same opinion because this seems to be the turning point for us. I know that my opinion counts because every opinion counts but mine will change minds, decisions, and life styles. Hopefully the next person in office see’s it the way I do. Thank you for attending and caring enough to listen. He grabs his papers, folds them and leaves the stage.

 


Losing a Father

                                                                                                Oct 16, 2015

{She sat at the kitchen table and wrote}

Dear Ed Stelmach and President Obama

            I am Shanayia Roland and I am a United States citizen. I don’t know much about the Canadian government but I know enough about the US government to address my opinion on the TransCanada pipeline leak. I am a 12-year-old girl living in Montana and my father was one of the 5500 people who took the job, but was also 1out of the 500 people died while working. I would like to address the leaks in the TransCanada XL Pipeline. She fiddles with the work jumpsuit that she holds in he hand, she smells it and then begins to speak as she writes:

 I guess this is what failure and lost lives smell like, that would be the smell of tar sands. The tar sands smell stuck in my fathers work jumpsuit as I hold it in my arms and mourn about my father’s death. I don’t blame you guys for the failures of the XL pipeline I just blame you for not making sure that this plan was safe before you guys did it for the better economy purposes. The economy was not worth 500 lives lost because of the leaks in the XL pipeline. Also 7 billion dollars was put into the pipeline that is now wasted because of the leaks. Now my mom and me are trying to save as best we can on water because faucet water isn’t safe. Tears from her eyes failing onto his jacket as she writes more:

We struggle with out my father he supplied our income, now my mother will have to find two jobs which will be even harder to find now because there will be a rescission even bigger there the one in 2011.

I thank you guys because you are both leaders but my fathers gone and I’ll never get him back. It’s as his life is as important to me as the economy is to you. As he sat stuck under slowly running out of air the economy slowly become the worse it ever was before. It was like two hearts failing at once. She hugs the jumpsuits tight as if it were her last hug to him, tears we’re pouring down her face she finished by writing:

 I don’t know if you’ll read this but my voice is little now but it will get bigger. In loving memory of Percy Roland.                                                                                                                                                 Sincerely,

                                                                        Shanayia Roland 10/16/2015

Pipeline Monologue Project

With my monologues, I want all of my viewers to see how much time and thought my class/stream spent the last two weeks on this topic. We;ve learned about everything from how things are made in different countries to how far politicians will go for more money in their pockets. I want people to see and read about the different stories and views the monologues provide. I want them to keep in mind how the pipeline effects every one around it from the view of a child to the view of a worker. ENJOY!

Monologue #1: From the Movie: Splash to Making a Splash in “Dirty Oil”!

Daryl Hannah’s Internal Thoughts:

Daryl Hannah is an actress. She’s acted in many movies, we’ve seen in the movie theaters through out the nation. Today, she was arrested because she wouldn’t move out of the way for the police to get through, so her and a couple of her other companions were arrested and taken to the slammer. In the main holding cell, Daryl is accumulating more anger for the pipeline and realizes she has to keep her protest for what she knows is right!

“No to the Keystone pipeline!” was the last thing I shouted to my fellow protestors to keep their faith and continue protesting as more were taken a long with me. With that one cry for change, the U.S Park Police zip-tied a nylon cuff restraint onto my writs and threw me into the back of the car and I was brought to the slammer. Surprisingly, it’s quite bright in the back of the car because as I was driving away, I saw all of the posters, signs, and banners everyone made for the sit in. They all had pictures that held exactly eight million words. The same amount of barrels of dirty crude oil that will be transferred through out part of Canada and across the great plains of America. On other banners there was this familiar pipe, the “Keystone Pipeline”, this one pipe would pollute all the water, plains, and skies surrounding it. All it costs to build is a mere thirteen billion dollars, coming out of our back pocket. Now that’s just peachy.

When I entered the musky, humid holding cell, the police men gave us nothing but quiet time to use our imagination, imagine the dents the government were making if this proposal was past in a few weeks…harmful dents stretching from Hardisty, Alberta to Port Arthur, Texas. Also in between parts of Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma and so many other states. I pulled out a picture of a group of ranchers, their kids, and I standing on their crop ranch back in the summer of 2009. The owners of the ranch being close friends of my parents, I've been going there ever since I was a little girl. The ranch has been passed down from generation to generation but now the ranch is sitting on top of the place where the pipeline is going to be.

Their ranch,…my second home…is slowly being taken away from us. I’ve been to breath-taking lands and have seen it all, but what about the future generations? Have the politicians even thought about them and the toll this pipeline will take on them? No, because these politicians have the audacity to build a pipe, demolishing not only the lustrous grasslands residing there but also because the natives living there to experience the leaks and pollution the pipes will cause.

The current Keystone pipeline running from Hardisty, Alberta to Patoka, Illinois has leaked about twelve times throughout the year. The proposed pipeline is supposed to stretch from Hardisty, Alberta to Port Arthur, Texas. So why does no one pay mind to the harm the pollution will do to our future generations? Although the politicians aren't pay mind, many people worldwide have been working hard to reduce CO2 levels but they are still climbing. Even though we know how to stop and reduce the rates, we cannot put a dent in the CO2 levels unless the number of people working to lower it increases!


Monologue #2: “Stay in School, Kids”

Pipe Liner: Zack Saunders: Internal Thoughts:

 Zack Saunders is a pipe liner living in Hadisty, Alberta. As any pipe liner, Zack has to leave his home in order to make a living for his family of four, including himself. He doesn’t know what to do. Should he stay and kill the environment on a high salary or should he make a dent in the pollution levels and help his kids. 

            I haven’t always been like this. Thinking about two angels every day for the past two weeks and giving everything up for them. I always thought that I had the best job out there in this tough economy. But now…I’m like what…what am I doing? I’m holding a wrench in one hand and a screw in the other, slowly and painfully building the pollution for my two daughters and the whole future generation to come.

            This wrench was holding me from going home to them: my kids, my wife, and my home. Pipe liners have to move to where they are building the pipe and find housing there. This wrench was helping my crew and I build a pipe through out the country. The pipe that would cause so much pollution to everyone and everything around it. This wrench, I could be using to fix Emily and Oscar’s leaky pipe in their bathroom, their race car-princess bathroom. Those two can never agree on anything. And this screw was put into place to hold together the pipe. To hold together what everyone sitting in front of that white and all around the world is trying to change. This screw and many other screws that would soon allow the pipe to leak and burst out oil like Old Faithful, the geyser itself. The screw I could be using to fix my wife’s swivel chair. But with out me there, the chair was never fixed, so a new one was bought and the pipes still get leaky. The leaky water is slowly peeling off their racecar – princess wallpaper. An example of what could happen if we -I mean with my help also- build the thirteen billion dollar pipeline running across the great plains of our land.

            You’d have to be the worst dad in the world to be doing this. But, I can’t go home. This is the only fine paying job offered to a high school dropout and it sucks. But what can I do about it? Sulk as I work? I already do that. I can’t leave my job to go protest because no one would pay for the bills, pay for the clothes my family wears. I can’t protest if I’m the one helping build this monstrosity! No one would pay for the Twinkle Toes Sketchers Emily want. No one would pay for there’s nothing left to do but to let the President Obama end my torture, hopefully. He can say no to this and then I can go home to my country, to my family, to my house, to my happiness.


Monologue #3: “Taking Our Land, Once Again!”

Mark Mountainpeak’s Internal Thoughts:

Mark is a Native American living in South Dakota on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation. His homes are one of many that are being in the thought process of being demolished by Big Corps for the Keystone Pipeline XL. With him today is an interviewer.

My hands were beet red, veins popping out of my arms, and my voice box close to exploding into a million pieces. The reporter didn’t know what to do next because she didn’t know whether I was going to go off at another question. But after a few seconds, I fixed my posture, loosened my grip on my cup of apple juice, and gave her a reassuring look.

How does the pipeline affect you and your home?” she said with friendly smile.

Wait…why is she smiling!? It’s not her house…is she stupid?! My home, our reservation, my family…we’re loosing everything and here she sits and asks!? She isn’t living on some money loving Corp’s pipeline. She’s not being asked to move even though, her property WAS PROMISED TO HER. No, this isn’t happening to her so she doesn’t give two shits about…wait, I had to do something…what was it? I looked up at her with her intensive eyes and she nods her head for an answer.

Oh yes, I have to answer this idiotic question: “My home is sitting on top of what you people call the next big money maker. My home is going to be knocked down because Big Corps can come in and steal our things. My home, should stay! It also not only affects my home but who would want to wake up to a pipe next door every day. Especially, if it is constantly leaking dirty oil into our drinking waters and polluting everything and anything around it. I don’t want anything to change on the Res. WE DON’T WANT THE PIPE LINE. Why are they---”

My…anger…is…before I could finish that thought the reporter obviously sees my rage and concludes the interview.


Monologue #4: Losing My Dad, Life, and Past:

Janey’s inner thoughts:

            Janey has too move because her mom doesn’t want to live near the pipeline and Janey has to face losing her past and her most cherished memories!

Montana, mountains, lakes, clear skies. And I’m leaving them, my mountainside view of the lake and the clear skies reflecting off of it. My mom says to pack what ever I want to bring to the new house. We cant live here anymore. I have to leave my friends, school, and the life I was making for the past 16 years in Montana.

I know you never talk back and all you do is keep us shaded every year but hear me out. We’re going to have to leave you soon. We’re going somewhere very far away, far way from you too. I remember when daddy and I planted you here, Bruce. You were just a small gingko tree and now look what 10 years has come and done to you. Daddy and I planted you. Now daddy isn’t here anymore and we have to leave you behind.

You probably wont last that long with out us unless you can absorb dirty oil and chemicals like you do to water. I mean you could get water but you’re going to have to play tug a war with the amount of clean water you get. Mommy was googling about the pipeline and I think it’s a bunch of baloney. I mean what is an extra couple thousand of jobs going to do for this broken economy? Nothing, so why build a pipeline right next door to our home. The way big corps are treating the environment isn’t fair. We need the environment to stand strong for us to walk upon in. Mommy says that the pipeline is bad because all of the pollution and CO2 that is going into the atmosphere. She says we already have too much.

I tried to argue back saying we’re leaving you, our view of everything, and our memories but she coldly said: “It won’t be here when the pipeline moves in. The pipe liners have to clear off everything. Everything will be gone but we’ll soon be gone before it.”

At that last line Janey cries into Bruce, the tree.

 

 

History monologue

Maryam

Biuibrahim

 

First monologue:

 

Its Monday morning as Michelle Obama is getting ready to say her speech to every one that disagrees with the pipeline situation, she’s nervous she is not sure if she knows how to react to angry people, almost one hundred and 50 people got arrested in front of the white house because they were trying to say there opinions, to reject the key stone pipeline, her husband is not there to say the speech, so she has to step up and take his part, she is trying to rephrase the words in the head, it was a hot day she’s sweating, she looks out the window she sees hundreds of people waiting for her, she needed a drink of water , she knew that when she gets out there she had to look strong , deep down she does not agree with the pipeline she know that it’s wrong she also know that it will harm a lot of people , but she closed her eyes and put her opinion to the side , she made sure she had a lot of security, she never knows what might happened , the security guard walked her down , as she stands in from of hundreds of people , she took a min to look around , she saw innocent faces looking up to her as she sais:

Good morning every body, I know that you are hear to fight for what you believe in, and I know no matter what we do we can not change your opinions , but am speaking for my husbands behalf , and if he was here he would of told every one that we know that the pipeline is dangerous , and we know that it harm a lot of people, but at the same time we have the think about the positive things that comes from it , the economy it getting worst people are suffering to get jobs to feed there family, and if the pipeline can get people a lot of jobs why should we take that away, and I hope that people can try to think about the positives as well, before getting angry at us , we want the best things for every one , and I know people want a clean environment , but we cant change that in one that , it takes time to reach a goal , so all I want to say is that people need to be patient .

She decided to give a couple of people the chance to ask questions:

Question one: we know that yours speaking for your husband but is that what you really think?

She wanted to say no but she said yes we are one person and we take the same decisions.

Question two: how long do we have to wait until we see a change?

Patience is key that all I have to say.

The more questions she was getting she started thinking did they even try to change anything during the 2 years, thoughts were going trough her mind as she exists.

 

Second monologue:

Its Saturday night as the Canadian guy is watching the news about the pipeline situation and how it is affecting Canada in a lot of ways, he is a single 39 years old guy, that likes to write , after he finished watching the news , he wanted to say how he felt to someone , and the only thing he could find is his computer to talk to, he sat down with a cup of coffee  in his hand , took a deep breath and started typing :

“ I usually don’t talk about things like this in my diary but it is really upsetting me in a lot of ways so I will talk about it, its bad enough that the world is not an equal place, and that some places are suffering more then others, but they say that they cant do nothing about it so we try to understand but when it comes to a point when you can stop something this bad in a heartbeat and people are still questioning if they should , then that’s careless , I feel like America only cares about jobs and what they can get from poor people, the pipe line is not only hurting America but its hurting my people too, I don’t understand why cant they find other way to make jobs available , without hurting other they don’t know that they may be hurting a single mother, a dad, a son , a daughter, or a sister , I feel like they need time to go trough what they’re doing . Because enough is enough.

He got really mad he couldn’t even finish his writing, so he said to him self with a strong look on his face that he will go to Washington to fight for what he believes in.

 

Third monologue:

Its Texas its an early rise as the a hard working father wakes up to do his farm work, he has five kids there all girls and in his back yard there is a pipeline, he did not think it was bad until he herd about the oil leak in china , he started getting worried about it a lot every time he wakes up he goes in his back yard and just keep looking at it , he wants Obama to stop it , maybe then he could get some sleep at night , he is worried that if the oil ever leaks what would he do , how would he survive , and all his hard work will be gone , every time he thinks about it he shakes , he has so much anger inside he just wants to say why does no one care about what were are going trough some people cant sleep  because of this pipeline, some people just want to leave everything they worked hard for just to go some place were they can be safe , but of course if he say that we get arrested , we should have freedom of speech and we should fight for what we believe in.

 

 

Pipeline Monologue Project

This Project had us research the Trans-Canada Keystone Pipeline Project and learn both sides of the story. We then had to write a series of monologues to illustrate what we'd learned. My stories show the lives of an Amish and Trans-Canada employees.


(An Amish Farmer is distressed about a decision he made under stress)

(Pacing back and forth) I didn't have much of a choice when I was offered the chance to have the pipeline run through my land. But how will my neighbors react to it when I tell them? (Waves arms) The Amish of Kansas don't let this sort of thing happen, I should have been a better person and put the land and nature before myself, but I needed money.

I don’t make much money as it is, I never really have (sigh and glance down). The farming business isn’t something I’m good at, but it’s my only option, it's all I know. When TransCanada came to offer me money for the land they needed for the big pipe they were building, I wasn’t doing very well back then either. I was in between plantings after a failed harvest and I needed money pretty bad. These men offered me a deal; they would pay me lots of money if I let them cut through my land with big machines. And lay down this big pipe that would pump thousands of barrels of dark, crop killing oil from Canada to Texas.

            I’M A FARMER! (Shouts) What was I thinking? One mistake along any inch of that huge thing could completely destroy my work, my house, and I wouldn’t be able to plant for years afterwards. Not even the huge amount of money they paid me would be able to help me then. I’d have to leave everything I know behind. That poisonous fuel would forever taint all of my work, my father’s work, and his father’s work.

        I can’t turn back now. I’ve already signed a contract. I just wanted to be able to support myself, but I might end up destroying myself. I can only hope that our president stops the company from building the pipe. It might be selfish, because I know it will give a lot of people jobs. But if I ever have kids, I guess I want them to carry on my legacy here on the farm.

 

A Change of heart

(Trans-Canada employee wonders if what he does for a living is ethical)

 

I’ve worked on these oil sands for most of my adult life, long before these protesters started objecting to what we did over in America. I’ve taken part in setting up a lot of the more recent extraction plants too. (Shakes head) I grew up here in Alberta and witnessed the start of the dirty oil era. (Stretch arms and yawn) My life hasn’t really taken off yet though. At least, I hope it hasn’t. I spend all day operating the steam extraction machinery, and the pay isn’t great. (Cough) I’ve been wondering lately if working like this is worth the years taken off my life from inhaling the fumes.

Maybe those people down in Washington have the right idea; they’re working for a good cause fighting against the new Keystone pipeline. They’re passionate about what they believe in.

For a long time I saw the oil as a good thing. It was a miracle of modern science that we could extract fuel directly from the earth, without expensive drilling equipment. I was proud to work for the sake of helping people drive and provide oil to the world. I felt like a pioneer, leading my country forward.

(Nods) These Americans have opened my eyes though. If I help with the Keystone project, I could take a huge part in the pollution and destruction of North America. Sure, I might help a man get to work, but I might also kill someone by polluting his or her water supply. I don’t want that blood, or oil, on my hands.

 

Russ Girling (CEO of TransCanada):

 

            Walks into room and sits on couch. Today was a tough day at work. It’s hard to hear myself think with so many protestors yelling outside your window. I know a lot of these people just see me as some greedy CEO that will do anything to get more money. Is that really me? I know I wouldn’t see myself as that, but if I look from their perspective, put myself in their shoes and look at myself? What am I? This pipeline would bring so much money to this company, and would benefit Canada and the USA in many ways. Jobs, money, oil. Does all that outweigh any potential environmental impacts? Right now we need oil, and we need a lot of it. In the future we may not need oil so much, but right now we do. This would at least postpone the energy problem for a while, until we have the means to postpone it further, or maybe even finally solve it. But is that what we really need? Would that make the problem worse? I doubt there will be any problems caused by this while I’m alive, but what about my children? No, I don’t think this pipeline will make or break the environment. It’s just one pipeline, and what people really need to do is stop wasting so much. Besides, if you ignore the environmental impacts this may or may not have, this is only beneficial to everyone.

 

Bill Mckibben:

 

            We have lived and taken from our planet for tens of thousands of years. We started off just taking what we needed, but then we kept taking more and more and more, and now look at what that’s gotten us. We are polluting the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. At the same time unemployment is rising, along with gas prices and debt. It seems as if every single unsustainable thing we’ve been doing in the history of this country has finally collapsed on us at once. We need money, and oil, and jobs. We also need to conserve the environment. If we aren’t mindful of how much we waste, and render the planet uninhabitable with our pollution, the planet will be fine. After a few thousand years, the planet will repair itself, and be back to the way it was before humans. The only thing we’d be killing is ourselves, and everything we share the planet with. The XL pipeline would do two things. It would bring money, oil, and jobs to America. And it would be another nail in the coffin of environmentalism. Will this completely destroy the environment in one fell swoop? No, but will it solve our debt, and job problems? No to that too. What we have to do is weigh what options would be best overall. Should we build it and generate a few thousand jobs, and billions of dollars in revenue, or should we not build and save countless plants and animals, and reduce our oil dependency. Transcanada says their pipes will not leak, but can we really believe them when their own pipes leaked 12 times? We can’t risk it leaking, because the pipeline goes over a major aquifer that people drink from. And it would pollute the drinking supply of millions with crude oil. I don’t think we should build the pipeline, because I believe that there is other ways of improving the economy, but there is only one way to protect the environment right now, and that is to stop the XL pipeline from being built.

 

Kenneth Hewitt:

 

    I’ve been unemployed for almost a year now, and my unemployment benefits are starting to run out. I’ve been living out of this crummy apartment in this terrible neighborhood for about as long. I was laid off from my first job as a construction manager, and for the first few months nobody would hire me. After that nobody was hiring me because of how long I’d been unemployed. I heard about this new pipeline TransCanada is planning to build between Canada and Texas. I could maybe get a job helping building this, it shouldn’t be too difficult since it’s such a big project, and they’d need to hire a lot of people. Sure, it wouldn’t be permanent, but it would be something to put on my resume so employers wouldn’t immediately ignore my application due to not having been employed for a long time. But at the same time, do I want to help this project? So many people are protesting this because huge negative environmental implications. Maybe I could get a different job somewhere else, but where? This is the surest bet. But what do I care about more, my own wellbeing, or the wellbeing of my children and their children. Then again, the world’s already messed up for my kids; surely this one pipeline wouldn’t be that big of a deal. But if it’s not such a big deal, why are so many people protesting it? I can’t turn down work, but is this the work I want to do? I guess if this is going to be built I have no choice but to work on it, my only other option being unemployment. But I hope Obama blocks this from being built, so I don’t feel obligated to work on it.

 

 

Monologues-Teige and Isabela

Stressful Mess

Scenery:
sitting at a desk, face in hands, veins clearly visible in her cheeks and forehead.


I took a deep breath, inhaling all the tension I felt in the room and then letting it out. “I just don’t know what else to do” I told Bill, my husband “Nothing I do will satisfy everyone. I really think these tar sands will help raise the economy levels here. It’s a great deal I just don’t think we can pass up...these people don’t think I've done my research” Bill nodded sympathetically, a thin line that were his lips pressing together. I knew he didn’t fully understand the stress that I was under. I pressed my fingertips into my temples and let out a shaky breath. If anyone in my field, or anyone aware of the choices I make every day saw me like this they would cringe. “Hilary can’t keep it together” they would snicker, so I always held my head high. But right now, it hung low. in between my hands I stared at my desk. I know the risks and precautions we have to take to ensure this project comes out well. But that’s our job! I will make sure those precautions are taken, that people stay safe, and on top of that that our economy rises. We need this oil, we need this fuel to ramp up our economy. These natives are taking it too far, they want something to fight for but all their fighting is leaving a heavy anchor on my shoulders, me! The person who’s only trying to do what’s best for them! I moved my fingers through my hair and sighed “I just hope they realize I'm doing this for their benefits, not for my own”. (By Isabela Aznar)




Think about the future
(giving a speech)

I am proud, of everyone who went to the white house to protest this crisis in the making. To protest against buying Tar Sand. I am now confident, that I don’t stand alone in this war for our planet. I look outside, and I see children playing, birds singing, trees swaying, water flowing. But if I look outside in 5 years, what will I see? shaking his head Dirty streets, filled with gas guzzlers, and rivers polluted to the point where water prices need to rise? Animals going extinct, children having to take a million other precautions that didn’t exist when I was born? How can anyone be willing to throw away the most beautiful things we were given? The natural? takes deep breath I cringe at the fact that this is what we’ve narrowed our people down to, Users, abuser, and over-consumers. And after everything our people did to conserve our lands? Our trees? Our waters? Our crops? After our environment has reached it’s breaking point, we keep pushing it to break further? We’re willing to put ourselves and our children, and our environment at risk of harm?
        If you ask me, these companies have no idea the impact their going to make. start pacing back in forth They like to play coy, and dumb, as if they don’t know how much harm they may cause. As if they know exactly what their doing, as if they know they won’t screw up. But I know. I know they’re going to screw up. This is far from a fool proof plan, and in a society like ours we need to look at the pros and cons of every situation. We can’t just stand by and let a tragedy begin, especially when it’s something so ridiculously horrible for our people, and our planet. Thank you. bows head

(By Isabela Aznar)





Only an Animal

I grew up in a river near Canada, close to the famous…or should I say, infamous tar sands. I would wake up every morning and see the sun, and i’d crawl out of my cozy lodge, and bathe in my crystal clear river water. The trees and plants were healthy, and good for eating. Those were the days. One day, my brother began to grow weak. He was always swimming, chestnut coloring could always be seen in the river, but one day after a long swim he came into our lodge breathing heavily, his ears perked down. One of the many tar sand pipe leaks had passed through into our river, and now my family, and my ancestors pristine, beautiful, home had to suffer. So there I was, being forced to leave the only home I ever knew. The fresh waters were no longer fresh, but filthy and completely toxic. My little brother had to DIE so that these selfish Americans could have their toxic oil. And I being only an angry animal, who couldn’t even communicate my anger in any effective way with Americans, just gathered up my family. And had to move. We found another, smaller river in which we could live. But in this river there was hardly ever enough for all of us to eat, and we all fear the day that this home, won’t even be enough anymore either. My question is why? Why did they do this to me? What did we ever do to deserve this? Our sacred home and land? Gone. The land in which I was raised, the water that I cared so much for. Ripped away from me, like a branch falling from it’s tree. (By Isabela Aznar)

http://www.vimeo.com/30172243 <----video monologue!

President Bush stands in front of a room of journalists and gives his speech.
Regrets from a president

When I was the 43 president of America, and like 42 presidents before me, I would have never let anything like this happen. If it were still up to me, we would not get involved. While I was president, I signed legislation that said that tar sands are to dirty for the American government. This law was made just to stop the use of tar sands. It is my belief this type of fuel is not in our best interests. I know some people say that this is hypocritical. My answer to this is that I have learned from my mistakes in the past and that even though I say this, I still believe that we should drill for as much crude oil as we possibly can. This is because it can benefit our economy and give us the push we need to put us back on top of the world. Also that now that I am not in the oval office, I am free to say what I want without any fear of who will support me after I say it. It is my belief that if we use this tar sands oil, then we will be dealing a harsh blow to the environment. This oil is one of the dirtiest forms of energy that we can get. It causes dirty water and causes dirty pollutants. When I look at my family ranch and think of the problems that this generation can cause for the next. I feel terrible that my ranch might not be in existence in a couple generations, because of the tar sands.

 (By Teige Dougherty)


Native American: (Shema of the fire tribe)


      Earth Less
Does no one care anymore? Is the earth worth less than this tar sands? I believe the world is at a breaking point and it is getting closer and closer to breaking, and this will be the straw that broke the camels back. When I look at my children I think of all the countless injustices that we are doing to them. I do my part to not pollute, but not everybody is doing the right thing. These companies are trying to get as much money as possible while the earth goes up in flames. Is that fair to the animals? Is that fair to the planet? I ask you, is that fair to your children, your own flesh and blood? If we just stopped now and take all the money that we are putting into this, and put it into making wind farms we could make enough energy to power 175,000 house holds. This energy would be continuously renewable and would never run out. It would even create jobs for many people in production and to keep them working. This is the kind of energy people can feel good about. Its the kind of energy that could help keep this plant of ours from reaching its breaking point. I’m not asking everyone to live like me or my tribe, but if we all just did our part and invested our money in responsible companies that would work towards a brighter future. A future that I can feel good about leaving to my family when I leave the world to them. (By Teige Dougherty)



Worker in the factory: (sam jacobson)
Sam kneels in front of his bed praying.

New country for old men

Growing up as a little boy in Texas, y’all know to recognize ai good thing when it happens. When I heard about the tar sands projects, I jumped for joy! I could finally be able to support my children, so they could go to college and have the life that I never had. They could go from college and get a better more worth while job than me and be able to support me when I get older and can’t work. It was tough for them growing, with their mother dieing of cancer when they were only 2 and all. Poor Sara, and Violet. They are only 17 now, and can’t get really jobs here in Texas. The only jobs a person with out a college degree can get down here are the jobs working on oil refineries, and they are to dangerous for my precious girls to work at. Just like the ones that are opening up to refine the tar sands. The other day I talk to the man in charge of the plant. He done gave me a job. With the money from this job, I can fix that leak in the roof, or fix our old broken truck. These tar sands are your way of giving us a break for all the tough times that you has given us in the past few years. I prayed every night for a job like this, and you finally answered, you finally did it. My only question is why didn’t do it sooner? From what I understand the pipeline will create 20,000 jobs. Why are people so hesitate on this? It is perfect for a time when American needs jobs. I don’t want to seem ungrateful or something. So any way thank you god and please watch over my family and friends. Amen (By Teige Dougherty)





Pipeline Monologue Project

My monologues are about a little girl who doesn't know much about the Keystone XL pipeline except her fishy might get flushed, a farmer who's land is going to get dug up so the pipeline can run under his farm, and a Hydrologist at a college with strong points and disagreements about the pipeline. 

Monologue 1

 Sophie comes up to her fishy and sprinkles fish food in the bowl

 Sophie: Hi, fishy.

 Sighs

 Sophie: I’m upset. Mommy says that some oil company in Texas is gonna run some kind of pipe allllllll the way up to Canada, right through here in Nebwaska. And the oil might get in our water that we dwink, and that we use for your fishy tank. She says that if that happens, we might have to con… con… um, save water. That means we cant use any extwa water at all. And, and, we wont be able to clean you’re fishy tank anymore… w-we could have to flush you bye bye.

 Sophie starts to get upset, starting to cry now

 Sophie: I’m scared… I don’t wanna send you away to fishy land… I love you fishy! B-but mommy says it-its going to be bad… ‘Cause its tar sands oil.. Whatever that means… its supposed to be dirtier than regular oil… so its gonna be even worse. Oh, fishy, I really wish I was a grownup; I don’t even get a choice what happens! Mommy said that its because our country doesn’t have enough money… I made a lemonade stand and when I make enough money, I’m gonna send it to Mr. Obama, but mommy says that’s not how it works. I don’t get it! Grownups are so mean! Why cant we just all be grateful for what we have like mommy says? Maybe, Mr. Obama will say no-no, and then I can keep you forever my little fishy.


Monologue 2

 Farmer Thompson fades in wearing a pair of tattered overalls and a straw hat and starts working his crops

 Farmer Thompson: Boy, howdy! I could sure use a glass of lemonade! Hell, i'ma need a thousand glasses of lemonade after that there TransCanada oil company slicks its pipes right through my own backyard. How am I supposed to make my money then? My wife and I done lived here in Merrick County, Nebraska for 35 years a-raising cattle and a-tillin’ the land, all the while lookin after our son Randy, why, he’s a cattle buyer now, all grown up. He just went to a discussion at his church about this here Gosh dern pipeline, talking about our farm.

 It starts to rain

 Farmer Thompson: Awe, Shoot! Well, might as well get all the water it can get now. Wont be much of my crops left after this pipe is in. Hell, wont be much of my farm left if this pipe should leak into this old field. I even heard that Trans Canada already has a pipeline a-runnin past the east side of that same Aquifer here in my state.  How greedy can ya get! Wanting to squirt more of that there dilbit into the water! I’m a voter, and sonny I voted for Barak Obama because he said he was gonna help the environment. I’m a man of my word; now my question is whether or not he’s a man of his. He needs to tell that there Trans Canada oil company not to run this dang pipe over my crops!



Monologue 3

 Jason Gurdak, a hydrologist at San Francisco State University, gives a presentation to a group of students. He writes on a board as he goes

 Jason: So, in essence, we’re pretty much just taking a bunch of contaminates, mixing them together, and dumping them in the water! Lets look real quick at something called dilbit, shall we? Dilbit is short for diluted bitumen, water mixed with tar sands oil. It contains toxic heavy metals like arsenic, and chemicals like benzene, a cancer causer. This stuff isn’t just regular oil here. Its a lot more corrosive than just crude oil alone, meaning it’ll break down the inside of the pipe quicker and almost guarantee a leak, which we cant detect as quickly underground. Plus, you got the aquifer right there, and a bunch of porous soil that’s just gonna sponge all this Dilbit up, and create a mess for the water. The Dilbit is denser and heavier than other contaminates, meaning its going to do WAY more than just float on top, its going to sink to the bottom, causing so much more damage that could create a plume.

 He tosses his marker

 Jason: And TransCanada is just saying that this is the safest way to transport the petroleum and that any spills “would be limited to a small area!” You’re kidding me right? Really! ‘Cause this crap has happened before, and I gotta tell ya, that wasn’t a “small area.”

 He holds up air quotes

 Jason: July 2010, just one year ago, a river in Michigan got Dilbit spilled in it and Lo and Behold! The waterway was closed for more than six months! Look, I’m not going to keep complaining about this, but come on, obviously I cant be the only one here that doesn’t see the stupidity behind this.


My Sources:
http://www.theindependent.com/articles/2011/09/22/news/local/13936546.txt

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/09/110919-keystone-xl-tar-sands-pipeline-groundwater/

http://www.wgbh.org/content-download/?revision_id=4004392

 

Pipeline History Monolouges

In this project we created monologues from the perspective of different people who would have an opinion on the XL pipeline that would be built from Canada to Texas. If you worked alone, you would do three monologues, and if you worked with someone else, you would do five. Each person would then have to make a video for one of the monologues they wrote. My personal goal for this project was to make it more opinionated and personal, because I tend to make my writing very factual, which would not have worked for this type of project.

Amish Farmer (James Prell):

(Pacing back and forth) I didn't have much of a choice when I was offered the chance to have the pipeline run through my land. But how will my neighbors react to it when I tell them? (Waves arms) The Amish of Kansas don't let this sort of thing happen, I should have been a better person and put the land and nature before myself, but I needed money.

I don’t make much money as it is, I never really have (sigh and glance down). The farming business isn’t something I’m good at, but it’s my only option, it's all I know. When TransCanada came to offer me money for the land they needed for the big pipe they were building, I wasn’t doing very well back then either. I was in between plantings after a failed harvest and I needed money pretty bad. These men offered me a deal; they would pay me lots of money if I let them cut through my land with big machines. And lay down this big pipe that would pump thousands of barrels of dark, crop killing oil from Canada to Texas.

            I’M A FARMER! (Shouts) What was I thinking? One mistake along any inch of that huge thing could completely destroy my work, my house, and I wouldn’t be able to plant for years afterwards. Not even the huge amount of money they paid me would be able to help me then. I’d have to leave everything I know behind. That poisonous fuel would forever taint all of my work, my father’s work, and his father’s work.

        I can’t turn back now. I’ve already signed a contract. I just wanted to be able to support myself, but I might end up destroying myself. I can only hope that our president stops the company from building the pipe. It might be selfish, because I know it will give a lot of people jobs. But if I ever have kids, I guess I want them to carry on my legacy here on the farm.

Transcanda Employee (James Prell)

I’ve worked on these oil sands for most of my adult life, long before these protesters started objecting to what we did over in America. I’ve taken part in setting up a lot of the more recent extraction plants too. (Shakes head) I grew up here in Alberta and witnessed the start of the dirty oil era. (Stretch arms and yawn) My life hasn’t really taken off yet though. At least, I hope it hasn’t. I spend all day operating the steam extraction machinery, and the pay isn’t great. (Cough) I’ve been wondering lately if working like this is worth the years taken off my life from inhaling the fumes.

Maybe those people down in Washington have the right idea; they’re working for a good cause fighting against the new Keystone pipeline. They’re passionate about what they believe in.

For a long time I saw the oil as a good thing. It was a miracle of modern science that we could extract fuel directly from the earth, without expensive drilling equipment. I was proud to work for the sake of helping people drive and provide oil to the world. I felt like a pioneer, leading my country forward.

(Nods) These Americans have opened my eyes though. If I help with the Keystone project, I could take a huge part in the pollution and destruction of North America. Sure, I might help a man get to work, but I might also kill someone by polluting his or her water supply. I don’t want that blood, or oil, on my hands.

Russ Girling (CEO of TransCanada) (Seamus Kirby): 

            Walks into room and sits on couch. Today was a tough day at work. It’s hard to hear myself think with so many protestors yelling outside your window. I know a lot of these people just see me as some greedy CEO that will do anything to get more money. Is that really me? I know I wouldn’t see myself as that, but if I look from their perspective, put myself in their shoes and look at myself? What am I? This pipeline would bring so much money to this company, and would benefit Canada and the USA in many ways. Jobs, money, oil. Does all that outweigh any potential environmental impacts? Right now we need oil, and we need a lot of it. In the future we may not need oil so much, but right now we do. This would at least postpone the energy problem for a while, until we have the means to postpone it further, or maybe even finally solve it. But is that what we really need? Would that make the problem worse? I doubt there will be any problems caused by this while I’m alive, but what about my children? No, I don’t think this pipeline will make or break the environment. It’s just one pipeline, and what people really need to do is stop wasting so much. Besides, if you ignore the environmental impacts this may or may not have, this is only beneficial to everyone.

 

Bill Mckibben (Seamus Kirby):

 

            We have lived and taken from our planet for tens of thousands of years. We started off just taking what we needed, but then we kept taking more and more and more, and now look at what that’s gotten us. We are polluting the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. At the same time unemployment is rising, along with gas prices and debt. It seems as if every single unsustainable thing we’ve been doing in the history of this country has finally collapsed on us at once. We need money, and oil, and jobs. We also need to conserve the environment. If we aren’t mindful of how much we waste, and render the planet uninhabitable with our pollution, the planet will be fine. After a few thousand years, the planet will repair itself, and be back to the way it was before humans. The only thing we’d be killing is ourselves, and everything we share the planet with. The XL pipeline would do two things. It would bring money, oil, and jobs to America. And it would be another nail in the coffin of environmentalism. Will this completely destroy the environment in one fell swoop? No, but will it solve our debt, and job problems? No to that too. What we have to do is weigh what options would be best overall. Should we build it and generate a few thousand jobs, and billions of dollars in revenue, or should we not build and save countless plants and animals, and reduce our oil dependency. Transcanada says their pipes will not leak, but can we really believe them when their own pipes leaked 12 times? We can’t risk it leaking, because the pipeline goes over a major aquifer that people drink from. And it would pollute the drinking supply of millions with crude oil. I don’t think we should build the pipeline, because I believe that there is other ways of improving the economy, but there is only one way to protect the environment right now, and that is to stop the XL pipeline from being built.

 

Kenneth Hewitt (Seamus Kirby):

    I’ve been unemployed for almost a year now, and my unemployment benefits are starting to run out. I’ve been living out of this crummy apartment in this terrible neighborhood for about as long. I was laid off from my first job as a construction manager, and for the first few months nobody would hire me. After that nobody was hiring me because of how long I’d been unemployed. I heard about this new pipeline TransCanada is planning to build between Canada and Texas. I could maybe get a job helping building this, it shouldn’t be too difficult since it’s such a big project, and they’d need to hire a lot of people. Sure, it wouldn’t be permanent, but it would be something to put on my resume so employers wouldn’t immediately ignore my application due to not having been employed for a long time. But at the same time, do I want to help this project? So many people are protesting this because huge negative environmental implications. Maybe I could get a different job somewhere else, but where? This is the surest bet. But what do I care about more, my own wellbeing, or the wellbeing of my children and their children. Then again, the world’s already messed up for my kids; surely this one pipeline wouldn’t be that big of a deal. But if it’s not such a big deal, why are so many people protesting it? I can’t turn down work, but is this the work I want to do? I guess if this is going to be built I have no choice but to work on it, my only other option being unemployment. But I hope Obama blocks this from being built, so I don’t feel obligated to work on it.

 

Pipeline Monologue Project

​This project was to get different people opinion on the pipeline and how they see and view how it effects people and the economy. Through this monologue I wanted people to see the thoughts of the people on on the pipeline and how it effects them. The issues I wanted people to see was the pros and cons of this pipeline.


The Story No One Hears

*As Obama walks into the pressroom. He looks in the solemn faces of the people in the room and he feels sorrow*

My people hear me speak as a person not as the president talking into a microphone and listen to me and think of me as one of you. I, Obama have heard the concerns about the pipeline. But everyone puts the blame on me. But no one knows the back-story … my story of this pipeline. I do everything for this country and I try to do what is right but it can never be enough. As soon as anything goes wrong everyone points the finger at me. I try and try but I can do no right. If I have to have millions of people to hate me even though I am doing what is right for this economy so be it. If I have to ignore the screams and cries of the world because of this pipeline then I have to. If I have to look at people in the tearful eyes saying I have to do what is right for the economy and put their feelings aside then I’ll do it. But no one knows the guilt I have to face every time I open my eyes to a new day and close my eyes to end one. My family supports me in every decision I make. But I am afraid that they wont be able to look at me after the decision I make. My children will be ashamed to call me their father. This is my true horror. I’ll just sit and put in my headphones and close my eyes to blur out the screams and the tears of what this pipeline will do to people. If I have to live with guilt on my hands forever. So be it. But in the end I hope people don’t look at me as a monster but a person who try to do something right. 

Bryon E Hancock


One thing can destroy everything. 

·      He walks up to the stage of the assembly in his town and looks at everyone will a sad face with his family looking at him in the front row*

 The tar sands pipeline. People surveying my land and mumbling to each other. Those images have been staying in my head for many months on and on. How can the president just do this? How can he do this to his people? Why this land? Why does he have to kill the land I live on just for this pipeline? What did I do to deserve this sad life? All these questions just stay in my head and will never have an answer. This pipeline will destroy this land I have lived on for 15 years of my life. My family grew up on this land. I want my children to love this land and learn about when they grow up. I want my children to inherit this land. Why is one pipeline is going to take that all away from me. It will leave my family with out our home and my children without any memories of where they lived. My children will grow up and never see the land they lived on.  How can one pipeline people say with better us but is it taking away so much? Why else will it take in the years coming? What will our children have to look forward to? What state will our ecosystem be in? The tar sands pipeline is a nightmare that appeared in front of me. The nightmare of tar sands pipeline appeared on my doorstep and hasn’t left since. Will this nightmare ever end? Will it ever get better from here on?


Michel C.Weerd

 The good of the future

 *Walks on the stage full of protestors who doesn’t want the pipeline*

I have seen and heard the people voices of this pipeline but nobody sees what better it can do for our lives. People need to see the state this economy is in. We are so close to having a second depression. And people are protesting this pipeline? Why are they so selfish? Ok what if this pipeline doesn’t happen and we go down to an economic slump. What can the protesters do now? Absolutely nothing. With this oil we can look towards a new future and new beginnings. We can looks towards a brighter future. We can stop out dependence on foreign oil and stop this war over oil perhaps. All these points you just heard are the pros of this pipeline and obviously the pros outweigh the cons. This pipeline will be for the better and everyone needs to see that. Stop bashing the pipeline and see what good it will bring to this economy. This will make all the problems we have today disappears. We need this pipe like no one knows. This could be a better brighter future for us Americans. So protestors need to put their feelings aside and see the bigger better future. They need not to so selfish and see that this will affect many people lives for the better then the worse. This pipeline will fix everything and create many jobs, which we Americans are lacking and this can fix our downfall in the jobs area. We need this pipeline more then it needs us. With this pipeline the economy will hit a all time high. So people need to change their thought on protesting this pipeline.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

















Pipeline Monologue Project

  In this project the goal was to show different perspectives about this environmental issue. Tar Sands oil and the XL Pipeline. My purpose was to have a typical citizen's point of view. Since this is a topic isn't known by most of America, I wanted my monologues to slowly form an opinion on this issue, assuming these people didn't have prior knowledge. This project is about the domestic concern for the XL Pipeline, that might cover six states. 

Monologues: 

Rich Loris:
All I saw were angry, concerned people outside my favorite window of the White House. My window had a clear view of all the action happening outside. *read slower* Picket signs….. Banners…. Police…. *pick up a bit more speed reading*I could barely hear the chants from my window, but they had a sense of confidence in each one. *talks slower* Canada….. *sound confused*Tar Sands…? Oil…. Nasty oil… Crude oil….. Foreign oil…. Oil…. Oil…. *gets angered* OIL! That’s all it ever is! *gets calm again* *takes a deep breath* That’s all I ever hear from my colleagues, I can’t do anything. I can’t say anything. If I do, I’ll seem like a threat. A threat to their self being. They only worry about themselves. I’m just the head of security. I don’t make any decisions. I just protect the man that does.

Hey, *shurgs*I even voted for him myself. The man had a dream I agreed with. It was different. I thought it was nice to have some color in the White House. This man’s dream opened my eyes to something more than what it should have been exaggerated to. I realized the place we live on won’t last forever. The way we live on this planet now, it’s destined to not be safe enough for our kin. Something needs to change. My actions may not make a dent in earth’s health, but it makes a dent in how I see things now.

It’s hard to hear men joke about this. They ultimately think it’s going to blow over and a 1700-mile pipe will cover six states of our domestic territory! The idea just doesn’t sit right with me. I cared too much for some unknown reason. I didn’t know the actual impact of this, in my heart it didn’t seem legit. It didn’t seem….moral.

I couldn’t help what I felt at the time, but I didn’t think twice about running out the door towards the dedicated protesters. I was about 200 meters from them. All I wanted to do was join then. Join a triumph waiting to happen. *clenches fists so veins show**takes a deep breath* I was tackled. I believe his name was Ben… Ben Hanks. I’m the one in charge of him, I should definitely know his name. I tried to pry his grip off me, but a sting in my left side *places his left hand on his left side* and I was out.

I woke up here. This jail cell. With a cold floor, a silver, metallic toilet and serious talking. *feels the floor and shivers* Then I looked up to a red haired girl blankly looking at me. 

Laury Ellis:

*Sits in a cornet near the bars of her cell

I woke up this morning with a purpose. I woke up to march… March for a relevant cause to my president. *fixes shirt* He is the one who can stop it all. He’s the man I have all my hopes in right now. I tied my hair back for a serious persona and dressed in a simple pair of nice of jeans and a Obama shirt I got at the beginning of his election. I bought an extra shirt just in case I was displeased at the president for a moment. I knew I was going to out there for awhile, but I didn’t think I’d end up in a jail cell at the end of the day. All I Americans were allowed to express what their opinions were. Right or wrong, it can still be said. But I guess when it goes up against the White House, it’s always going to be wrong. I realized that today.

            *Speaks in a “matter-of-fact voice* I’ve seen that the no one had denied a permit for the pipeline. All permission was given. Canada wants to get rid of it and the U.S. is willing to take it, since it’s an ally’s oil. I also checked out what TransCanada is doing about the land their taking from domestic owners. In addition to the government getting millions of dollars in revenue, around 600 million to be exact, their giving a small portion of the profits to the landholders their taking away property from. I couldn’t argue with that. I mean… I’ve my land was taken, I’d probably take up the offer of getting some type of compensation. But I’m seriously worried about what it’d to the environment. Plowing through acres and acres of lands that houses animals, plants, and freshwater. It’s a shame to see what could be lost with this pipe. It there any other way this could be done? Instead of a pipeline, maybe thousands of truck drivers and money to be put in oil transportation? I don’t know. That might be worse… A lot is at jeopardy, but I’m just a citizen. I can’t do anything. I can only stand for something.

            Now, I stare at this man. Dressed in a suit and tie with ear piece that you usually see officials. I don’t know who he is. He seems interested. Maybe he knows something about it all. 

Ben Hanks:

*Ben sits at the bottom of a tree trunk with his head in his hands.*

I didn’t know who he was. I didn’t know he had more authority than me. I didn’t know anything about this man. I didn’t know what my boss looked like. *Slowly lifts his head out his hands.* He could have been Indian for all I cared.

            I was told to watch for anyone making trouble. That’s my job. That’s what I’m paid to do. The protesters were pretty much under control. The picket signs were all too offensive, so I wasn’t worried about today. Things seems relatively fine. I stood there, at my guard and I was prepared for anything.

            I kept hearing things about this “crude” oil. I couldn’t look it up on my blackberry at the time, but it didn’t seem bad. These people seemed to be against what I thought is   exactly what we need. Oil from a place close by. Right? It’s better than getting overseas in that terrorist country. We fight for all of what we have and why not take a chance and get something we deserve. It’s said that the pipeline won’t leak and that’s good enough for me. Hey, it’s not going to impact me in D.C. so why should I worry about it? I sorry for those who live out there, but my living arrangements aren’t at all going to be ruined.

            As I was contemplating about this issue a man runs across the White House field. I couldn’t tell who he was, nor where he came from. My first instinct was to tackle him. He tried to struggle out of my grip so I tazed him. I cuffed him and gave to the others. I was then informed later on… He was the big boss. 




Pipeline Monologue Project


When I wrote these monologues I wanted to show the pros and cons of this pipeline. My different monologues talked about reasons to do it and reasons to not build it. 



Earth Less:

Does no one care anymore? Is the earth worth less than this tar sands? I believe the world is at a breaking point and it is getting closer and closer to breaking, and this will be the straw that broke the camels back. When I look at my children I think of all the countless injustices that we are doing to them. I do my part to not pollute, but not everybody is doing the right thing. These companies are trying to get as much money as possible while the earth goes up in flames. Is that fair to the animals? Is that fair to the planet? As a native american I believe that the earth is important. I ask you, is that fair to your children, your own flesh and blood? If we just stopped now and take all the money that we are putting into this, and put it into making wind farms we could make enough energy to power 175,000 house holds. This energy would be continuously renewable and would never run out. It would even create jobs for many people in production and to keep them working. This is the kind of energy people can feel good about. Its the kind of energy that could help keep this plant of ours from reaching its breaking point. I’m not asking everyone to live like me or my tribe, but if we all just did our part and invested our money in responsible companies that would work towards a brighter future. A future that I can feel good about leaving to my family when I leave the world to them.




Regrets from a president:

When I was the 43 president of America, and like 42 presidents before me, I would have never let anything like this happen. If it were still up to me, we would not get involved. While I was president, I signed legislation that said that tar sands are to dirty for the American government. This law was made just to stop the use of tar sands. It is my belief this type of fuel is not in our best interests. I know some people say that this is hypocritical. My answer to this is that I have learned from my mistakes in the past and that even though I say this, I still believe that we should drill for as much crude oil as we possibly can. This is because it can benefit our economy and give us the push we need to put us back on top of the world. Also that now that I am not in the oval office, I am free to say what I want without any fear of who will support me after I say it. It is my belief that if we use this tar sands oil, then we will be dealing a harsh blow to the environment. This oil is one of the dirtiest forms of energy that we can get. It causes dirty water and causes dirty pollutants. When I look at my family ranch and think of the problems that this generation can cause for the next. I feel terrible that my ranch might not be in existence in a couple generations, because of the tar sands.



New country for old men:

Growing up as a little boy in Texas, y’all know to recognize ai good thing when it happens. When I heard about the tar sands projects, I jumped for joy! I could finally be able to support my children, so they could go to college and have the life that I never had. They could go from college and get a better more worth while job than me and be able to support me when I get older and can’t work. It was tough for them growing, with their mother dying of cancer when they were only 2 and all. Poor Sara, and Violet. They are only 17 now, and can’t get really jobs here in Texas. The only jobs a person with out a college degree can get down here are the jobs working on oil refineries, and they are to dangerous for my precious girls to work at. Just like the ones that are opening up to refine the tar sands. The other day I talk to the man in charge of the plant. He done gave me a job. With the money from this job, I can fix that leak in the roof, or fix our old broken truck. These tar sands are your way of giving us a break for all the tough times that you has given us in the past few years. I prayed every night for a job like this, and you finally answered, you finally did it. My only question is why didn’t do it sooner? From what I understand the pipeline will create 20,000 jobs. Why are people so hesitate on this? It is perfect for a time when American needs jobs. I don’t want to seem ungrateful or something. So any way thank you god and please watch over my family and friends. Amen

Pipeline Monologue Project

For this project, we had to create monologues talking about the TransCanada Pipeline. I did my three monologues from the point of view of a farmer, an unemployed woman, and a child. I wanted to show the different points of view, so both the farmer and the child don't want the pipeline to be created and the unemployed woman wants it created. The issues that I mostly brought up where that there is a good chance that the pipeline could leak and that there will be more jobs and money for the United States.

A Man in Trouble

Setting: Talking in front of a crowd of people in a town meeting. He’s standing up in front of a table.

H-hello everyone. My name is Robert Friend… I- I am a Nebraskan Farmer. I have a wife and a premature, newborn, baby. I’m scared. I’m scared that because of the TransCanada Pipeline, my farm will be ruined. Wh-what if there becomes a leak? What if I lose my farm? His voice starts to shake What if I can’t take care of my family?

Everyone in favor of the pipeline is saying that it will open up more job opportunities, but nobody thinks about how many jobs it could also harm. There are a lot of farmer’s and land workers where this pipeline is going though, and its creating, what? About twenty thousand jobs at the most? When there s-springs a leak, it’s going to wipe out the farms from Canada to Texas. If you take the time to think about it, running this pipeline could lose more jobs then create.

Picks up picture of his baby from the table This is my baby, Charlie. Puts photo onto table. Charlie was born t-two months premature. My wife and I are always going to have to look after Charlie, to make sure he develops properly and is all right. If my farm is ruined how am I going to be able to take care of him? How is a-a-anybody going to be able to take care of their families?  I love my family; they mean the world to me. This pipeline cannot go though, we can’t put hundred of families in danger. I can’t make this decision for you, but I can hope you make the right decision. Th-thank you for your time.

Unemployment can be saved

Setting: Outside the White House talking to protesters, attempting to change their side about the pipeline. She is going to be speaking very professionally and to be proud of what she is saying. Behind her will be the percentage of people unemployed to show why we need extra jobs. Standing in front of a pedestal.

Hello. My name is Betty U. Freeman, and I am an unemployed woman. I live on my own in a one-bedroom apartment in Washington DC, but I can hardy pay the rent. I scramble every month to get the money I need, and I collect pennies as if I’m on a treasure hunt to get a meal. Behind me, is the percentage of people unemployed, I am not alone. Points to the chart behind her. I know one way that I can change this, and that is only if the TransCanada Pipeline gets approved.

If they allow this pipeline then I might have a chance. I could be able to pay my rent and I could be able to have a decent meal every once in a while. There could be more job opportunities, also. There will be twenty thousand jobs open for the United States and the pipeline will create eight billion dollars to the economy. This could help me so much. I’ll move wherever they need me to go. I’ll do whatever they need me to do.

People will say this pipeline isn’t creating enough jobs but it could change not only mines, but also so many other people’s lives. It won’t only help people like me; it will help everybody in the United States by creating energy security. What do we need more of right now, America? We need jobs. We need money. We need to low that unemployed percentage. By creating the TransCanada Pipeline we can. We can have a chance. Please think. Please make the right decision. Thank you for listening and thank you for your time.


For the Love of a Child

Setting: A little girl, Ashley is in her bedroom writing in her diary. While she is writing she is also reading out loud. She is lying down on her bed as she is writing and speaking. She speaks in a scared tone of voice.

Oh diary! Something is going on. Mommy tells me that everything will be okay, but Alexandra is running around, and-and she seems scared. I don’t know much about what is going on. Mommy won’t tell me anything. Alexandra is going behind mommy’s back by telling me things. She hasn’t said much other then the big mean men want to create a Tar Sands Pipeline that will go through our farm and that the men who won Nobel Prizes are writing to Mr. President. I don’t know what a Tar Sand Pipeline or a Nobel Prize is, they both sound fancy.

Alexandra also told me that in the mean men make the pipeline, then-then-then our family is in danger and we might not be able to be together. Crosses out the last sentence, throws diary onto the ground. Tears start to fall because she is so scared. Goes to pick up diary and continues writing and reading what she writes. I-I need to talk to Alexandra. Oh my, I’m so scared. I can’t let the three of us be separated. Mommy, mommy, mommy, these bad guys can’t let this happen to us. They can’t make this pipeline, they can’t risk it to becomes leaky and ruin my life.


Personal Experience (Performance)

This was the fifth time I was here. On the stage where I felt safest, yet again I was paralyzed just as before. With the toughest critics I actually knew, there they were. Waiting, watching.

“Jordan!” Joy whispered from backstage.

Damn! Why did I just get up here? I though to myself.

The audience waited for me to start and seen that something was wrong with me. They knew this was what I loved to do. Perform. Sing, dance, and play the piano. So what was the reason for the delay? The truth was because I was nervous about playing in front of them. Ever since my last performance, it took me a long time to perform in front of them again.

“Jordan, what are you waiting for? The microphone is on and the piano is tuned so start.”

“Okay.”

I turned towards everyone and spoke.

“Today I’m going to be play “Fur Elise” on the piano. Yes I know you wanted me to sing but maybe next time. I said with a brief chuckle.

I turned back to the grand piano with a sudden shock of courage.

Throughout the song I heard comments of appreciation from my class and that made me even more courageous to continue to play. I was happy I was back here and knew that I could not stop my dream just because off the small errors and snickers from people. The opinions that people had of me stopped mattering to me the longer I played. This performance took place in eighth grade and the one that stopped me from playing was in sixth. Two years it took me to come back out of my shell of fear. That will never happen again. I love the things I do too much to stop again. I love music. I love my dream.

 

 

 

Pipeline Monologue Project

With the monologue project, I had to write three different monologues about the TransCanada XL pipeline. Each video had to include a different person, giving their point of view. I chose the point of view of an executive working there, who was for, an employed mother, who was for, and an unemployed father, who was in the middle. I want to make monologues that would show how people cope with the pipeline and the environment. 

It’s all good

He sits down

Hello my name is Ted Oils Spill

I am one of the executives at TransCanada working on the TransCanada XL pipeline

How can I be of service to you kind gentleman?

He has a smug smile on looking at the reporter

Let me guess, you’re here to find out all the juicy details of our beautiful project.

All we need is to approve to build it and construction will begin

This will be a magnificent pipeline. It will be about 1,700 miles long and stretch all the way from the tar sands in Canada to refineries in Port Arthur, Texas

 He sits back relaxed

It is estimated that 800,000 barrels of crude oil will be pumped through the pipeline per day. It would be great if it passed our expectations and reached passed the 1 million mark.

 I think the XL pipeline is a great idea!

 I know there are many people against it but its all fin. For starter, the amount of oil will be awesome. Also, with this new pipeline there will be thousands more jobs, which are really needed, in these harsh times where money is tight, people are losing their jobs, parents cannot afford a decent Christmas for their children, and people are losing their homes. Doesn’t this get you all excited? I know its all exciting so contain your exciting. Not to mention this pipeline be safer.

Well opposed to the previous pipelines, this one will be built in a different way with new technology

 He hears the reporters next question and looks nervous



And to touch on the fact that some other people think that our project is flawed. There are poorly mistaken … No other comments. 




Family Matters 

Hello my name is Deborah Harriott

 Thank you for taking time out of you very busy schedule to share my thoughts with everyone about the idiotic plan to build that stupid TransCanada XL pipeline that is in consideration of being built. It’s stupid.

 Puts on a stern look

I have my family to worry about, my three lovable children, Samantha, Nate, and Max, and my husband. This idiotic XL pipeline will go near my home and near our fresh water where me, my family and everyone else in my neighborhood depends on for their fresh water.

 Looks sad

I find this decision to be shows that the people working at TransCanada to be lacking compassion for the people that will be affected if things ever go wrong. The act as if things show good results, their desired results, that horrible repercussions will not arise later in life. It may not happen the day the XL pipeline is finished construction, maybe not the next week, month, or even that year, but good things must always come to an end. That pipeline will have a major problem one day. And do know who will suffer, probably not them, but most surely we will pay, for their mistake. I am scared for my family. What if it all goes wrong, what if we have nothing do drink. What if we cant even get clean drinking water? I built my entire life here. Too loose it all, would just be… … painful. I can’t afford to loose everything I fought so hard to keep.

 Looks pained, angry, and sad look all at the same time.

I do not know the actual details of what new tech they have for this new project, but I hear that it has shown that it is not totally reliable, and they cant even admit it.

 As for the issue with it creating jobs, I am I a very well paid doctor, as for my husband, he he’s teacher. We are doing well for ourselves without the pipeline. How does this pipeline help us.   

 








What a Man needs to do    

My name is Rick. I walk into the crowded room, sit on the couch and stare at the man with the tape recorder in his home, which is wearing an expensive looking suit and glasses. I think for a moment, then speak 

 Hey man, I am really glad that you came to interview me and like, get my point of view on things that be going on round here you know what I’m saying

 I pause, then adjust myself in my seat

 I think that, this trans Canada plan to make an oil pipeline is one crappy made plan. I mean like, me personally, it just don’t feel right. It seems like stuff like this has happened before. Like oil spills. I’ve heard on places like the news that like, these oil spills be getting in our water and that just ain’t cool. The fish be dying and the eco… echo… the umm environment has been suffering for stuff like that.

 It’s terrible, it aint even worth it, building such a long pipe that’s like a yard wide. It just don’t sit right with me. What if that thing like, breaks, or something like that. What happens to me? What happens to the small people? Are we all meant to be bugs under the rich mans new shiny boots? ‘Dats messed up bro.

 

I get a serious look on my face

 Do I even matter in dis equation? I ain’t good enough or something. Ain’t those executive type people stop to think, how does this crappy oil help me. I don’t even own a car, why do I need oil. I have to walk to where I need to get. We need to get a plan that helps us with our economy.

 

I give the man a sad look. My daughter walks in and sits next too me looks confused. I Sigh, then start again. I put my hand on her head.

 Even though I say that, I am a single father after all, without any job. The floorboards are messed up, the walls are stripping, and the door creaks. This is not the life I want. I need a job.  How am I gonna support my daughter. This oil thingy is gonna make jobs. It might kill the environment one day, but without a job I won’t live till that day. I don’t know what to do. Maybe I should put my pride and anger away, and get a job there, for my sweet little Melissa.

 



Pipeline Monologue Project

​Intro Paragraph: Within this project, my goal was to show each characters opinions' and perspectives' about the Keystone XL pipeline. I spoke through the characters to express real emotion and the emotions that would be expected. For example, when writing from water's perspective, I was able to imagine some of the properties. This was possible by acting as if water were a man.

Monologues:

The Beginning to Change

 

Bill Mckibben walks to the podium           

                                   

This is my first speech as an environmentalist. The white paper in my hand was folded into a square and had about one hundred fifty black words on it. It is shaking as if it was a table and my hand was an earthquake. I couldn’t help but think that this could be the beginning to our earth diminishing or it being saved.  The actual power is in the hands of President Obama but the people of the United States influences his decisions. I could influence theirs. After finally unfolding the paper, it looked as if the words were blurred. I couldn’t ready anything. This is just my imagination. Images of clear lakes and no pipeline signs were in front of me drawn onto cardboard in front of the white house. These people want change. I could be the voice of reason.  The nervousness left me.

I stood tall and said:

“It is the second largest pool of carbon on Earth. It is tar sands, which are oil sands. The main component of this oil would be bitumen. Bitumen is the most toxic form of petroleum, which is called tar. This is a form of crude oil. Last year alone, theses tar sands had 12 spills. This pipeline is predicted to go from Canada to Texas. What happens if another spill occurs and it goes into the ocean or another water supply area? Then what happens if we drink this water?”. “We have lost the battle for the last 10 years to for anything about greenhouse gasses. The process of refining this crude oil needs natural gas. In return, refining the tar sands oil apposed to regular conventional oil causes more greenhouse gas emissions. We shouldn’t use the pipeline. There are too many issues that could arise because of it. We have to take global warming seriously.” Finishing and feeling successful I folded my paper up and put it into the inside of my jacket pocket. The crowd cheered and clapped as I walked off the stage. This is the begging to change.



Future Leaders

Here I am, walking to another class full of students in the middle of the first quarter. My old class was a group of unwilling to learn students. They would sit in their chairs like zombies and say nothing. No one raised his or her hand. Instead they sat holding their phone underneath a desk texting someone across the room or writing notes about me and passing it to the person in front of them. My new room, 304, had my name carved into a wooden plate with gold lettering.  After opening the door, I was greeted with blank unwelcoming faces.

 

She grabs her lesson plan out of her purse

 

 “My name is Mrs. Lou. Today we are going to be discussing the Tar Sands pipeline. In Alberta, Canada, there are Tar Sands. These sands produce toxic and thick oil. The United States is trying to refine and clean the oil so that we can use it in things such as cars. To do this, they are sending a pipeline from Canada to Texas. The problem with this idea is that the oil that would go through the pipeline is too thick. Therefore, it would have to be heated up as it was going through. That just makes us more prone for danger such as the oil leaking. Also the oil is too acidic to transport safely in the pipelines. The same kind of oil that was spilled into the Kalamazoo River last year has the same viscosity of the Tar sands oil. The oil sunk to the bottom of the river and is no longer retrievable”.

The kids in front of me are actually starting to pay attention. Instead of slouching in their seats they were sitting up straight. I could also tell that some of them were trying to raise their hand ad voice their opinions like leaders.

“ The pros of the pipeline would be that it could create jobs for Americans, give us more oil, and allow us not to rely on other countries for oil”. I ended. “ I can see that some of you would like to voice your opinions, write your name on the board in one of the categories, for or against”. The kids immediately got up. Most of them were standing in line to write their names on the left side, against. I am glad that they agree with me.




If you don’t, I will

 

My name is Niagara. My children Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario, and Superior are the people I care most about. We have our own type of family flow. We understand each other’s problems. I travel around the continent to visit their houses all the time. We support each other because we are a family. I would never leave them in the dust.

The United States is planning on putting a pipeline from Canada to Texas. It’s supposedly going to carry this toxic and crude oil so that they could refine it. Politicians talk about how we are going to be okay because the pipe is not supposed to leak. Do they not remember what happened to my cousin Kalamazoo? His whole house was covered in oil because of an oil leak that was “not supposed to happen” but did about twelve times. Now, he has oil in his basement that he can’t get out. Do they not remember my cousin Gulf? Last year she has approximately 4.9 million barrels of crude oil spilt into her home. It didn’t just affect her, but it affected the animals that lived with her.

What happens if the oil from these pipes leaks out? This could immediately affect my son Superior and daughter Michigan. It could also affect the people who use this water to drink and put into bottles. Why would they do something like this? President Obama can make the decision to put my family at risk or protect us. Just in case, I have to call my family and tell them to brace themselves for the worst and hope for the best.

Pipeline Monologue Project

This project is about exploring different points of view. This is centered on the XL/ tar sands pipeline. This is a controversial topic. And there are many opinions and many was to see what the right thing is. My goal for this project was to see if I could write as different people and still convey what I was thinking. I was hard to not write description. But it was more about the characters then what they looked like. Please enjoy the flowing monologues and video.

My Point

 

Walks in. sits down and faces the crowd

 “Hello ladies and gentleman. I am Adam Riss.

 Looks over the crowd with only his eyes, does not move head.

Wow this a lot of people here today. Your eyes look like little lights. Flickering off and on as you blink. There are so many of you. But enough about you; to day I will be taking about the XL pipeline as so know as the Tar sands pipeline. The pipeline will be going from Alberta, Canada down to Texas. It will bring 500,000 barrels of crude oil a day to the U.S. This is a gift from our friends in Canada and we are going to cash in on it. It will open up thousands of jobs for Americans. This is a once and a lifetime opportunity. We have to take this oil.

Clinches first.

 Just think if we could get out from under other countries. We could stop fighting a war for oil. I could bring my brother home after three years.

 Begins to get up the sits back down

Ahem. Sorry for the break in my points. I know for a fact that if we don’t support this some one else will take this oil. We need to stick together and give President Obama the motivation to pass this bill. Yes we can build. I know that there are some points I may have missed. I would hate to take up anymore of your time. So I will take a few questions. Questions? Well, yes the pipeline will be running through the largest source of fresh water in the continent of North American. But I am telling you that there is a very low chance that it will leak or break. So we should not be concerned about that. Well, yes, there was another pipeline that did leak a few times…Twelve times? I can see what you are saying. But this pipe is going to be much stronger. I am sorry but we are out of time. I am Adam Riss and thank you.”

Gets up and wakes away.

 

 

The Talk

 

Chou picks up phone. She is at home when her aunt calls her.

“Hey aunt Sara. What is going on, are you going to come pick me up?

Looks at the phone

Where are you? At the North Run airport. What are you going somewhere? Texas.

Raises voice.

Your going to Texas. Why? Uncle Nick is going to work there. He is going to work in Texas. Why, he had a job here. He is going to work for an oil company. You mean the ones that are working with the Trans Canada people. That is going to destroy that world’s ecosystem even more then it all ready is. Do you know where they’re planning to put the pipe?

Gets up and starts to pace.

It’s going to be over the largest patch freshwater in the continent. Do you know what it means if it leaks? It means that we is have to start paying for water form other places. Water a basic human need. I would take that over oil. Why would you support this? I don’t care if it’s a good job opportunity. Do you care that if he dose this that there will not be a world to have jobs on. I this is not ok at all. What about the people in Canada? The Native Americans that live in Canada. There land will be taken way if you support this. He can find another job.” 

The rug seems to be getting a burn. She is moving so fast that her feet are red.

 “I don’t understand. You don’t understand. For someone how was born and raised in a country that is so developed your thinking really isn’t. Everything that you are saying is point less by.”

 

No Voice

 

A piece of then XL pipelines that is lying on the floor, speaking softly.

I’m there thinking of the words that I just heard. I have been here for so long. Just waiting. Waiting for something, or maybe someone. They where moving us. A lot at first but now we are still. I remember the dark room where we where the first time. I was damp we where moving fast. Then I felt the heat all over me. Then to the rocking car what brought use here. The words keep coming; Tar…Sand…Oil. Why do I keep hearing them together? They sound like gravel in a person’s mouth. As if they where trying to make sense of it. But what do they have to do with each other. Tar is hot it burns. Like that room I was in. Sand is at the beach. Cool and soft. And oil powers cars, and everything else in the U.S. They don’t mix.

Moves to another area of the floor.

There hands wrap around my body, now I know what they’re talking about. As they place me in a line. I’m what is moving the tar, sand and oil. I don’t think that is safe. My thin aluminum frame will break. I here more words coming form the workers. New words that I haven’t hared before. Water…pipeline…over…Why would you put water over me. What if the sand gets into it, or the tar? What would happen to the fish? What would happen to the people? This can’t end well. Another worker. Why are they turning me over? A break…a break where… then don’t use me if there is a break. But they can’t hear me. I can’t talk. Then I am placed back in line. I wish I could save the water, the fish, and the people. But I don’t have a voice.

 

 

Pipeline Monologue Project.


This project was about other people’s perspectives’ about the pipeline plan. My goals for this project changed a lot. I had many different ideas. I had thought about making a monologue of a kid that lives near the pipeline. Then I thought about animals, natives, and about a person that want to jail but then the idea of a newscaster came to mind. In the end I did what came to me. In the end my goals where to make the monologue what I think and others think is good.

What is new on the news and out of the newscaster world.

(Newscaster on camera he’s sitting talking about McKibben on the news.)

McKibben and about 64 other protesters started a two-week sit in at the White House on Saturday to go against the $7 billion, 1,700-mile oil pipeline planned to cross the great plains of the nations.

U.S. Park Police had told the protesters that each one of them would be arrested and quickly released with a fee of $100 for trespassing. After the Police/authorities learn that more than 2,000 people from all of the 50 states plan to join the protest from August 21, 2011 until September 3, 2011 the jailed McKibben and his peers until a court hearing on Monday.

 This are comments by McKibben himself “This was a powerful day,” McKibben said in a written statement. “It’s not the easiest thing on earth for law-abiding folk to come risk arrest. It’s hot out here today, especially when you’re wearing a suit and tie. But it’s nowhere near as hot as it’s going to get if we lose this fight.”

“This pipeline has emerged as the single clear test of the president’s willingness to fight for the environment,” McKibben said in a weekend statement. “We’ve already succeeded in nationalizing this fight in a way no one thought was possible. It’s not just a group of people along the pipeline route who are opposing this project anymore. People from all 50 states will be joining us over the coming two weeks.”

After a Saturday rally at Lafayette Square Park, McKibben and other supporters move to a sit-in on the sidewalk in front of the White House. There where to large banners that read “Climate Change is Not in Our National Interest: Stop the Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline” and “We Sit In Against the Keystone XL Pipeline. Obama Will You Stand Up to Big Oil?”

That is all have a good day.

(Camera’s off he gets up and walk to his dressing room.)

Again today’s news was about someone going to jail and about what hey think of this whole pipeline shit. Why won’t they just stop already having this pipeline will make more jobs and of all people I have to do this. Talk all fucking day about people that are against it and for it. I tiered of this topic. “Hey get me a water.”  

What happen to me on that day.

(Siting telling people about her d grandma)

Hello my name is Kini and this stories is about my granmather. Anevay Kuwanyauma is my name and I lived in North Dakota when the pipelines where build. I was just truing eight on the day that the pipelines broke and made us move. I remember the day like it was just yesterday.  It’s more of a nightmare then a memory to me. I was with my friends laughing and singing our favorite song. After sometime we started running. This land that once my ancestor had once run through. It was a very beautiful day that my friend and I wanted to go swimming. We went to the lake that was very near when we got there we saw a dark black hole the water wasn’t there it was swallowed by the tar-sand oil. I ran back to my house told my parents the moment I ended my mom fell to her knees and unknown tear fell from her eyes. Dad’s eye turned blood red with anger. “You see our parents were right the pipes were going to brake.” But what we had not known was that all the pipelines were barking as we were talking. Then the alarm burst though our though and made our body move by it’s self. We grabbed what ever we could and my dad want and got the car. My mom grabbed my hand I dropped my favorite toy I reached for it but my mom pulled harder. Tears fell from my face the cool tear had not stop for two years. I was thinking why did we leave so fast why wouldn’t they let me pick up my toy. Now I know why. My first day back after forty years. It’s still not so safe to be here but I just wanted to see it once more the land that I cannot chare with my kid or my grandkids. So why is all I want to know why would America build a pipeline.

The story from a wolf

I had lived here in this forest for the past ten years. When I was a pup my parents where killed by poachers. I now have my own pack. When I heard that the human wanted to take more of our land, it was created. It makes me very mad if something were to happen in my territory and my pack is hurt I will not fear death. This thing they call a pipeline that they will bring from a far way place with dirty oil. They also say if this pipelines brake that the oil can kill a lot of life, and also kill our food sores. Not only that, the water that we drink will get to a point that will be undrinkable. I really don’t want this. I will attack and kill if anything happens. The human leader is another person that doesn’t care about taking our homes, and killing us off. I will never forgive the humans. My wife is now pregnant and she will soon give berth. I don’t want my pups to come to this world to learn that the humans are killing it. I remember hearing stories from my grandparent that the world was once very different. Humans use to take care of the world but now look. Why can’t the world just go back to those times then maybe my parents would be alive right now?


Pipeline Monologues-Ayoola and Morgan

Intro Paragraph: My goals in writing these monologues. Is to show how many views there are. Whether you are for or against the pipeline. I wanted to show all the different emotions of this situation, sadness, anxiety, rage, regret, confidence and many more. I want to show the government how much they are hurting their citizens.

 

Monologue #1: Are You Serious

Setting: outside of her house, showing the factories. In her hand is  

 

      I’ll tell you how hard it’s been to live here. My community has had illnesses like throat cancer, if they build the pipelines, what’s going to happen? When did they start building factories? They’ve been making different factories across the street from my house ever since I was in kindergarten. This isn’t worth losing more people. I would come home and smell this horrible smell that was deadly. Money is going to be wasted. They need to make wiser choices.  We have all these different factories that’s causing odors. I think about the pipeline situation from time to time and people will have jobs if we have pipelines. But while the pipelines are being made it’s damaging, and causing problems.

      What’s your final answer about this situation, should this happen or not? Do you see this newspaper in my hand? Almost every time I read the news it doesn’t say specifically if Obama is going to let this happen, and once he makes up his mind. Once 6 months pass, with change or no change, then I’ll make up my mind, but for right now I’m not too sure. This situation is bittersweet, it’s going to help people out financially because people will be provided jobs but then again they’re going to be wasting billions of dollars.

  

  

Monologue #2: You're So Greedy : by Morgan Taylor

*The goddess of the earth says this with a lot of passion and a little bit of rage.

I give and give and give! All I get in return is this crappy piece of nothingness. (these 2 sentences are said with a bunch of rage) Yes, I am a goddess but there is only so much that I can do. In the beginning it was ok. People respected my earth because they really acknowledged that it was all they had to survive.(Happiness/calm in these 2) All of a sudden my guests got extremely greedy and started destroying my work. Cutting down my beautiful forests, polluting my oceans, taking more than what is needed and killing my master pieces of animals.(anger and rage) I did a pretty good job making this little sphere of joy, but maybe I didn’t do such a good job of protecting it. That is going to change soon.

Then the government thinks there all tall and mighty and decides to ruin the last of my work with a pipeline that goes from Canada to Texas. In this pipeline there will be nasty black, gooey and just unclean oil. It is all about the money to you people. What are you going to do if you have nothing else left? Oh, that’s right you are going to die. The “Bad Guys” say “It will be good for the economy and we will be able to live better lives.” DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING! I made this earth to the best of my ability and you the greedy ones are destroying it.

Now you’re scared because I am finally taking a stand and getting angry. All of these natural disasters, all of the people dying are your doing. I am just showing you what you have been doing this entire time. I have tried to be understanding and loving, but there only so much that I can take. I demand respect! My earth needs to be respected!

Not only have you betrayed me by making this decision, you have betrayed all of the earth. For billions of years the Earth that has hosted you on this planet. You do have a chance to make it better. The first step is to not make this pipeline that will destroy what you have left of your world. I now leave it in your hands to make this huge decision. Hope you make the right one.

 

 

Monologue #3: Will This Be The Right Choice?

       

Setting: At school taking a test.

 

     Here I am twirling my lucky pencil in my hand, and holding a test in front of my face not rushing to do my test to be the first person to be finished but I’m…wondering… Re-playing the whole phone call I had with my dad yesterday

He said though I’m an a little young to really rap my head around the situation

He has to decide weather he should deny the permit for the oil Pipelines or not.

Pipelines – Transports goods through a pipe.

He also told me that people would be given jobs, if the pipeline happens.

Will my dad make the right choice?

     I know I’m only ten years old, and have no say in weather we should resume with pipelines or not… But I think that my father should pass it. People will be provided jobs, right? That would be great, because people have been getting laid for the past 3 years.  

     I did some research after talking to my dad…and it said that a pipeline is a network that delivers the nations crude oil such as gasoline, jet fuel and home heating oil, is that good or bad?

Will that be hurting the environment or improving the environment.

 

Will he make the right choice?

 

Monologue #4: by Morgan Taylor

*A man in a jail sell regrets his decision for standing up for what is right. He is anxious and debating weather or not he made the right choice protesting.

         Why did this happen to me? Why did I make such a bad decision. I have 2 kids and a wife at home I need to take care of. Right now they think i am on a business trip in Los Angeles. What is my wife going to say when she find out where I actually am. I am the man of the house I need to bring home the bacon for my family. I want to say I was being selfish but I am really just trying to protect my home. I grew up in South Dakota 2blocks from where they are going to rip up the earth and place that monstrous pipeline. All of my childhood memories will be destroyed. Where will my parents go? They are to old to handle this type of change.

This jail cell is so cold and damp. I am going to ruin my good work clothes. I didn’t know I was going to be arrested. I just wanted to do the right thing and defend our mother earth. Bad decisions, after bad decisions. Money in my family is really tight because of the economy. Now my family has to pay bail for me to get out. I don’t even want to tell them, I am scared that they will not trust me any more. I wasn’t thinking straight, I didn’t think about the consequences of protesting. Will i loose my job? How will this affect my reputation? I really hope that I am setting a good example for my kids. I don’t want them to end up like this. In a 6 by 6, cold, dirty and damp space regretting a decision that was made.

When I think about it i think I am being selfish, but also standing up in what I believe in and protecting my family. When my grand kids are born I want them to have a world to live in that isn’t a piece of crap. My generation and generations before have ruined our future generations home. I feel bad that they have to clean up our mess. Maybe I did do the right thing and my family will understand that I was fighting for them.

 

 

 

Monologue #5: It’s all about the workers and to heck with the Environment, I need a job!

 

 Setting: At the site of one of the pipelines. Getting interviewed

       Honestly I think that they need to pass this, I need a job, this will be providing for hundreds of unemployed people at the moment.  Even If it’s going to be polluting the earth. Right about now we need, no I NEED a job. For the past years thousands of people have been unemployed – I’ve been unemployed. And right here these pipelines are jobs that will be able to give to the thousands of people who are unemployed.  Are you trying say that the only thing that you care about right now is yourself? No, not exactly, I’m just saying that we’ve started with the pipeline and the construction and all of a sudden we had to stop, no money is flowing through! Obama wants a solution for these unemployed citizens and its right in front of our faces! So close that I can - we can all taste it. We will be one step closer to have a better economy, not environmentally. I’m all for the environment, but I’m ready to sacrifice this environment so I can have a job.

 If you already had a job, and was asked about the Pipeline situation, what would you say?

     To be honest I would be on the side to try to save the environment, because

if this happens, its hurting Mother Nature. These Pipelines aren’t healthy for this environment. But I need to provide for family-my children…

Pipeline Monologue Project

With these monologues I wanted to provide different viewpoints on the pipeline.  One of the things that is major about the pipeline are injured workers.  I wrote one as a person who just had an injury and one talking to his kids about the pipe line after his injury.  With the one of the guy talking to his family I wanted to get the view of somebody that is already home and how they would tell about the pipeline.  The last one is a person that is trying to get rid of the protesters.  I was trying to show how a guard would feel about the situation.  They are just doing there jobs but they might have different opinons on it.

Monologues

Merrik Saunders

Good Old Fashion Chaos

Just a week after the surgery Dave is sitting in a wheel chair alone in the hospital.  He is imagining the times before the accident.  He believes he can walk again but soon after falls to the ground.  Tim starts to relive the accident.

Just alone at the hospital I start to imagine the days before I was stuck in a wheel chair.  I begin to lift my self-up, hoping that I could walk again.  The same thing happens every time.  I start to remember the accident.  What people perceive as pain doesn’t even come close to this.  I start to fall.  I hold my self up with the bar in front of me.  The things attached at my hips no longer work.  The shiny white tiles turn into the tan dirt.  I am scared out of my mind realizing what was going to happen.  My hands drenched with sweat slip off the bar and I fall into the ditch below.  I gave the signal to go before I slipped.  My other people couldn’t see me from the massive crane and pipe it was holding.  In ten seconds the metal is on top of me crushing my legs.  Snapping all of the bones.  I let out a scream.  One of those screams that show true pain and suffering.  The rest of my men take what seems like an eternity to get the pipe off of me.  Why the hell was is so damn hard to get a pipe out of a ditch?  The searing pain turns into a numb feeling.  I start to see blackness.  Then just like that I am strapped down to what I think is a table of some sort.  The sharp knives start to tear open my legs exposing the damage that has been done.  Men and woman are rushing around me in blue masks and robes.  I start to convulse in pain.  Two seconds later the darkness is back to drag me down again.  The nurse is running towards me in great haste.  Am I back in the hospital now?  The white tiles are back and my legs are healed but not working.  They wheel me back to my room to lie down.  Damn it happened again. 

Just Doing My Job

Greg is at the White House keeping guard.  He sees the protesters starting to swarm in.  He gets a call to rally up his men and take care of them.

Stupid tree huggers, they are always getting in the way.  No mater what this pipe is going to happen so they should just suck it up.  Do they realize the good that will come from all of this?  It will make it way easier to get oil to the states.  The oil prices will go significantly down.  I thought these people wanted the oil price down.

Get call to get rid of the protesters

  “Yes Sir. I’ll get right on it” I should probably get down there.  My men and I started down the stairs of the Whit House to confront the protesters.  They are instructed to leave the premises but of course they gave us a hard time.  Then there was this one guy who wouldn’t move.  No mater what we said he wasn’t budging.  We start to move towards the one person.  Then out of know were the guy pulls out a knife and starts to run towards me screaming.  “You will pay for killing the earth,” he said.  Then I reach into my suit jacket and pull out my gun.  “Freeze”, I said but he was still running.  I hesitate for a second.  I put the gun up to aim and look down the barrel.  Then just like that I pull the trigger.  Bang!  The bullet hit him and the guy falls to the ground tumbling towards us.  I feel my hand drop to look at the scene.  We start to walk over to him.  I shot the man in the leg.  The man is screaming and holding his leg.  The blood is staining the green grass.  I look at him thinking to my self did it really have to go down like this.  Then they start to take him away.  They really must feel strongly about this pipeline.  He knew the consequences for his action still he did it.  Maybe this pipeline really is bad.  I turn and start to walk away.  It can’t possibly be that bad, or can it? 

Playing With Fire 

After an explosion while working on a pipeline Dan decides to protest against the pipeline and thinks that working on it is a bad decision. 

I get home and I am just amazed at the things that could happen with this pipeline.  ”Hey kids come hear” I said, “Daddy is back.  Were is mommy?”  She is just getting ready for work as usual.  “Hey I have something to tell you all.  Remember daddy’s work, and what happened?  I just got a bunch of information from it.  Things like how the pipeline might pollute the water.  That’s not good for people to drink or for the fishes ether.  They look up at me in astonishment.  A lot the places that the pipe is going through disturbs places that animals and people lived.”  They are just kids but I think that they should at least know about it especially what happened with me.  They ask me why would anyone want to hurt people and plants? I tell them it’s to make a lot of money.  They will do it even if they hurt the word.  Then they ask why would I work to help that?  I say it’s to provide for the house.  With out the job they couldn’t have the things that they like.  I tell them that to not worry, good people are trying to stop it from happening and daddy is looking for a new job.  They go off and play for a bit.  My wife sees that I have told them and happy about it.  About a half a hour the kids come back to me with a drawing.  They say it’s for me.  It’s a picture of me breaking a pipe in half and stopping the construction.  “Daddy likes it a lot,” I said.  I really wish I could do that but for now I will just try to do what I can to stop this pipe from happening.

Keystone XL Pipeline Dialogues & Video

OPENING PARAGRAPH

To begin, I though this was a very fun and creative assignment. The reason being is that we were able to make up a story by standing in a fictional made up characters shoes in the mean time, we were learning. During the making of the assignment, we had to act as if we are a person that is being impacted by the Keystone XL Pipeline. And with that factor being played it gave us as the students to people creative in many possibly ways. So when creativity is a role in education rather than a direct assignment, it allows to the students express their selves in ways while still being educationally active.


Woken From A Mistaken Earthquake

Chad is standing with his arms crossed with a focused expression on his face
Hello, my name is Chad Dickinson and I am a current household owner in the Steele City Area. I have many things to say against this fancy oil pipeline thing going one in my area. I am fully aware of the fact that I am not the only one being affected by this, but I am one of the million that is infuriated with this movement. It all began on August 22nd or August 23rd I was woken up by the sound of a truck engine at about 6:30 in the morning. I look out my window and see a white eighteen-wheeler truck with long pipes chained on top being driven across my neighbor Sally’s cornfield. To continue, I watched them drive across the cornfield and release the chains. Once released, the pipes rolled off of the truck and fell to the ground. That is only the beginning of my hatred. I’m hating so much because the stuff that people like Sally and I make, such as corn, is just destroyed because the ignoramus companies wanting their millions while others are becoming dirt poor. This is can no longer continue. I can assure you that we as a community can and will form a group and boycott this movement so that us people can live our lives with out obstructions in the way. The first person that I got to join this group was my neighbor Sally Duguid.

Ones Lifestyle Destroyed
Sally is sitting in a chair, legs crossed, wiping random tears, and has a depressed expression on her face
                   Hi there, my name is Sally Duguid, and I am also a current household owner in the Steele City Area. As you all shall know from the interview with Chad, a large portion of my cornfield has been destroyed.
Puts her face in her hands and weeps for 3 seconds. Uncover your face and wipe the tears away

I’m sorry about that, its just that this is such a devastation to me. Let me continue, so I would say that it was about 6:30 maybe 7:00 in the morning, and I am woken up by the sound of something snapping, and my house was shaking. Well the snapping noise was the corn stalks being run over, and I’m pretty sure my house was shaking because of the truck, but at first I thought it was an earthquake. As the house began to shake I quickly ran into my sons bedroom, grabbed him and we ran out the house. As we jolted out the back door I notice a big white truck driving right through my cornfield. I started screaming at the truck to stop, but the sound of the engine overpowered my scrawny voice. Since I couldn’t get the trucks attention, I ran over to my neighbor Chad’s house. I asked him what was going on and he was clueless, so we decide to take a walk down the path of squashed corn. Once we approached the truck, we asked the driver who he was and what he was doing. He told us his name was Rick McKnight and updated us on the information that an oil pipeline will be placed in my cornfield. After he went into further detail I just walked away in disappointment. From their, my neighbor told me about a group he was attempting to conjure up to go against this pipeline being placed in our area. But for now on there is nothing we can do about the situation, its all about money. If we had millions then we could possibly get our selves out of this, we would probably be able to bribe Keystone XL to not do this in Steele City. But unfortunately we don’t have millions; all we have is a cornfield.  




Pipeline Point Of View From An Employee

Rick is standing there with a slouch, wiping sweat off his forehead, and taking big breathes occasionally to catch his breath due to the heat. Now and then stumbles with sentences.
Howdy there, my name is Rick McKnight and I am a Truck Driver Delivery Man for Keystone XL. During the spring of 2011 I was laid off from my job as an auctioneer. So I went job hunting and found this. It may not be my favorite job, but it pays the bills. Anyways, there are a few reasons why I don’t like this job. First, I’m driving a truck up, down, and around the USA picking up pipes for this fancy pipeline that my employer is building. It becomes very much just getting the pipes on top of the truck. But then after that, I have to chain them and buckle them. It is a lot of work. The other reason I don’t enjoy this is job is the way that the pipes are going to be used that I have to deliver. The reason I don’t like the usage of these pipes is they are going to stretch across the USA vertically. And the way they are stretching, they are going right through my hometown in Texas. For all I know, I might wake up one morning and have giant pipes laid out in my back yard. If they do put them anywhere near my house I might just have to move. Because I live with my wife and two daughters, and my daughters occasionally go outside to play and these pipes can be put their life on the line. When I say, “Put their life on the line” it may sound dramatic, but I am being realistic. Whenever they go outside, I am going to have to worry about them running into a pipe and tripping, or even a pipe exploding. To finish up with my ranting, I must say that this pipeline project is possibly one of the most idiotic and horrifying things that the USA has ever allowed to happen to their country.

Pipeline Monologue Project

The things that I wanted too show were different point of views of how the Keystone XL pipeline can affect people in different ways. Such as in my 3 monologues one was about a single woman not wanting the pipeline too go through home because she couldn't afford to pay for damages. Another was an environmentalist not wanting the pipeline because it was affecting the earth, and last but not least a rich stingy lady not caring where they put the pipeline as long as it wasn't near her home. These were all against the pipeline but from different perspectives. 

Phone Rings,

Maria picks it up

 

Hello?

I am complaining about the Keystone XL pipeline.

 

My name?

 

Yes my name is Maria Lopez; I live in a small house with my two children and mother.

I have huge yard where I harvest vegetables and all sorts of crops. I have no job, which is why I depend on my crops that I harvest too sell too other people and too feed my family. I am complaining about the Keystone XL pipeline because they are trying to bring it through my yard, and if they bring it through my yard and a disaster occurs I would have no crops too sell or too feed my family. Since my house is in a deserted area we would have no help, meaning we will have too move somewhere further and leave our home. Which isn’t possible.

 

Man on the phone. Why can’t you leave your home?

 

Why can’t I leave my home? Well sir for starters I don’t have enough money to afford another home and my mother is too sick for us too move to another place.

 

Takes deep breathe.

 

Well that is all I have too say, but please before you decide too put this Keystone XL pipeline through my home think about my children, and what is going too happen too them, also think about my mother and what may happen too her. I don’t want them too suffer the consequences of this pipeline.

Thank you. Bye.

 

Hangs up phone.

 

 

 

 

Pulls out paper and pen and starts writing.

 

Dear, earth destroyers

 

Hi, my name is Susan Cooper I am an environmentalist.

I’m a single woman with no children. I live by myself in a condo, and the other day I was reading through the newspaper where I saw that Canada was trying too bring the Keystone XL pipeline through the U.S.

 

I am complaining about this because I don’t feel as though the environment should be endangered just because they want to save money and bring in more jobs.

Did you people forget that we are not the only things that live here? This isn’t cool and then you guys have guts too know that the pipeline can go through homes. Do you people think we can just grab our things and just migrate like nothing is going on?

 

Have some sense in yourselves, but I know one thing I’m not going too tolerate you guys destroyed the environment we live in. You people are destroying the earth, but when you people get the meaning through your heads then you will all thank me.

 

Until then you guys should be worrying about yourselves then ways to save money and destroying the earth.

 

Sincerely, Susan Cooper also known as tree hugger

 

Folds up letter and places it in envelope.

 

That out of teach them. Hmmm.

 

 

 

 

 

Pulls up face time on Iphone.

Lady speaks in British voice

 

Hello sir, my name is Lisa Anderson.

I am a rich, independent, hardworking woman.

I don’t depend on anybody for nothing except my maids, butler, and lawnmower. Their job is too have everything my way. I live in a 4-flour house.

I am complaining because these despicable people have sent me a letter warning me about the Keystone XL pipeline running around my home. Well let me warn you people about something if that pipe reaches anywhere near my home causing any sort of damage I will make sure every little penny is coming out of your pockets. Also making sure that you people buy me a whole knew house that tops this one. Because of course I wouldn’t want too live in a house that has been damaged. I don’t care if you people place this Keystone XL pipeline anywhere else as long as it isn’t anywhere near my home. I don’t want too have too repeat myself if not you people will have too face the consequences.

Well that is all I have too say today, thank you very much.

 

Cheerio.

 

Closes face time on Iphone.

 

Well now that, that is done, “ Carlos is my lawn mowed darling?”

Keystone pipeline project

 In history we had to write about the Keystone XL pipeline project and different peoples’ views on it. For my monologues, I chose Obama and a woman who lives in Nebraska to write as. I really wanted to put emphasis on how bad the pipeline was, but I didn’t think it was fair so I threw in some good points about the idea as well. I think the overall project idea was really creative. Learning about the people involved and learning about the pipeline project in general really makes you think about how we can make the world a better place.

 


 "What to do what to do." 

“Okay, I think there’s time for one more question”.

“Obama sir, as of right now what will your decision be on the Keystone XL pipeline project”?

Here it was. The question I’ve been avoiding for 3 years. Hmmm, What’s my decision on the pipeline project? For now, I am leaning towards approving it. We need cheap oil. This is very reliable, and will help our country greatly because our energy rates have gone up. This will give us thousands of jobs, even if they’re temporary. (Puts hand in head) But there are many downsides to this as well. Spills, it affects the water that these people drink. That I drink. Also, climate change is another horrific outcome. We already had an earthquake, and a recorded hurricane in other parts of the country. We need to act now on the bad things that are already happening, but this pipe plan makes it worse. Another thing I was thinking about was, this oil is extremely dirty. It will take us even more money to completely clean it so we can use it.

Either way, I will lose votes. I watched a video with my wife the other day. People were getting arrested right in front of my home, just to stop the pipeline plan. They say it will destroy their homes. This decision could make or break my presidency. For now, I can’t say anything. It will lead the wrong direction and just give me more problems. I’ll have to think about it.

“I’m sorry, there is no more time left in this interview. Thank you.”

 

 

 Farmer living in NEbraska. 

I woke up this morning, and turned on the news. They were talking about the Keystone XL pipeline project. Last week my husband took a plane to Washington D.C and protest this madness. He unfortunately got arrested and had to spend 24 hours in jail, but I’m glad he fought for us. I have been living here, in Nebraska for 32 years with my husband. We farm here, that’s how we survive. About a month ago, two large men in an expensive black suits came knocking on our door. They told us we had two options, have to pipeline go through our fields, or move. It’s worse enough now that it will pollute our air and create severe climate change, but to go through our fields. It’s a different story about our land, that is our life. That’s how we make money, and get our food. There must be some other way to get oil and not hurt us like this. Can’t they see it hurts innocent citizens? The ones who work hard for the little things they have. No, they pick on us the most. We need a voice. We need someone in a big black suit to stick up for us. The environment is so important and we need to preserve it. This damage will only make more problems. We could have more flooding, severe pollution, and oil leaks in my backyard. Even though I don’t want to leave, I can’t afford cleaning up an oil spill and risking health of my children. This plan needs to stop.







What goes on out side the white house-

  Talking to the news reporter about how she’s been arresting people all day. Just awkwardly sitting there keeping an eye on the protesters. 

How do I feel about arresting all these people? Well of course I feel bad, I mean because I agree with them.  Also, my family is going to be effected by it. The keystone pipeline XL will be going through my mothers yard in Nebraska. It would just be horrible if there were a leak because she really can’t afford to have it cleaned. Not to mention all the other things that the spill could cause, for example pollution. This pipeline is nothing but bad news to us. I would love to be protesting out here, but I much rather have this job then get fired. I mean one more person isn’t really going to make a difference. In the end they’re only making it harder for me to do my job. Excuse me one moment.

The pipeline will be carrying dirty oil from Canada to the United States, and it will be coming in at 900,000 barrels a day. The climate is bad already. This pipeline would just make things worst. The climate would be all mixed up. 

Can I think of any pros? Well, it’s cheap and reliable. But that’s only two compared to all the cons that I’ve just talked about. Another would be jobs, but there’s not that many and it’s really not worth all the damage this is going to cause. Excuse me again I have to leave now.



All against the Key Stone!

Just sitting in a chair, in an interview. She is sitting at a desk just explaining where she stands on the pipeline xl.

 Hi my name is Dana Miller, I am a person who is strongly against the Keystone Pipeline. I protested for a while but I didn’t get arrested, thankfully. There are so many reasons that the pipeline shouldn’t happen. “The pipeline would pump some of the dirtiest oil in the world. Not to mention we are putting our farms in risk of an oil spill.” Also, a lot of the fresh water sources. We’ve already seen an atrocious oil spill in the gulf, we can’t let that happen again or near the farms and put all those animals at risk. Did you know the tar sands is the second largest pool of carbon on the planet?

 The previous pipeline has leaked a dozen times in just the past year. Who’s to say that this one won’t do the same? People have claimed that this pipeline was only supposed to leak one time in every seven years. Now that’s something to make you question. This one could even be worst, we can never be sure and if it happens then it’s going to be too late. The fact is, the other one happened in the gulf but this one would happen on land. Who can afford to clean that up? Also, there lives are at risk.

People are saying jobs are a big upside. But is all this really worth it, for what could only be like 5,000 jobs. It’s not worth all these consequences. “This pipeline wouldn’t carry the common oil it would carry thick, toxic bitumen. This is pollution that is being transported from Canada to the United States.” Even though the oil is cheaper then normal, we could surely find another alternative. This pipeline could bring close to 900,000 barrels a day.

 

Inside Trans Canada-

In his car talking to a man who new at the Trans Canada Oil company. He is not sure what side he is standing for.

Hello my name is Nick Brosman. I've worked for the Trans Canada Oil company for a long time now and I drive the trucks. Have you heard about the Key Stone pipeline? Well, im completely for it! Now don’t get me wrong I can see where the protesters are coming from about how bad this pipeline is. But I can find way more upsides to this pipeline then downsides and I think when I’m done you will too. Lets look at the first three simple reasons, it’s cheap. This is obvious why its good but just incase you are wondering. So we can afford it for a long time and put that money toward other global problems.  There’s a lot of it. If we’ll be able to use this for a really long time, we wont have to pay for this and then when it runs out pay for something else. We can just stay with this for a long time. We know it’s good reliable oil. We are not the only people who need oil, so if we don’t take this someone else will definitely take it. We can’t risk that. There are so many people who are un-employed and a lot of jobs that need to be taken care of in order to get this pipeline working, and for a long time after. Aside from those jobs, more truck drivers like myself will also be needed. Energy consumption is getting higher and higher, we need this. This brings me back to the point I made earlier about how abundant it is. So as you can see there are plenty of upsides to Keystone pipeline Xl. 

 

Pipeline Monologues

​In this monologue project my partner Jessica Maiorano and I wrote five different monologues in the perspective of five different people who have different opinions on the Keystone XL Pipeline Project. We wanted to show our audience that there are many different ways to look at this situation. Many people can be for the project while others are against. Along with showing different sides on this situation we wanted to give knowledge to our audience about this issue. Many of us didn't even know that the tar sands crude oil even existed and we want others to know about it through out monologues.

I Have No Choice: Will Johnson

(Will Johnson, a driller for TransCanada coming home after a long day of work.)
Ugh another day back from the oil rig. I absolutely hate it! I can’t believe I have no other option than working at that ridiculous place! I have to wake up at 4 in the morning and drive my truck all the way to the oil sight and drill my butt of with those crazy dirty machines until 7 in the evening. I inhale so many toxins each second and I actually feel them screwing up my insides. It’s absolutely disgusting. It hurts me. I feel like passing out every time because of nausea. Anyways forget my opinion on all this. It’s not like anyone but myself cares on what I think. At least I get paid well for all this work I'm doing. It almost feels like I’m being bribed. Unfortunately I can’t quit and get a new job because there are no other jobs for available for be. This is the only way for me to make money and run my family. But still, I feel guilty of what I am doing. I feel as if I am breaking a law. As though doing something illegal. Drilling for crude oil, which releases so much pollution into our atmosphere. It kills my planet. But I am being forced to do it. I can’t till whoever is in charge of the final decision of the pipeline making speaks out. I really hope that this doesn’t go further then where it is. It will affect so many people like myself. I can’t stand that happening at all! -(JH)
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!: President Barack Obama

(President Barack Obama sitting in his chair, stressing out)
UGH! Another decision for me to make. Decisions, decisions, decisions! I’m one person with so many responsibilities to fulfill. How am I to do all this? Just yesterday so many people got arrested so that I could hear their voice. They urge me to not let the Keystone XL Pipeline take place. They believe that this will ruin our environment even more. I am drawn to their decision more than ever. I badly want to say no to this, but can I? I feel as if I literally have the whole world in my hand. Like Everything depends on me. Am I even the right person to make such a huge decision? It’s a definite that congress is not to be involved in this matter. Congress has been drilling on my back ever since my presidency. They make me feel alone. Like I am my only support. Maybe it’s not such a bad thing that they aren’t involved in this. If they were given a chance to say yes or no it would be an "unproactive" decision made. They would say yes without a second chance, without even thinking about anything else other than the money that can be benefited from this. Their thinking in a way  tempts me to listen to them. I also feel as though this can be an opportunity to heal our economy. We can only make so much money and possibly pay of our national debt. But if I do that, it will only mean I’m letting down a lot of people. Never can I look into their eyes again.  
"Ugh!"
I feel helpless. - (JH)
Arresting The Innocent: Officer Smith

Here we go again I am at the white house about to arrest hundreds of people for something I completely disagree with makes me feel horrible. Hand cuffing them and throwing them in back seat of my car makes me feel even worse. Just think I am taking a women or man to jail that house might be destroyed because a pipe needs to go through their backyard. How could someone agree with this? “Officer Smith!” I hear from one of my ears over and over from other police officers telling me to hurry up and get them out. Coming from the other ear is “get off of me I shouldn’t be going to jail!” I just can’t take it anymore. If I need to do this one more day I think I am just going to flip. I wonder what the other police officers think about this? I wish they would just let the people talk, I know I would if I was the president. This is something he needs to figure out on his own, its better to have 1,000 opinions from people who its going to be affected by then the people who think its okay just because they are going to make money. I wonder what’s going to happen.
- (JM)

Job Less Bob Jones: Bob Jones


(Bob talking on the phone with his mom)

“I must have written Bob Jones on at least 20 job applications today. I really hope I can finally get a job soon. I’ve been jobless for such a long time now. Ever since I got laid off from that engineering company I have been trying to make ends meet. Anyway, I’m coming home after this long day to get some rest, watch TV, and just catch up with the world. (Enters home) I hear something on the television, I must have forgotten to turn it off this morning.”

(Bob hears the TV, and runs to the couch)

“There’s someone talking about how there is this pipeline that has millions of barrels of crude oil. Who? I don’t know... just some newscaster from DC. Now they are talking about how there are so many people protesting against the pipeline because it can cause more harm to the environment.”

“Psht! these people are crazy!”

“If only they knew what it was like to be jobless and possibly homeless they wouldn’t be protesting at all. I bet this pipeline can make so many jobs, there’s this politician saying it can heal our economy and create at least 2 million jobs. But there are also people talking  about the pipelines side effects. The XL pipeline is one of the most dirtiest and destructive projects in the world. It causes tons of air and water pollution. Also three times the global warming pollution. It effects peoples homes in almost all the states that it crosses through. From drilling in their backyard to polluting their water.”

“Sigh I feel confused now. Anyways, mom I’ll talk to you later. Bye”

(Bob hangs up the phone and thinks to him self)
I feel like this pipeline project is a great chance for me to get a job in my profession. But I feel like I am also making a bad choice for the environment. No! I can’t care for the environment now. I need a job and this is my chance. The keystone XL Pipeline must happen. -(JH,JM)

Bugging Exxon: Steve Johnson

I am standing outside the white house and a news reporter comes up to me and says,
“What’s your name and how do you feel about this pipeline” I say to her
“Hi I am Steve Johnson from the company Exxon that is going to be involved in this pipeline and I strongly think that this Project should happen”
The reporter asked why I think it should happen. I say,
“It will benefit us, we will have so much more money also it will give us so much more oil in all five states it comes across. These people standing out here are crazy they have no say in this, it’s the presidents decision not theirs. They all should be arrested that’s all I need to say.”
(Walking away angry another reporter comes up to him)
“Hey hey wait up I need to ask you something!”
They are screaming after me. I turn around giving them a look saying I don’t want to talk but they continued to talk anyway. I stand there about to answer the question; "When will they make the decision, is it soon?" "Are the protesters voices being heard?"
While I am telling the lady about the decision a protester ran up to me screaming,
"Its not going to affect your house, or your family!" 
They were so mad, I just can't see it by the way they ran up to me. I didn’t know these people were that angry. I start to think to my self about how they feel, but what ever, I push them away and finish my answer. - (JM)

Keystone XL Pipeline Voices

In class we recently learned about and were informed about the keystone pipeline project. According to all of the videos we have seen and things we have read about in class there is still a big decision to make based on weather or not the pipeline will actually be built. Disagreements about this are mainly about the health of this environment if the pipeline is built, and the fact that we would be missing out on extra money and having more energy if the pipeline isn’t built. Our assignment was to create monologues based on different peoples opinions. My partner and I choose to base ours on an environmental protectionist, single parent, president Obama, an Exxon worker, and finally a man trying to decide if he wants to move his family. Only one of the people we wrote as was for the Keystone Pipeline and that was the Exxon worker. This project required further thinking and for us to think as someone other then ourselves. When preparing our monologues we made sure we put details and smaller stories into why or why not the people we decided to write as were for or against the Keystone pipeline.

 

 

 

 

The Decision of a Single Parent

 

   Raising four kids on my own and I can’t get a job. Their father is deadbeat, I can’t afford childcare and the kids are too young to stay home alone. So you want to run a pipeline through my yard. Well I don’t know what to say to that. I understand that if this change goes through more jobs will open up and maybe I could be able to support my family. Then again I hear all the bad things that will come along with this pipeline. What would happen to me? What would happen to my children? What would happen to this environment? I think its wrong for me to be selfish and just think about myself and how I wish to be employed. I believe the construction of a pipeline would be both dangerous and unhealthy for the environment. Better yet why would I do that to my children. Our backyard is the only safe place they have to play. If a pipeline is built through my yard then they have no free space to enjoy themselves and play outside. I did some research on the possible damages and bad things that could come with this pipeline and it has been brought to my attention that the oil isn’t even clean, If the oil isn’t clean we are better off without it. I also realized that we would be spending more money than we will actually be making, For the sake of the environment myself and my children I am against the tar sands act.

 

Keystone Pipeline Decision

Hello my name is Samuel Wickerson and I am an environmental protectionist. What I’m here to discuss with you today is production of the keystone XL pipeline. There’s no second guessing that I am against this and I feel this could be the big final piece to destruction. If one leak happens it could cause major harm to our environment, our wildlife, and us included. I mean for people who’s houses will be directly under the pipeline. Themselves and their family will be breathing in Co2 admission if a leak occurs and who wants there wife, there kids, the people they care for breathing in things you shouldn’t. My brother is actually working on this project as one of the constructers so I know mostly the full detail of there plan. He constantly tends to say how the technology we have is advanced to the point where it’s highly inaccurate that a leak will occur, sure there may be a low possibility that a leak will happen but there’s still the chance there taking and that 1 chance can affect the earth we live on today. I feel we should just stick to what were doing and get oil from our allies. It’s a lot safer and a lot more reliable.  Sure it will open job for thousands of people but what’s so good about jobs if u don’t have a earth to work on to do this job? I feel that if we don’t start taking better care of this place we live on its going to crumble right beneath our feets and were going to look back and ask what went wrong and my response to that would be The Keystone XL pipeline and many other issues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Decision as the President..

 

  As of now my fellow Americans I understand that you feel I have a really big Decision to make. I totally understand your frustrations but I am doing the best I can to decide weather or not the tar sands pipeline will be good or bad for the country. I see you all protesting outside of the White House and just know all of the arrest were totally out of my hand and were not by my order. Back to the matter at hand I have equally listened to both sides of this disagreement about the pipelines. Yes I have looked into it. There are many benefits as well as bad things that would come along with the pipeline. Some Benefits that could come along with this situation are more jobs, better income, if we have better income we could have more schools. To those of you who are already wealthy and have good jobs this may not really mean anything to you or you may feel this wouldn’t affect you any differently. But, we cannot not neglect everyone else. In my eyes each and every one of you matter. I know I cant make everyone happy but I will do what is right. The down falls to this project are mainly environmental issues. Nothings perfect. A pipeline this huge possibly leaking oil would not be a good sight at all. Also this pipeline is planned to be built over our main source of water. That is a problem for both our health as a nation and the environment as well. This topic requires a lot of thinking. Until then God Bless America.

 

Family Matters

 

( goes to door and picks up mail. Reads through mail and receives a letter from keystone.” Hello Mr. Turner the letter you have now received is on the keystone XL pipeline. There is a proposal for it to be produced currently and if this is passed the pipeline shall be directly under your home. We are sorry for the inconvience but this pipeline shall not affect your daily life. If the proposal does go through we do appreciate your cooperation. Sincerely, Keystone )

 

I’m so confused about the decision of wether I should move me and my family to safety, or to stay here and put up with this pipelineI’ve lived in this god forsaken home for over 20 years and am raising my 8 yr old son and 11 yr old daughter here and I feel that moving them isn’t the best option but the safety of my wife and my children is what matters at this moment and having my kids coming  from school my wife coming from work breathing in Co2 admission every single day… I refuse to have my family suffer because of some idiotic oil. How do you think you can just put a pipeline right under my home. I am outraged by this proposal but at the same time I feel that there isn’t much I can do as one person so maybe the best is to just move..

 

 

Who wouldn’t take this offer !

Hello my name is Tom Jones and i am the president of Exxon. I am here to speak on the discussion of the keystone XL pipeline. I am for this pipeline due to the fact that it would be beneficial to the U.S. One good reason is this Pipeline will provide thousands of jobs for the people out of work. Also the U.S. needs oil and we cant always rely on our on Allies for oil because of the fact that if there was some type of conflict between the two of us they could stop transferring oil over to us and then we would basically be “screwed”  I admit i do see the downside to this, yes there is a possibility of a leak from the pipe and that can release Co2 admission into the air but the chances of a like are fairly  UNLIKELY due to the fact that by the technology we have today the chances are fairly low. Also this will open up thousands of jobs for the unemployed. And lots of people need jobs in the economy we live in today so this is highly beneficial. This also gives  us the ability of being independent when it comes to getting oil. We don’t have to constantly rely on allies to supply us with oil. I feel that not taking this oil is an idiotic move on our part because if we don’t snatch it up someone else will and then we’ll be the ones still having to get it from allies and who knows when that might cease. I feel lets take this opportunity while we still can the U.S can make money from this and God knows we need the money so Take it while its good!

 

By: Brent Scott/Ananda Knight