World History - Block - B Public Feed

Create a Post

Keystone XL Monologue

Posted by Brittany Atkinson in World History - Block - B on

Our Unit

​In this unit we learned about the Keystone XL Pipeline. The Keystone XL Pipeline is a pipeline that is planned to run through out America from the tar sands in Canada and is going to cost $7 billion. The pipeline is run by TransCanada and the decision was left the United States to decide if they want to go through with the idea or not. It is said to create 20,000 job opportunities in the U.S, benefiting the economy. However, there are many people who do not want the pipeline to be built because of the environmental affects it will cause throughout the country.
​Facts

830,00 barrels of oil per day. (Link)

Starting in Hardisty, Alta.. (Link)

Creates 58.6 billion in taxes.

In the event that the pipeline leaks it could take 1.5 million lives.

Will stretch the length 1,179 miles and 36 inches in diameter. (Link)
 
​

Leave Me Be

(It opens to a police questioning room, he is sitting at the hard metal table as the officer walks in) God, why am I here? You interrupt me from my sleep for nothing, huh? I ain’t never do nothin’! All you do is arrest people for no reason? I want my lawyer, everyone has the right to a lawya! What?.. Who are you to ask me to my name? You should know that ya damn baboon. All right, all right, all right. My name is Hugh Callous, ya happy?...No? Ha that makes two of us.

You know I don’t have time for this. I have sleep to get, and the soup kitchen isn’t gonna be open forever. You’re men shouldn’t be worried so much about me, with all them damn people in front of the white house how the hell am I supposed to get any sleep? All I hear is “Pipeline, Pipeline, Pipeline!” Tell ‘em damned people to shut the hell up. I should I have to care about a pipeline? What? Why would I be involved in that? You think me of all people would be slumping it at a protest for some hippies. No...I do not know the frickn’ leader of the hippy hounds. Can I leave now? A mans gotta eat, and you police gotta eat your donuts.

I don’t care why ‘em people are out there. I don’t think I should have to, I just want some sleep. SLEEP! Yeah I get it, they don’t want you to build your dumb pipeline thats only gonna make people sick and I know a thing or two about being sick. Ya’ll just want some more money and don’t care about where it lands people. Jobs..? You wanna talk to me about jobs? Do I look like I have a job? I haven’t worked in 20 years because of this crap economy, my boy is in foster home because’a you people. Talk’n bout jobs.. ya’ll ever thought about who’s jobs you’ll be taken, did ya? 7 million bucks, for what? Some frick’n oil and this country can’t even give people a damn job at a grocery store. If ya would just give them what they want, they’d shut their snouts and people like me get some damn rest. Ain’t nobody asking for some 1,179 mile metal tube through the damn country. Now let me go, cans aint gonna collect themselves.

(The police officer turns to leave) Where in the hella ya goin’? I want my phone call fool. Aye, dontcha touch me I can walk my damn self. Wheres this phone of yours? ....Well, thank you I appreciate it, damn idiot..

(He picks up the phone and dials a number) Ahem...Hello.. May I speak to Raine? Who am I? I’m his daddy, now put him on the phone... Hey bud, how’s it goin’? Is everything all right? That’s good. Listen..Dad’s gone and got himself arrest for being at the wrong place at the wrong time...Why? Well theres a big protest against this big ugly pipelin--you know about it? Is that right? No I don’t think its right but you know how America is, son.. I’ll get to you soon, I promise..Happy 10th birthday Raine..I love ya too..I’ll see ya real soon and I’ll give ya your present. Bye bud..


​

Papa Come Back

(It opens to a farm house and a little girl is standing in the kitchen with her book bag.) Mommy! Mommy where are you? Are you home yet? Mommy! Mama you didn’t pick me up from school!

(She goes on to the living room.)

Pa wake up!.... Why are you yelling at me? Am I in trouble? No..but pa where were you all day..where’s mama? What’s a protest..? Daddy why is mama protesting your job. Don’t you need that? But..Why would she think its bad if its good for us?.. Environment? Daddy I wanna talks to mama.

(She takes the phone as it rings.) Mama! Come home! What’s the environment?...A pipeline? So the pipeline is bad for the pigs and people..the piggies will get hurt...NO! Mama I wanna help you! Mommy! Don’t hang up! Mama, please I wanna help! Pa why you takin’ the phone from me? But, what if the piggies die! Mama said that if they do the pipeline thingy that our water will be oily and the piggies and people will get sick. Pa please I wanna talk to Mama. (She sobs uncontrollably) What if you get sick, Pa! Stop yelling at me! You's a people aintcha Pa!? I’m a people right? I wanna go with mama! I don’t wanna get sick, Pa, I don’t want our family to die daddy... I gotta help ma, and you keep yelling at me!... It’s your job? But why you wanna work there, Pa?..Where are you goin’?

(Her father leaves and she goes to her room.) God, help me? Why is Pa so mean? Why does his job make him mean? I wish he was nice ‘gain, like he use be to me when he worked on the farm with us and Grandma...Now he’s just rude..He’s mean to Mama too and Grandma and even the piggies.. Mama says that he is just over worked and the chemicals are gettin’ to him..those oils and junk...Mama says a lot of people are workin’ on that big ugly black thang...Pa says we need money for nice things, but I don’t want nice things..I want my Pa back..he don’t even call me Tami no more..He calls me Tamila or girl now..please help me God.. He’ll end up sick if that oil spills. Let Pa find a different job..Mama said he wasn’t gon’ have it long, please get him another one thats happy and that makes Pa..Pa..


​

God Help Me

(He paces through his living room frustrated.) Oh lord, what have I done? I’ve hurt my baby. My wife is gonna hate me when she gets back. Oh Tami darlin’ don’t be upset with me. Why is my family bein’ so damn difficult? I need a job and everyone’s yellin’ at me, sayin’ that I need to quit. What am I gon’ do if I quit, lord?

The farm...the farms done.. We can barely keep our live stock up never mind them crops. What am I to do if we can’t pay this damn morage? We need some money. If this job is only short term, who cares...atleast we got some food on the table.

Michelle says that we don’t need no more oil in this country but I think it’ll be good for us. Nobody gotta worry ‘bout nothin’. Not worried about nobodies oil but our own. She sayin’ I’m losing it but I think I’m fine. I got a job and that’s all I need, don’t matter if I have a few drinks on the way ha. They ain’t got no right. Michelle is protestin’ against the line today and I don’t understand why. Its just a lil money that the countries gotta spend for somethin’ that’ll help us all. That woman always ‘bout the enviroment… now she’s digging ditches into our daughter’s head.

Everybody knows that oil can’t get in our water. I mean Nebraska can fix it with all the new taxes we gon’ get, right? $58.1 billion tax dollars they can fix a lil bit of water. I mean we’re gon’ be alright aren’t we, lord? Michelle is starting to say how I need to choose between the family and the job. How in the hell does she expect me to do that. I got one of the 20,000 jobs.. they should be proud of me.

Maybe...maybe it isn’t even worth it..my baby girls face when I yelled...it-it broke my heart.. I should listen to my family. I wouldn’t be nowhere without em, no matter how annoyin’ they can get. I’m gonna quit for my my family...for my baby.. for my wife.. f-for this damn farm even..it’s not worth given up. God you're always so helpful...


Monologues

Posted by Esperanza Gonzalez in World History - Block - B on

​    

      On this unit we studied different ways that humans can interact with the environment. We had a mixture of different things including the XL keystone pipeline. I learned many different things this unit including a great amount of  XL keystone pipeline background information. 


     There’s many facts about the XL keystone pipeline but there’s 5 facts that you should know. First of all, XL keystone pipeline can carry oil from Canada all the way tot the gulf of Mexico. It will travel almost 1700 miles long.This pipeline will generate and reach 900,00 jobs by 2025 half of them in the USA. XL keystone will be the safest and the most stringently regulated pipeline ever!  XL keystone pipeline will generate 134.6 million dollars in taxes that can support schools, hospital districts, and other local programs. Although there’s always a possibility that if this pipeline isn’t built the right way it can leak and might go thru the Great Plains, which is one of the principal water sources. 

Monologue #1 

I'm Pregnant?!! 

(The actor closes the door of the doctor’s office. Sits down on a chair outside with the other people waiting for the doctor.). OH MY GOD! I’m pregnant. I mean is that good… or is it bad, considering that my sister doesn’t know that I slept with her man. I don’t know to feel right now.. I always wanted a baby, and with the man I love, but it’s different this time. My sister and I share the same man. Ricardo always wanted a boy, but the day he went inside my bedroom he said he just wanted to “ release stress”. I don’t know what he meant due to the fact that I just turned 19. My sister is already married with the man I love. I don’t know if.. if.. if.. she’ll understand me. I guess I’m just going to tell her that her that he raped me.. and then.. and then.. and then.. everyone will be happy! NO! (slaps on the face). Although we are already poor, and my sister and I are going to depend on the same man, therefore.. um.. he’ll obviously need to work more. I mean, last time I checked, many of the neighbors were  talking about how this weird pipeline, I think it was called.. keystone something ..XL pipeline. I think it was a possible thing that can be used to transport oil from Canada and other things.. I don’t quite remember. Maybe the owner would want thousands of construction workers. And.. of course Ricardo will be one of them. Although I had this stupid idea. There’s already too much shit on the water these days, if that thing leaks.. ahaa..(starts laughing suddenly),  nevermind. It would never leak, important people are planning those things. Whatever, I’ll just count on that pipeline thing or whatever it’s called. Should I tell my sister? Or not? .. umm I think that the right thing to do is tell her. If..she finds out it’ll be worst. I’m telling her the truth. Even though I’ll hurt her deeply. One thing is for sure, Ricardo needs that construction job as soon as possible! UGHHHH ! (takes deep breath) I need to calm down before it’s too late, and commit some type of scene in front of all these people. Okay 1-2-3…(takes deep breath). I’m going home and telling Ricardo everything, and it’s all going to be alright (Takes deep breath and leaves the hospital). 

Monologue #2 

My Daddy ! 

(The bell rings, and waits for all the kids to exit the classroom.) Hey! Hey ! Did you drop that? Oh yeah, I forgot that those type of kids don’t like me. Oh well. Like I care. I’m rich and handsome. They’re all ugly anyway. No one likes them either, AHA. I don’t care what anyone has to say or think about my daddy, he’s perfect.  (Exits the classroom fast to avoid the kids.Finds the last lunch table outside near the playground, and starts to eat lunch ). Many of those kids won’t talk to me just because my dad is the owner of the XL keystone pipeline committee. (Stares at the other kids playing). My daddy knows what he’s doing, he says that if this project gets done he’ll buy me that motorcycle I always wanted. AND GOSH, I want that motorcycle ! So many ungrateful kids in this school that they can only think negatives about my daddy’s project. They have to understand that not only will this project benefit me.. but I think he said that it would support the significant growth of crude oil production in the U.S.A. And like ..a few minutes ago Mrs. Mann just done talking about how our country is full of consumers… I mean, she even said I was a consumer. If didn’t know what she meant. Honestly I think she’s crazy, I only throw away what’s not useful to me. Although when she started talking about how this pipeline can contaminate the drinking water, then it was when I started.. I started… when I started to reflect. If the pipeline starts to leak my daddy will be in serious problems. Like Mrs. Mann said, we are either ; slowly killing the earth, or were making a difference. I honestly do care about the environment, but daddy is always talking about how he wants and wants and wants more money.Um.. I think I have to talk to my daddy about this. It’s a serious thing that if it goes wrong, mommy is going to be very mad about. Those kids over there deserve respect and their families too, and I have to understand that maybe those families have their reasons for not wanting this project but it’s hard for me to understand that. My dad is my hero and I would never like to see him fail, he really wants this thing done, I guess I’m just scared to tell my daddy that sometimes I don’t agree with him. He would never forgive me, so I have to maintain him happy. (bell rings and starts to go inside the classroom again). 


Monologue # 3 

I Quit !

(Stands outside with a serious face on with a gun in his hand). Hey boss ! Yeah I know, if anyone gets near the house I have orders to arrest them… and yes sir, I know that..that..if I don’t get this job done there will be consequences... Ughh.. (takes deep breath) thank god he left..I hate everyone! If you weren’t my boss you wouldn’t continue to live right now.. but now I have to take care of business. What should I get for lunch today, a big mac, some cheesedicks, lunchables, or maybe..I don’t know.. HEYYYY!! HEYY! You in the red, you can’t pass beyond this point. If you don’t like it, I’ll have to arrest you. Look I do understand the fact that you and your friends are here because you want to stop the pipeline but there’s nothing I can about it. I just want to do my job, so please step away… thank you. Ugh. I hate this job.. and the people that make this job harder. I don’t even want to be here, if wasn’t for my daughter that needs the money, I would quit. Ughh.. Sometimes I wonder why so many people gather together for this one little thing. Maybe it’s because (looks around the area) everything is just so fucked. Our land, water, air and even our bodies are contaminated by pollution and all of that shit including fossil fuels. (Looks behind him, at the white house) and.. what can I say about them! The people inside of there are so corrupt, that wealth and power makes them blind, it sickens me.  Maybe the people (turns around to the protesters) there are standing up to speak out for the protection of their families, and friends.. but..but..most important for the earth we were blessed with! UGHH! I’m always so and so angry at the world.Every time I think about it,  maybe it’s because I have to accept the fact that they still have that spirit that died in me a while ago. About change, about changing this world. Maybe I don’t want them to fight for what they believe in, because I couldn’t do it, so they can’t either!  (takes deep breath and looks down at the ground)  It’s nobody else’s fault but mine. I’m the one who failed, why should they? There is nobody to blame than me, I deserved what I earned, and now I have to live with it.(Puts head down and takes deep breath).  OHHH! Yes sir, I heard you. Look I’m trying my best, you don’t have to keep yelling at me.  I wasn’t going to arrest that poor woman.. what do you mean why not?.. I.. I.. quit. If you want to fire me, go ahead. You’ll have my written waiver first thing tomorrow. And sir, I’m gladly informing you that I’m joining the protest this afternoon because I don’t want to make the same mistake again.. Umm what mistake? Oh.. don’t worry about it, I know my business.And sir, have a lovely day. (walks away, winks and then smiles).


Monologue. I'm.Pregnant from Esperanza Gonzalez on Vimeo.

Pipeline Monologue Project

Posted by Caitlin Keough in World History - Block - B on

Part 1: 

This unit we learned all about the Keystone XL Pipeline and we learned the pros and cons of it, regarding the environment, the people, and the economics. The pipeline is proposed to start in Hardisty, Alberta in Canada and will end around Steele City, Nebraska. It would transport about 830,000 barrels of Tar Sands oil a day. There are so many opinions out there surrounding this topic which we explored a lot of, and then they helped us write monologues about the pipeline project.


Part 2:

- It will be 1,179 miles long

(About The Project, TransCanada)

- Pipeline will have a diameter of 36 inches

(About The Project, TransCanada)

- The tar sands oil is under the very large Boreal forest in Alberta. 

(Keystone XL Pipeline, Friends of the Earth)

- it would result in climate-damaging emissions equal to putting more than 5.6 million new cars on the roads in the U.S.

(Keystone XL Pipeline, Friends of the Earth)

- It will require 9,000 American workers.

(Jobs and Economic Benefits, TransCanada)




Part 3:

Daddy’s Job


(Daughter is at school, Dad is picking her up.)


Bye, Samantha! Have a fun weekend! Hey Dad. Yeah, Mom took me to get my haircut on wednesday. Thanks. School was fun. Mmmhhm. What’s that smell? Is something wrong with the car? Oh. What do you even do at work? Well, then why does Mommy hate what you do so much? Why couldn’t you give it up for her? (Pause) Is it because of this nice car? (Pause) Ice cream? Um. No, I think I just wanna go home and play with Sandy. Grandma’s... again? I don’t wanna! (Whines) Why are there so many meetings? I never get to play with you anymore. Yeah, I like all my toys but I wanna play with you. A big project? What kind of project? Pipeline? What’s tha… 1000 miles!? Well, that does sound pretty important I guess. But I still don’t get why Mommy doesn’t like it. Is it cuz the smell. It is pretty gross. Do ya want me to ask her? I… oh sorry. Ok, well what time are you going to pick me up tonight? I’m sleeping over? I don’t have any clothes or pajamas! And I got school tomorrow! Can’t you just take a day off for once? (Whispers) Well is it really that important? (Pause) Oh, I didn’t say anything. I’ll see you tomorrow then. Bye Daddy. (Pause) Hi Grandma. Yeah, his dumb job. I know.



Family First


(Leaving house)


See ya later, honey! Bye kiddos! Love you, too. Yup, Daddy’s gonna bring in the big bucks! Haha! You guys be good to your Momma, alright. Ahh, ok.

(Walks out the door, walks to car) (Sighs)

(Arrives at work) Hey guys. What’s up? We going back to the James’ house today? Alright. What are we doing there, just putting down some sod right? (Sighs) Landscaping is hard work, men. Wish it paid a bit better though, am I right? (Pause) What about the Daytona’s? Wait, what? Why? Sold half their land? To who? What is TransCanada? A pipeline? Over a thousand miles?! That’s ridiculous! Are we really that desperate? What’s that gonna mean for all our customers? Anybody else sold their land? Really? Aw man. Wonder how much they gave ‘em for that piece of land. They wanna make a deal with me? They can have my 2x2 shed. Haha, yeah! Man, I really need this job though. Only source of income for my family. My wife got the kids to take care of while I’m gone and on top of that she’s thinking of going back to school! I need this! (Pause) Maybe this big old company will hire me. I’ll help with this pipeline thing! Destroying the environment? Oh, please! Isn’t everything doing that these days? I gotta keep my family alive. That’s more important to me! Ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Yeah, I know. Alright. Let’s get going.



Biased Boss


(Walks into boss’ office)


Mornin’ Mr. Clark! How are you doing, this fine morning? (Begins to sweep the floors of the office) Aw man, what’s bugging ya? Ah, the pipeline XL? You mind telling me more about this thing? My co-workers have been telling me bit by bit of what they are all hearing, but I don’t got the whole story yet. Course, I’ll keep cleaning while you talk! You’re the boss! Steele City? Now, where is that? Nebraska? Woah! Any idea how far that is? Woah, what’s that number again? I wanna write that down and tell my husband. He won’t believe this! 1,179 miles you said it was? That sure is incredible, sir! And when is this starting? Ohh, Obama’s a good man, he will never be able to turn down something like this! Sounds great! I’m super excited to see how this goes! (Finishes up cleaning the floors) Alright, Mr. Clark it was nice talking to you. It’s my lunch break now. I’ll see you around, have a good day! (Picks up supplies and walks out of the office) (Hovers outside the office for a second and pops her head back in) One last question Mr. Clark, good, old Mother Nature won’t be harmed in any of this,right? You know I love my trees and fresh air, ha! Nothing to worry about? Alright! I’m getting more and more excited! Bye now! (Walks to locker rooms) (Puts stuff away, grabs lunch and bag) (Walks outside and sits on a bench) (Pulls out phone and searches “Keystone Pipeline XL”) “Say No to Keystone Pipeline?” Hate articles already, gosh! (Pause) (Reads article a little) This oil is under a forest? That don’t sound very good. Hmmm. This plan doesn’t really sound as peachy as I thought it was before. (Continues reading)

Family First from Caitlin Keough on Vimeo.

Pipeline Monologue Project

Posted by Alexander Wroblewski in World History - Block - B on

​Part I: In this unit of study, we learned about the Keystone XL Pipeline. We learned about all the background info needed to understand the pipeline as well as arguments for and against it. We then learned how to write a good monologue. Now, as our project, we are making monologues about the Keystone XL Pipeline.

Part II: 

1: "On the one hand, the Obama administration is taking important steps forward with investments in renewable energy and the recent power plant regulations. On the other, they’re letting fracking go unregulated, still deliberating on the Keystone XL [crude oil] pipeline, and weakening key international climate policies" SOURCE: INTER PRESS SERVICE 2013-09-27 00:29:00

2: "The fact of the matter is that as the (U.S.) state department itself says, the environmental impacts of the Keystone pipeline are negligible ... In fact it will displace a crude that in many cases comes from not just higher-emitting sources of oil but frankly from places where the environmental standards of production are very poor" SOURCE: THE PROVINCE DAILY NEWS 2013-09-26 22:15:00

3. "Mr. President, please do not make a bilateral agreement approving the Keystone XL based on the government of Canada’s mitigation promises ... While this may seem like a generous offer, Canada simply cannot mitigate the carbon pollution from the pipeline; those emissions would simply be too big. Keystone XL would be directly responsible for the equivalent annual emissions of 51 coal-fired power plants or 37.7 million cars. As a point of comparison, Canada has about 26 million cars on the road" SOURCE: ECOEARTH NEWS 2013-09-24 04:25:00

4. 
"TransCanada keeps insisting the Keystone XL pipeline will be the safest pipeline ever built despite irrefutable evidence to the contrary. In fact they are building the southern portion of the Keystone XL to the lowest permissible standards, just as they have the Keystone 1 and the Bison Pipeline." SOURCE: DESMOGBLOG 2013-09-22 21:47:00
5.
"I don’t think it’s specifically Keystone XL, but I think the challenges that Keystone XL and other pipeline projects have had, and the delays that they have faced, are causing the industry to realize that we need alternatives".SOURCE: NATIONAL POST 2013-09-23 08:38:00
Part III: 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Monologue 1: John


[Enters through door] “Hey, Daddy’s home!” [Walks to living room] “Hey sweetie how are you? You look kinda sad today.... Something happened at school?.. Oh the pipeline, well what’s the problem with it?.. Your friends? Let them protest and stuff, nothing’s gonna change anyway... [Sits down on couch] Well, that’s the thing. This pipeline does a lot of good stuff for us... I mean... Look at this house, look at your TV, your iPhone, and all your other stuff... And look, so many other families will have the same chance. I mean, look at it... Yeah, I don’t need to treat you like a baby, I’m just, you know, worried.


“Let me tell you something, I was a board meeting today and we were talking about this stuff. The risks are worth the reward.... Well I don’t care about the ‘state department’ or the ‘President of the United States’... Well, ok. Yeah, it can leak, it can spill, it can do hundreds of things... The point is that it won’t... I don’t know, ok maybe I should...


“My point being, this pipeline is important! Not just for us but for an entire nation! Sweetie, listen to me... No, it doesn’t matter here. We won’t even see it.... Yes that’s the big oil spill... Yeah, but that was the gulf of mexico, Not here... Wow, is... is that what happened there.. [mutters] So much destruction... [speaks normally] Well in america... Well here in canada...


“Alright honey...  I admit it, it’s dangerous... But not for us... Yes, people can be hurt... Ok, I think it’s homework time for you... [Get’s up and exits]


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Monologue 2: Will


[Walks in door] Hey, man, how are you... Come on, lets sit down.... Actually I’m not sure about that, another protest?... I sympathise man, I really do, but we’re adults, not the free-riding teens we once were... [Waitress walks to table] What would I like to have... Get me a scone... or a muffin... Actually a berry muffin please... And some tea. What about you?.. [Waitress walks away after order]


So are you ready, I mean, we are in DC after all, every protest here is bound to be big. Why don’t I want to come... Well that’s the thing, call me crazy, call me a establishment shill, but I think Keystone XL is one of the keys to fixing our economy. We need to take risks right? And XL constitutes a risk. I know the environmental and health stuff, but damn this needs to go through.


[Waitress comes by and brings food] Thanks... Yeah, I do wish the best of luck to you though... Well, we are all in our own little hell right now, and an oil spill is nothing to the suffering of the poor and the middle class. Right now we have a golden opportunity. The door out of this place is standing right there, but you keep trying to barricade it.... Things aren’t always black and white like they are for you and so many others. There are so many other colors and shades. And this one isn’t all bad.


I have a job, but I’m barely getting by... I have meds to take and all that stuff... You know, when I came in, I was on the fence, but now, I’m more than certain this pipeline has to go through. [alarm beeps] Well... I have a doctors appointment in half an hour so, I’ll see you around...


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Monologue 3: Jack



[Jack is collapsed on couch, wife walks in] Hey honey... Well yeah, really I’m just tired... Look at me, I’m a mess. I have to clean up... But I’m too tired. God this job is killing me.


God, this couch is so comfy... Am I in heaven... Never mind. I need a cold drink, god, I’m thirsty... [Wife leaves and brings drink]


Have you seen the bullcrap safety at the place! Just today I saw Jim nearly get crushed by one of those huge pipes! I’m looking at the thing and I don’t see how it’s going to hold up for more than a year! If this goes through... I don’t even want to think about it.  I mean, what the hell is going on?


I remember when I got this job, I thought it was going to be good. I thought it would help us get back on track and you know... Help us save up for that house... Well I guess that’s all just a dream gone by...


This is supposed to be the thing that helps the economy... Helps us all get back on track. But at what cost? Welcome to hell, North america, you’re taking a page right out of the devil’s playbook.


Ok, that’s it! Tomorrow I’m turning in my two weeks. It’s time for all this to end. I’m going to start looking for an office job tomorrow. I can’t stand that place anymore.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



monologue from Alexander Wroblewski on Vimeo.

Q1 Monologue- Ameer Holmes, Alejandro Bautista-Garcia

Posted by Ameer Holmes in World History - Block - B on

Monologue #1 - Ameer


(Son of a construction worker of the keystone xl)x2

Two children meet up at a construction site and talk about their father’s work


Peauterbread is sitting on an oily pipe

Peauterbread: aww man I soiled my trousers sitting on this stupid pipe!

Peauterbread: ehh... What

*smacks himself in the face softly

Peauterbread: what is peasant mean?

P: I'm not a kid. I'm 6 years old now

*holds up 4 fingers

P: anyways you don't look too old yourself

P: wow a rich amount of money... must be a lot...

P: Well what’s your name dude

P: Uhhh… ok… My names Peaturbread. My daddy works here... He knows a lot about the keystone XL project they're working on

P: My daddy says that it helps out a lot with the green house gasses...

P: The world has too many greenhouse gasses… wha? So… this is actually bad? Hey! my dad's not stupid!

P: well maybe that's not what my dad said but he's not stupid.

P: my dad says jobs help the economy... So it would be a good thing that he's working here, and those

P: How is what I said dumb? It helps the economoly, or the umm... The umm.. Economy

P: What not true!!! And I never called youuu smart at all.

P: Well no... But my daddy sure knows a lot about the pipeline.

P: whhaaaaaat boooring!!! All i know is that its a one way pipeline and its giving my daddy a way to support his family

P: I’m not a child!

P: I don’t want to hear about this stupid pipeline. It’s just a reason for my father to get a little extra money

P: My father is working on the pipeline.

P: My daddy only needs to work here because he takes care of me by himself… so he needs the extra money.

P: What is divorced mean?

P: Well my mom left when I was 2… so I guess thats what you mean?

P: What do you mean my parents only separated because of me?

P: My Parents do love me!... My daddy does all he can to take care of me… and my mommy only left because he was abusive.

P: Shut UP!!!! you act like your family is sooo perfect, Shut  up!

P: See You have problems too. Don’t go around attacking other people you big hypocrite!

P: Do you think it’s all going to be all right? Because you know your father might get poorer and poorer! Don’t think everything is going to be all right.

P: Wait so you don’t actually like this pipeline? All this time...

(Peauterbread slowly walks away…)

P: How sad.


Who: Son #1 Peauterbread

What:  Talking to a horrible bratty kid

Where: construction one keystone xl

Why: His father works their

How: he is board.. another kid is bored. the other kid walks up for convo… conversation… argument… explain facts about keystone fathers come to pick them up





Monolouge #2- Ameer


Sean walks up

Sean: Peasant!

Sean: peasant. entertain me

Sean: hmf never mind that. What are you doing here? This place isn't for kids.

Sean: I'm 9. and my father is a rich man. He has a lot of money

S: I’m Sean… I don’t really need to know… your name

S: If he knew a lot about the Keystone XL why would he be working here?

S: This world has too many greenhouse gasses, and the Keystone XL emits too much of it. If he thinks that greenhouse gasses help the environment your dad is stupid.

S: He is stupid! He’s definitely not as smart as my father.

S: anyways with those rags you're wearing your family must be working here for the 20,000 jobs it's opening up.

S: Those 20,000 jobs it opens up however, don't help the economy. It’d be killing more jobs than it creates… I know I’m smart, don’t thank me. Hah, you made your father sound dumber than you realise, or maybe you're just the dumb one.

S: Do you actually know anything about this pipeline?

S: well this is a 1700 mile pipeline. So this pipeline will cost a looot of money and make my daddy a lot of money-

S: ugh children… I’m trying to explain to you trash… how this works. Maybe it’s because you’re only a six year old child.

S: This line runs from Canada all the way to the gulf . It’s a one way North American Pipeline.

S: Wait… What does your father do here?

S: Oh haha! He’s one of those guys. Doing manual labor.

S: So. wait your parents are divorced or something?

S: Like Separated

S: Your parents only separated because of you..

S: Your Parents don’t love you.

S: Simple... lame... laborer problems

S: My family is perfect. Or… at least it will be again once my dad makes money off of the pipeline...

S: that’s a big word for a little boy like you… hypocrite… wow! My family is only in a temporary financial crisis. My father made a bad business deal is all.

S: No… No I’m not talking to you anymore… I don’t even like this silly pipeline… Your right. This is probably a bad deal that my father hastily invested in due to some… previous problems.

S: If one thing goes wrong with this pipeline it’s all over… I single pipeline traveling 1700 miles… a 7 billion dollar project… If one thing goes on it’s all over…

(Peauterbread slowly walks away… leaving sean to sulk)


Who: Son #2 Sean Paul Smith the second

What:  Talking to a kid who is poor

Where: construction one keystone xl

Why: His father works their

How: he’s bored.. another kid is bored.he walks up for a convo… conversation… argument… explain facts about keystone fathers come to pick them up





Monologue #3 - Alejandro


News reporter doing a bit on the keystone xl (actual tv)


New’s reporter is standing in front of the camera

News reporter: Bob Robby broadcasting here from Canada vancouver ehhh, I am standing

in front of where the horrendous and maybe unstable pipeline is going to be made it will go

from canada Alberta through The United States of America to the Gulf Coast of Texas

eh, several civilians are concerned by the propaganda because it will destroy the earth and

it will also be too wide in distance in order to cover for spills eh, the makers of this project

and some politicians think this is a cheaper and easier way to get oil from our allies Candanias

civilians all around America and Canada our forming big protest against this horrifying project  they are also forming barriers were the trail of this project will be or chaining themselves to bulldozer and trees ehh this project WILL infact destroy and ruin earth by polluting it and ripping

the land apart. Thank you all for listening good bye canada eh.


Who: Bob Robby the Reporter

What: Doing news on the show

Where: In Tar sands reporting

Why: Because he wants to get paid (he hates his job)

How: Gets cued in to report… Goes to jane the weather girl… Finishes report then contemplates quitting his job.




Monologue #4 -Alejandro


Protesters in  tar sands



Hello everyone my name is Matthew Jones and I’m here protesting about this disgusting

horrible pipeline it will destroy our beautiful mother earth, the way this so called friendly

cheap project will work is by getting oily sand from our friends the indigenous people

and taking all this sand through America until it gets to the goal coast of Texas which

from there it will be refined but what they don’t realized is that we are taking peoples

lands like nothing and also it will raised the pollution in the air!! which will also contribute

to the climate change. Now I am proud that all of us got here to stop this irreversible

disaster, I want you all to stay strong and keep protesting in front of the white house

because they will hear our voices, I’M TELLING YOU THEY WILL HEAR US!!!!.

 

Who: James Mcfarlen

What: Protesting along the construction site

Where: Along the construction site

Why: He is a hippie and cares about nature

How: He camps at tar sands over night then wakes up…Protests... has conversation with another protester… protests again





Monologue #5- Ameer


IM conversation


*Ughh* I  had the hardest day at work/  

This couch is so comfy/

yess.../

lets see… whats on the tv right now/ oh the news, cool i guess/

This global warming crap again/

Oh my god../

wait what this tar sands crap is amazing.../

Let me hit up my girl… Ellie-o/
*typing* hey ellie im watching the news right now and theirs this thing on about tar sands.../

No not tarzand, tar sands! stupid auto correct./

*Typing* no babe  shumafafumma auto correct  *ughhh*./

Why should she care hugh why shoooould she care/

*typing* because did you know…. that uh… that uh… oh that

*typing* it probs gonna create 20,000 jobs, but its a major threat to the environment/

You dont care! oh, oh she doeesn’t care… *typing* well you should care/

how is it a threat? well I’ll tell you… as soon as the news shows me lol/

*typing* oh well it is harder to get  anddddd, it releases more carbon in than other oils/

It’s not my fault your bored with this conversation/

well what do you want me to do/

I’m done with her/ *texting* you know what I’m done with you/

*texting* Not with the relationship bay/ now your getting into some other stuff/

im just going to go to bed now./ what noooooooowww/ She’s always complaining/

*texting* I’m sorry it’s just… It’s just that since we always text I can’t really convey what I really feel to you... I just can’t handle what going on in the relationship./

She is telling me it’s over oh no!/ Fine fine fine… CHUCK FROM ACCOUNTING IS NO LONGER YOUR MAN!!!


Better sound directions

Why are they having the arguement

missing peices


Who: Chuck Fromacounting

What: Im ing  his gf

Where: Home… at dinner… eating lamb

Why: He sees a news segment on his cable tv

How: Comes home from work… Plops down the couch turns on tv its the news…. texts his gf about news… they break up and he goes to bed sleeping alone.

The Pipeline Worker, Ted D. and The Lost Dog

Posted by Lindsey Jones in World History - Block - B on

​

For  the last few weeks in World History we’ve been studying the background and origin of the Keystone XL Pipeline. For those who don’t know, the Keystone XL Pipeline is a 1,179 mile crude oil pipeline that is proposed to be built and in service by 2015. The main purpose of the pipeline is to give American and Canadian oil producers access to a wider range of oil refining markets across America. The class spent a lot of time watching and listening to different opinions and movements toward the pipeline. There were many that opposed and gave solid facts to why the pipeline is dangerous and detrimental to America, then there were those who gave facts, that later turned out to be inaccurate and/or exaggerated. We were then given the assignment to write three different monologues from the perspectives of three different people and/or things towards the pipeline. These are the monologues I’ve written from those perspectives.


Brief facts about the Pipeline: 

  • The TransCanada Keystone XL Pipeline is intended to be built and in service by 2015 and will stretch from Canada to Texas.

  • Will stretch a total of 1,179 miles between Canada and United States and will transport 830,000 barrels of oil everyday.

  • Will cost an estimated total of $5.3 billion US dollars.

  • According Dr. James Hansen, if the pipeline were to break and cause an oil spill, it would be “game over” for our environment.

  • About 7,000 US jobs are being supported through TransCanada’s need for pipeline materials.

  • About 4,000 US employees have been hired by TransCanada in Oklahoma and Texas.

  • 60% of the oil that is produced is from different countries.



The Pipeline Worker


(Sue drops her bundle of keys three times before exiting her home as she is stalked by her orange cat. The day is gloomy and the sun is shining between every section of the window blinds. Sue closes the front door in a silent hurry and heads down her long set of stairs)


I hate being late. It’s not exactly one of those things that leave people with a good impression of you, right? It’s like you don’t care about anyone but yourself and no one buys your excuses anymore. (She pulls her hair out of her face as her feet hit each step with heavy stomps)You see- I was up all night watching jeopardy and helping with homework at the same time. My job calls for me to be there every weekday at 9 am, but that doesn’t give me enough time to get my girls ready for school that starts at 8:30.  


(She trips over a small log merged into the landing)


SHIT- ow…Did anybody see that? (She looks to both sides of her frantically. When realizing no one was there, she continued on). Anyway… The bills have been piling up. Electricity is the most expensive thing around this place. And since my deadbeat husband doesn’t want to give me money for anything, the bills stay. It’s not like it matters really. This new job I’m taking up should pay more than what his salary is. So I don’t have to worry about asking him for squat. When I save up enough, I can actually get the heck outta here. Plus, since this thing is going be up and running by 2015, i’ll have a steady job for the next few years.


(Sue unchains her bike and takes off down the road)


So yeah- my husband- well- the guy who isn’t really a husband but just someone who put a ring on my finger- is a shrub. He could be taking this job instead of me, but he decides to literally stay home all day. I want him, but then again, I don’t. He used to be so ambitious until the accident he had a few years ago. Now he just lays in the dark, with a bucket of tubes and screws filling in as his heart.


--OH C’MON LADY! (Sharply putting on her brakes, Sue’s hair whips her in the face).What type of driving is that?! Are you blind or just plain stupid? ..See these are the type of people I have to deal with every damn day. A bunch of morons if you ask me. And no- I’m not some sort of hothead who blows up at every little thing, that woman just doesn’t know how to make a u-turn and someone needs to tell her about it. I could be late for work-all of us drivers could be late and it’d be all because a giant rhinoceros fairy can’t see even if her eyes are open.


(She drives under a short tunnel, splashing some mud water on the sides of her shoes. She sighs heavily in disgust)


I just can’t wait for this day to be over. I hardly know much about construction, or any type of architecture at that. I got turned onto this job by some guy on the bus. He said the ladies barely have to do anything but push a couple of buttons and bring water to the men. Easy paycheck if you ask me...The guy was sweaty and musty. I don’t really pay attention to guys like that or anyone for that matter, but he seemed to know what he was talking about.


(Reaching the end of the tunnel and out into daylight, Sue rides into a dead end. It was a dirt field that’s already occupied by some visitors)


He said that it would be an easy paycheck, but the price to pay was actually ruining the Earth itself. It’s not that I don’t care about the global warming theory and climate change and blah-blah-blah, It’s just that I’m sick of hearing about it. The moment the Earth came into existence is when it starting slowly falling apart. We’re just speeding up the process.


I mean, the entire project isn’t perfect. But the benefits outweigh the non-beneficial aspects. I skimmed through a little brochure after I first got hired. Apparently, all of the hype about the pipeline being dangerous and filled with crude tar oil sands is just a bunch of bloated drama. A bunch of know it alls claimed that crude tar oil sands were the dirtiest and most dangerous out there. But it was proven that oil sands were no more corrosive than any other heavy crudes. Even in some cases they seemed to be less corrosive.


Our economy is supposed to improve as well, which means there is going to be more money pumping into the pockets of hardworking Americans like myself. Taxes will increase in about $5 billion. This will go into the communities across the nation and will help educate our children. I mean it sounds too good to be true but look-....


(Approaching the gates to the TransCanada pipeline site, she is yelled at by nearby protesters)


What is with these people? Why are you guys yelling at me? I’m just doing my job it’s not my fault.


How exactly am I adding to the problem? I didn’t ask for them to build this thing now did I?!

I am just trying to provide for my children!


(The screams and shouts of the protestors get louder. Sue reads the signs that are being held)


Tar sands and oil spills? If It’s built right nothing will happen! America can have future. Our kids can have a future don’t you guys understand. It’s not my fault. My husband can’t work! What am I supposed to do?


(Sue disappears into the crowd. Shouting and defending herself from the painful reality the crowd has given to her).




Ted D.



(Ted is heading to the station wagon with a tall businessman by his side. It is raining heavily and fog is thick)


I have never aspired to be anything. Mainly because the thing that I am supposed to be, has already been chosen for me. I am not really the ambitious type person either. I spend a lot of my time reading or watching UFO documentaries. There isn’t much to do at my home other than that. My parent’s aren’t around so I’ve been secluded to the role of being a latchkey child.


Today I’m supposed to be going to a lame pipeline press conference my dad is working on. It’s hard to call him my dad, honestly. I wish I could say it without feeling a bit empty inside. He used to leave me at my aunts house for days to weeks when I younger and wouldn’t come back unless reminded to. He’s not a very good dad either. (Ted grabbed onto the dripping wet handle of the black Range Rover. He had to play with it a bit before the door unlocked from the inside)


(He gets into the passenger side of the car and waits patiently for Fred to turn the ignition). I might sound like a entire emotional wreck here, but I’m really not. I do fun things. However, the ratio for fun and work is pretty uneven and really unfair in most cases. My dad wanted me to memorize a bunch of important information about the pipeline that boosts his revenue. Because ya know, hearing it from a completely “innocent” kid will bring more supporters than from a man in a suit.

(He holds onto thick deck of index cards with dozens of paragraphs on them. He cracks his window, letting in thick cool air. Fred immediately rolls his window back up)


(Ted turns to Fred, shocked and says in a whiny voice..) What are you doing? It’s like an oven in here...You know it’s pretty rude to do something like. I can tell my dad… My dad DOES care about me. He just isn’t around enough to show it thats all. Mind your business please.


(There was a brief silence before Ted decided to break the silence).


Ask me something about the pipeline. I need to rehearse these cards for dad and I’m trying memorize as much as possible… “...introducing the pipeline to America will bring more jobs to us and more ways to keep America, American”..(He raised an eyebrow) Did a five year old write this? Do these people actually buy this load of crap? (He sincerely stared at the profile of Fred’s face) Do you?


...Yeah it’s your job but shouldn’t you be doing something with your life that actually makes you happy and you know...something that will help the world?…I’m not being rude, I’m just saying the truth. You know my dad better than anyone so...what’s he like?


...Just as I expected, I guess. I don’t trust him at all so when he asked me to speak for him, I was really reluctant. I looked up a bunch of information about the pipeline and knew it was too good to be true. You know what he told me? That there was nothing to worry about and to just do what he said. But the sad thing is, he lied to me.


I’ve got to talk about how the pipeline would reduce American dependence on foreign oil, when in reality that’s a big fat lie! (His voice was high in anger). The oil that Canada transports to American refineries will be sold in different markets all over the world! They’re going to take the cheap Canadian oil and turn into diesel so they can sell it in Latin America and Europe. A good amount of the oil from the pipeline isn’t even going to reach American gas tanks!


I called this one with common sense. If that pipeline breaks, our entire environment is going straight to hell. The spill would be the equivalent, or worse than the BP oil spill. Keystone even predicted that there would 1 spill every 7 years, but there have already been 12 in one year. These idiots are getting the pipe materials from the same Indian manufacturer that sold them the faulty pipes in the first place! (He started to calm down and his voice lowered.). And the animals...our wildlife would be toast.


(Ted looked down at his note cards, his hands were shaking) I’m sorry. I’m just sick of being fed of bunch of lies and being forced to take them and stride. I have to swallow my tongue because the big guy is my father.


...Wait..you’ve know all about  this? Why haven’t you said anything?



(He looked at his deck of cards.)I plan on swapping this deck for a more refined and innovated version if you know what I mean. It’s time someone tell the truth and I may just be the one kid that has to do it…(He crumbled them into his hands).


What are you smiling at Fred?



-Lost Dog-


(A small weiner dog waddles around a crowd of humans that resembled giants in his eyes. He and these beings were outside of a Keystone XL pipeline construction site. The humans used their bodies to keep the pipe from being built.)


I’ve never seen so many angry faces everywhere before. Definitely not my family. My family is nice and the kids always give me extra beef jerky before bedtime.


(The dog stopped in his tracks and perked it’s small ears up in excitement). OH LOOK AT HIS BEARD. ITS SO LONG. AND SO MANY HAIRS. (He admired the long brown hairs of a tall man).


(The dog continues to quickly walk around the crowd. Directionless). Sorry... I get distracted so easily. I got lost from my family a few days ago while we were at the beach. They were trying to clean up some birds that had gotten caught in an oil spill nearby. I felt sorry for the poor fluttery things. They wouldn’t have been able to fly away from me if they tried. A few seconds later, I caught myself chasing this really pretty squirrel and sort of got lost on the way. I’ve been through dog hell, I can say the least.


I’ve had to trek through little creeks with tons of trash filling them. I couldn’t eat any fish of course because they’re weren’t any. I almost got run over twice. And I’ve had to either sleep in cold puddles or on top of street steamers because of the constant change in temperatures. My coat isn’t very thick either so I guess you could say it’s been a pretty hectic few days for me.


(The dog is picked up by one of the protestors abruptly)


Woah! What are you doing? (His objections sounded like loud barks to his kidnapper). My ears are pretty sensitive, so if you keep yelling like that I may run away. If you’re planning on taking me home with you I would like you to atleast contact my owner. I have a chip so you can do that okay?


(The dog stopped struggling upon realizing he wasn’t being hurt). I can’t understand a word these people are saying. I wish they would talk in those nice voices like my family does. But the imagery is compelling enough for me to pay attention and they seem to try to be making a case. (He looked in all directions of the crowd. Mainly at the signs)



That sign has a group of humans looking sad as they walk...away from a building? They look like they’re crying. It’s kind of similar to that time when Daddy came home upset from his awful long time away. He said he was usually gone 8 hours, but for me it seemed like an eternity. After that he stayed home almost everyday.


Wow! That woman over there is very intense. She’s saying “STOP TAR SANDS!”. I don’t know what tar sands are, but they seem to make her upset. Maybe they’re a bad thing? (The dog looked to a couple holding a series of enlarged pictures of animals covered in oil).


They’re just like the birds from the beach! Except there’s a cat, a fish, a penguin...a dog. Would I end up just like the birds covered in oil at the beach? I won’t be able to run around and play anymore?


“Keystone is not accounting for the wildlife that this pipeline will affect! Thousands of animals will perish at the hands of the greedy people who care for no one else but themselves! Your pipeline will cross through many agriculture lands, fisheries, the rivers of Missouri and Niobrara! Such pollution from this pipeline of death will cause carbon emissions to rise and ultimately our environment will be doomed!” ‘


(The dog intently listened to the foreign words of the woman. His attention was then caught by a large, grey headed man).


“The SDEIS haven’t been doing their job…” (The man was old, and couldn’t yell as loud as the crowd. “...The extraction and refinement of the tar oil sands effects GHG emissions way more than other conventional oil. Adding the pipeline to these emissions will cause a 12-23 million metric ton of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Nothing short of the emissions that 2-4 coal-power plants give off. These emissions are being underestimated by over 20%”


(The old man began coughing and the dog continued to look. The old man was so big, he had just noticed the tiny human by his side.) Hey...That looks like Matilda! I mean, it’s not Matilda but it could be! I know her scent anywhere!  (The girl had dirty golden hair and studded blue eyes). Why...why is she crying? Is this making her sad? The pipeline? The pipeline must be the problem here. That is why everyone looks upset.



(The dog is put down and left to roam. He begins barking and running down the road, signifying his support of the protest).






Resources:
​http://www.tarsandsblockade.org/
http://keystone-xl.com/about/the-project/
http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/tag/keystone-xl-pipeline/
http://www.nrdc.org/energy/keystone-pipeline/

Pipeline Monologue Project

Posted by Mitchell Berven-Stotz in World History - Block - B on

​1. This unit has been about the environment and, more specifically, the Keystone XL oil pipeline. The unit was about studying peoples reactions and understanding of the environment. The pipeline is an oil pipeline that goes from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. I learned about the pipeline, and about the problems with oil refinement and transport in general, from both an economic and an ecologic level. 

2. Facts about the Pipeline:
-The pipeline is 2147 total miles. (Keystone XL Pipeline, Wikipedia.org)
-Creates the emissions of 5.6 million cars. (Keystone XL Pipeline ,FOE.org)
-Pumps 830,000 barrels a day. (Keystone XL Pipeline ,FOE.org)
-Will cost US approximately $5.3 billion. (About The Project, TransCanada)
-Will require over 9,000 American workers. (Jobs and Economic Benefits, TransCanada)

3. Monologues

Above Ground

Hi folks. Now, this may come off a bit odd to you people, but I’m a piece of the ground. Now, I bet you're wondering why this even matters? Well, the truth is, I have feelings too. And this pipeline thing? That is a serious no-no for me. I live in South Dakota, along the edge of the state. I like where I live, its nice, there is some local wildlife, friendly people, but not very many. And, you know what, my already low amount of neighbors will be getting smaller. If you are wondering why, then the blame goes to the Keystone XL Pipeline. This monstrous excuse of a American economic boom is a sickening piece of destruction, that is trying to directly inject poison into my body. And you know what? I like my body.

Where to start! So, the people building this pipeline think it is a nice addition to my body to stick a giant, long, obtrusive pipe straight through me, sitting in front of my face? Though I may be in an area with a low level of inhabitants, that doesn’t mean I want a construction project in the way, scaring off the wildlife and making the nature around me look terrible and unnatural.

Now, a pipeline is ugly enough from a physical direction. What happens when that pipeline is damaged? The oil, of the very corrosive tar sands variety, comes pouring out, gallons upon gallons a minute. This stuff is terrible? Now, I won’t get into how bad the mining process is, but it kills. This oil, when getting into the water, straight up murders any animal that drinks from that water. Some parts of this pipeline go over water sources for not just small woodland animals, but humans! You guys are poisoning yourself over a stinking pipeline, and you don’t have effective enough ways of getting it out. And the carbon dioxide coming out of this crack? Are you guys trying to make me look like a chain smoker? You humans say you are trying to cut down on C02 emissions, but the pipeline is effectively adding the emissions of 5.6 million cars, in the Unites States only.

If this hasn’t been clear for you listening, let me make it clear. I hate this pipeline. Hate it! It is filling the ground with poisonous, cancer giving goo that gets on and in everything you humans and the wildlife ever could possible touch. It makes me look ugly, pours stuff on me, and makes me stink. But, even more so than that, it makes me lose all respect for you humans as a race. You are the ones killing yourselves with this. It may turn me into a plague ridden monster, but it won’t kill me. I can’t die. I just sit there. All of the actual damage is done to you and your resources. It makes me sad.


The Angry Canadian


Dear TransCanada,

I am a mother of three living in Alberta, Canada, near the Boreal Forests. I am writing with a desperate plea to the board. This operation, the Keystone XL pipeline, is a destructive menace to my cherished community. I believe that you will be responsible for a large amount of damage to the local environment, and that you need to take responsibility by cancelling the pipeline project.

The project is just a generator of poison. The use of tar sands oil is the major problem. Tar sands oil is a destructive thing. It’s refinement revolves around pumping water and heat to extract bitumen, which the oil is refined from, which fills the water with toxic sludge! They are using drinking water. Our drinking water! This is a huge problem. My children drink this water! They breathe this air! What are you trying to pull here? The things you are releasing into the system are giving people cancer! Do you want to give my children cancer? I don’t think you have any right to be making this pipeline.

Do you know whatcha’ve done?You’ve gone and made a canadian woman angry. Believe me, we’re not the folks who get angry over every little thing, but when we’re mad, we’re mad. You know those forests I mentioned? Do you know where those are? That’s right, they WERE where you are drilling. But, you know what, not anymore. You tore down those those forests? And the caribou? The endangered caribou? What about them you wonder? Oh, I’ll tell you all about them. You killed them! That’s what you did! You are trying to kill my children! You are giving indigenous people cancer! And, now, you do it all by killing a precious natural site, and its caribou? I’m going to write some more strongly worded letters now!

Yours Disgustingly,

Theresa Mcintosh


Biased Toy Story

(A boy, four years of age, is playing with a set of trains. He is being questioned by reporters.)

Oh, you want me to tell you about daddy’s new pipeline? That thang he is helping get built out there aaaallllll the way across ‘murica? Well, lemme tell you all about it. Daddy and his company are making a BIIIG pipe, to move all of the oil from Canadia. You know, Canadia is a reaaally long way from Dallas. Thats where I live. Daddy’s friends are moving the oil 2147 miles. Daddy has never said a big word like that before. Well, he only says that when talking about money. Daddy says we will get lots of oil, and lots of money! And the money means more toys for me!

(Little boy turns to continue playing when he hears the inaudible response from the reporters.)

What? You said that the pipe is gonna be bad? Well, daddy says the pipe will be very good! He says that it will give lots of people jobs! There will be lots of stuff to build, and the pipe will give lots of people jobs building it. So, lots of people will have jobs and the pipeline is very, very good for you guys!

And, and, the pipeline, it gives lots of money to America! Now, daddy told me that America had to give all of its money to buy guns from China, so I have to work hard and bring millions of millions of dollars into America. So, what the oil is doing is giving lots of money to America, so they can pay back China, and so I can get lots of money and buy more toys!

(Child is in tears by now. It is the beginning of a temper tantrum.)

What about the dying trees? I don’t care. Trees die to make paper, so they die to make toys and oil and more toys. I don’t care what you say. The oil is good. Daddy says it is good, and the people that daddy talks to say it is good. So, it has to be good. Shut up! Leave! Daddy, these mean people are saying that I need to read more about the earth! Make them go away!



4.Videos

Pipeline Monologue from Mitchell Berven-Stotz on Vimeo.

Pipeline Monologue Project - Zoe Schwingel-Sauer & Mali Fenning

Posted by Zoe Schwingel-Sauer in World History - Block - B on

Part 1: In our world history class these past few weeks we have been learning about the Keystone Pipeline. We have explored the pros and cons both economic and environmental. We spent a good chunk of this unit looking at the opinions on the pipeline. Come project time we created monologues that took a stance on the pipeline or climate. 

Part 2: 
1. The proposed pipeline is 1,179 miles long. (keystone-xl.com)
2. The U.S. consumes 15 million barrels a day. 60% of that oil is imported from other countries. (350.org)
3. The U.S. imports 2.4 million barrels from Canada daily. (350.org)
4. $7 billion proposed pipeline. (keystone-xl.com)
5. September 19, 2008 is when TransCanada first submitted the proposal. (350.org)

Part 3: 

Ben Saunders(Zoe)


(Pacing back and forth in living room/pulling hair looking stressed/squeezing stress ball)


“I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know. This could be such a good opportunity but it’s not officially going to happen, yet. Being an assistant for the editor of a newspaper isn’t as glamorous as it might appear. All I do is fetch coffee, copy papers, and answer phone calls. I’m dying in my cubicle every day. I need to get out. I’m trapped and I need to get out. Ever since Kate died nothing’s been the same. She used to make me happy about my job….used to meaning past. I find no joy in what I do now. What would my boss think...Quitting my job as his personal assistant for working on a job that isn’t even secured--what a joke! Ughh. It would be much better pay though. I could pay all of my rent and still have leftovers, wait no daughters, daughters, daughters! How could I forget?! My sole reason for getting a new job is for my girls. Always my girls. Pipeline, right! Think about pros. The biggest one in my mind is keeping oil dependency away from the Middle East. God I hate the Middle East. All Kate ever tried to do was help those people and what happens?!! She ends up never returning home. Right. Moving on. Other pros.  Umm the pay? Well of course that’s a pro geesh. Us Nebraskans would majorly benefit from increased tax revenue. But what about being away from my girls...could I manage? No that’s selfish; would they be okay?  Nannies. I should look into that. The contract for the pipeline is in my bedroom. I miss Kate. She would know what to say. (Pause squeezing stress balls really hard) Why is this even called a stress ball? Is it supposed to relieve it because it sure isn’t helping. It probably induces it. I would go out and buy a different stress toy but this is Nebraska so I highly doubt I’ll find one at the corner store. Uh so uh right the contract. I’ve heard it is bad for the environment? Well erm it’s going to create jobs--jobs that I so desperately need. The environment isn’t the most important thing to consider it’s the people! And the people need jobs. (Pause, in deep thought) I’m going to do it! It’s the right thing for my family! Obama won’t be able to say no to the proposal….it’s for the good of the people afterall, right? Yes, right! I’ll call Roger and quit right away and sign the contract. It’s a done deal. My girls will be so happy. Happy.”




Joannah Luns(Zoe)


(Driving in police car to protest; to contain protesters...excited...talking to partner Rachel)


“Joannah Luns Saves Community from Rowdy Protesters! Tomorrow’s headline I tell ya. Good cop saves the day. Okay so maybe not that exact wording, but how awesome would that be if it actually happened?! Oh come on Rachel don’t act like you don’t want to be in the newspaper as well. No I never said that. I don’t want this job for the attention….I just think it would be nice that’s all. Whatever. You can be pissy all you want. Let’s get out now and go help out.

(Walks to protesting group)

Okay everyone I’m going to need you to listen up. We need to keep this protest calm and violence free. Now I can only do this with your help so I would appreciate cooperation. No need for that language sir. I care about the safety of the people at this moment. Uhhm uhh yeah I mean of course I know about the pipeline; who doesn’t?! Oh you want me to tell you about it? Well you see I really don’t think I’m the right gal for ya! Lemme find you Rachel! RACHEL! No there’s not a problem I just wanted you to help me out over here….Sorry for yelling but you know that’s the only way I could get your attention.

(A man starts talking about pipeline)

You want to talk? Umm I suppose I could sir. Yeah okay just a second. Go on now! Uhh well no sir I didn’t know that. Or that. Um wow 1,179 miles yeah that’s quite a lot. There’s not much I can do sir. $7 billion?!! Sorry sir. Well I-I-I-I’ll try my best sir.

(Walks over to Rachel)

Rach did you hear the man? Well he did mention that tar sands is up to 19% more greenhouse gas intensive than conventional fuel and that it’s nearly impossible to clean up! No I didn’t go soft! I just uh had an emphimy? Well you go listen to them and try to not be affected! 1.5 million people could be affected if there’s a spill Rach. That’s a whole lot of people. No I’m not trying to save the world….but there’s no harm in trying….right? Well okay be a debbie downer. Uh sir? Yeah you. Well if it’s okay with you I’ll sign the petition thingy you’ve got there. Yes the one about preventing the pipeline, what other one would I be talking about? Sorry that was a little snappy. Can I try to get the entire station to sign?...that’s a pretty big task. No worries I’ll still give it ago. You have a good day, too sir. Good luck!”




Native American Man(Mali)

(Sits with his family outside at a picnic table talking with his family when his son mentions the Keystone XL pipeline)

“Well Ryan the government will never end their constant picking on the oppressed, repressed or depressed. Yes we are certainly the oppressed. No one cares about the Natives they never have and they probably never will. You don’t think we are the oppressed? Well then tell me why the government wants to build a pipeline through our land? We cannot turn the other cheek any longer; we must act. We are just as American, no even more American than any of those white folks. And these white men want to dig in our land and destroy it for what... oil.” (son starts to speak but he cuts her off) “No son, the only way to get tar sands oil is by destroying our land... our earth. And for some reason our president is not understanding that and that my family is why we have to take a stand. I would walk and march for days if it meant that my ancestors land would not be destroyed. (louder and angry) And I refuse for any more of our ancestors land that they natured and lived on to be striped away from them.” “ Because family look to your left, look at that fresh water flowing in that creek. (points to left) That water would no longer be the pure water we swim in in the summer. It would be the tar sands water.  (sad but still has passion in his voice) And I can’t... I just cannot deal with that. After today, I will be going to Washington D.C. and I will be one of those thousands protesting and risking arrest.” (answers to wife) “Yes I know it is dangerous –– but I won’t be there alone. There are thousands of people that feel the same way I do. The same way we do, and the president has to listen to his people. Because the last time I checked this is America, which is apparently the home of the brave.  Our history as Indians is traditional and conservative; I will not fight the government, but I will stand for I believe in. And I hope family you will join me.”





Sasha Obama(Mali)



(Walks into lobby and starts to talk to her father’s secretary Anita Decker)



“Hey Ms. Anita.” “Oh what? No nothing nothings wrong. Just a long day thats all. I mean you know how school is.” (hoping to dodge the question) “You don’t know how school is? Well didn’t you go when you were a kid? I mean your experience probably wasn’t that much different from mine. I mean just because my dad is… well you know who he is... doesn’t mean my school experience is somehow magically and crazily different from yours.” “ But anyway thats not important. I had a great history class today. It was quite controversial actually. It was about those pipelines. . .You know, Keystone XL its called I think. Have you ever heard of it? ”  “Yeah I know he talks about them a lot; that’s why I was thinking of talking to him” “Well you know they can be quite detrimental to the environment, and climate change, did you know it is predicted to spill every seven years and ––” (talking faster and a little louder) “Well actually predictions do mean something. Predictions could show life or death. I mean all those people that stood in front of this house. Did you know there was 1253? That’s 1253 people that believe those predictions Anita, and thats a lot of people. Don’t you think?” “And I think those people are right and I think those people are brave!” “And Ms. Anita, didn’t you know that the pipeline would probably kill more jobs than make jobs?” “Where did I learn this? Well my history teacher and and the Internet. You know theres a lot of environmental websites out there and they are really great actually!” (quieter)“ Well yeah, I know its all up to my father. But – Yes Ms. Anita I know he has a lot of thinking to do. Yes Yes I know I’m young, but that doesn’t mean I can’t understand.” “Do you know when he will be finished with meeting?” “Soon... ok.. I’ll just tell him exactly what I just told you and he’ll understand right?” “I think he will.” (The presidents office door opens) “Oh hi Daddy.”



William Peterson(Mali & Zoe)


(Grandfather sits in living room in a large chair staring at a old picture of his grandson/talking to grandson)


“Yes Rob I realize how much this matters to you. I get that you’re into all this environmental stuff. Yes stuff I don’t know all the tree hugging activities you do. Yes it is Rob. I mean it’s true….Well I don’t know what else you want me to call you. Oh you want me to call you an environmentalist hunh? Well thats just too long and I mean what even is that anyway, Robby? Uh-huh ok. Yup sure. Just listen, I’m trying to sympathize with you but it’s pretty much impossible! You’re only thinking of yourself. It’s not that I don’t want to understand, it’s just that I can’t. The benefits of this pipeline would majorly outweigh the cons. Our economy would vastly improve but I guess you wouldn’t know that because you majored in environmental-whatever. The pipeline won’t leak and damage waterways Rob. This is a safe way to go about it. It is the RIGHT way to go about it. Our family has been involved with oil drilling companies for generations! Sorry if I find it a little hard to understand why you’ve suddenly changed. Oh come on now, it was suddenly! Last I remember you couldn’t stop talking about how much fun drilling oil will be. Yes you got a degree in environmentalism, but you also wasted tons and tons of money Rob! The job that has been in our family for years doesn’t make you lose money; you GAIN money. Do you even have a job? Being a leader of protests is not what I meant and you know it. What did I mean?!! Are you serious??!! I meant a PAYING job! One where you have a steady income to support your family! Or did you forget all about your wife and son? Emily cannot support your entire family, that’s just not right. Rob you wanna know what I’m looking at right now? Yup thats right, the picture when we visited the White House together when you were only five. What happened to that little boy Rob? Oh you grew up? Well thats not what I’m seeing lately. I miss the old Rob. I gotta go. I’ll talk to ya later bud… (hangs up phone and puts picture back on mantel. Rest his head in the palms of his hands)      



Joannah Luns from Zoe Schwingel-Sauer on Vimeo.

Pipeline Monologue Project: Tiarra Bell & Brandon Yam

Posted by Tiarra Bell in World History - Block - B on

​In the first unit of the 10th grade World History class, students learned about  global equality and the different ways humans interact with their environment. Some of our topics were education equality, different views of development within countries and about this major project the Keystone XL Pipeline. For the Keystone pipeline we examined both sides of the pipeline, the people who support it and the ones who are against it. To really gain full perspective of whats going on here, we were given a project where we had to construct monologues based off of people we created and how the Keystone pipeline will effect them. 

Keystone XL Pipeline Key facts (Need to Know on PBS): 

* The pipeline would carry oil from Canada’s “tar sands” down to U.S. refineries by the Gulf of Mexico.

*The pipeline starts for Alberta, Canada traveling 1,700 miles  through the United States to refineries in Texas, passing through Nebraska, Montana, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas.

* The pipeline will create 20,000 construction and manufacturing jobs and make about $585 million in new taxes. 

*The tar sands oil being drilled carries diluted bitumen, a highly corrosive, acidic, and a blend of thick raw bitumen and natural gas liquid condensate. 

* Drilling oil from tar sands threatens the environment, and depleting Alberta’s boreal forests and wetlands in the area. 

Click here to view my monologue and video. 

Keystone XL Pipeline Monologue/Day

Posted by Nashay Day in World History - Block - B on

​ Link to My Video here incase not emdeded. 

During this unit in World History we learned about American consumerism as well as the Keystone XL Pipeline, a pipeline that will stretch through U.S States to Canada. We went over the pros and cons of this and wrote monologues about someone/something who was effected/affected by the Pipeline in someone kind of way. Here are my monologues. 


Here are some quotes and facts that stuck out to me. 

"“It’s a given that the crime activity increases and hospitals are getting more use, and housing is so expensive. Sure, there are jobs, but you can’t find anywhere to live."” — Bill Whitehead 

Giant oil corporations invested in Canada's tar sands. 


Perspective #1


Who: Junior Executive for TransCanada who does not agree with pipeline extension.

What: To keep pipeline as same and to not extend it

Where: From the boardroom of TransCanada

Why: He believes it will hurt the environment and he is a bit of an environmentalist.


Perspective #2


Who: Chairman of TransCanada who is pro pipeline extension

What: To keep line extension in place.

Where: From his office

Why:  He believes it will be an efficient way of gaining oil independence and a great money maker. The chairman is broke, and is trying to continue to give his family the lifestyle that they have always had.


Perspective #3


Who: Protester who is contemplating their stance on the Keystone XL pipeline

What: Is unsure

Where: From rally outside of potential construction site.

Why: He does not know if hurting the environment will benefit it in the long run. He does not want to upset the other protesters so he tries to keep his opinion silent.







Good Guy, Gone Bad


( Opens as Terry sits in board meeting with other colleagues thinking in his head about the pipeline)

Who am I? What am I doing here? I was head of the Environmental Club at Princeton. What would the club think of me if they knew I was going to be apart of making a decision that could possibly contribute to the earth’s demise? I don’t get how someone who was about to become an environmentalist, and save the earth, is helping destroy it. I was suppose to help save it. Not kill it. What am I going to do… I (votes in Board meeting for pipeline) what did I just do? Maybe if I… no, I can’t do that I could get fired, and face it, i’m only doing this for the money, until I can do what I really want. Repair messes like this. I have to stand up and face my demons. But what am I going to do? Fine… I’m going to do it. (Stands up and begins to speak to board) I feel that we should stand up for what we know is right. We cannot just stand here and do nothing while we get the construction workers to kill our precious land and fertile soil. When I was at Princeton I learned a lot, but something that always stuck out to me was standing up for what I believed in. And this is what I believe in… Not building the pipeline. We can’t continue to do this! Well don’t just stand there do something! I know all of you can’t be that corrupt and money hungry! Life as we know it on this planet will be over if we do not stand up, and do something. (Board member makes rude remark) Well fine, FUCK YOU ALL! AND I QUIT! HOW ABOUT THAT?!?! (Leaves board room to go with protesters outside of building)









A Change of Heart


(Kim stands at head of table in board room is in the middle of presenting Pipeline Proposal before vote)


The pipeline will not only benefit our the company revenue, but it will also benefit the country. The U.S is very dependent on oil from foreign countries. This would boost the U.S’s level of independence extremely so, and would also give the U.S more resources to create more allies around the world. This would boost the productivity of TransCanada by approximately 14% in comparison to last year… (Terry, a Junior Executive stands up to executives and quits) (Kim drops pen) You know what! Damn it! He has a point! Why am I doing this, I don’t need this, my man got a job, and ain’t nobody got time for this shit. Like i’m so tired of wearing this suit and pretending like we are not savage! Have you ever thought of the negative effects of this pipeline!!! Like killing the earth! And you can just stand there and decide this, all for a 6 figure check?!?! Are you crazy?! How will you spend money when there won’t be any trees to make any paper. Like that is completely obtuse. And the thing about it is, I don’t even understand how someone could be so careless about the world that we live in. (Board members look in awe). WELL DON’T JUST STAND THERE! DO SOMETHING!!!! (Board members continue to give blank stairs) You know what! I quit! And good luck building the pipeline without my leadership. I’m going with Terry, and the rest of the ‘savages’ that want to save our country! (Kim takes off blazer, Work ID, and glasses and throws them on the ground and goes protest with Terry)








A Man Confused


(Jordan stands with picket sign raised screaming to get rid of pipeline with other protesters)


DON’T PLANT THE PIPELINE IN THE EARTH YOU BASTARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHOSE WORLD IS THIS?!?! *Crowd screams* Our world! (Jordan begins thinking in his head about the pipeline) I mean what if the pipeline actually did benefit us in a way… We’re out here not even trying to negotiate and just demanding things that have nothing to do with us and are really out of our control. (Comes back to reality and begins to talk on megaphone). We cannot continue to not look at the other side, we should not be blaming those people in the board room and instead we should be blaming ourselves as citizens for letting things get to this point. Instead of standing out here like savages. (Protesters simmer down until they get to a level of complete silence.) Umm… what do you guys think? (Terry comes down to be with protesters and is harassed a yelled at) *Protestor speaks* “What the hell do you want?”  (Terry gives reasoning behind him joining the angry protestors, then Jordan begins to speak to himself) In the midst of all the chaos, he came down to join us, this must be a sign, we must be fighting for a good cause! (Kim takes megaphone, and comes down to join Terry and other protesters) If two executives have join us, this is a change I want to be apart of. (Jordan begins to chant) WHOSE WORLD IS THIS?! *Crowd screams* Our world!!! (Monologue closes)






WRLDHIST-013

Term
2013-14

Other Websites

Launch Canvas

Blog Tags

See all See less

Teacher