Transcripts For KCSM Democracy Now 20161205

Treaty, it makes me think, why did i do it i did to serve my country when the government did all of the things, the hurtful things they have done to my ancestors. Amy we will speak with dave archambault, chevy Standing Rock sioux tribe, tara houska of honor the earth, and with remy, navy member and member of the Navajo Nation. People have been protesting at banks, demanding they divest from the Dakota Access pipeline. Dapl to protest the institutions [indiscernible] amy all that and more, coming up. Welcome to democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. In north dakota, water protectors resisting the 3. 8 billion Dakota Access pipeline have scored an historic victory. On sunday, the u. S. Army corps of engineers denied Energy Transfer partners, the Company Behind the pipeline, a permit to drill underneath lake oahe on the Missouri River officially , halting construction. The pipeline is slated to carry crude oil from the bakken oilfields of north dakota, through south dakota, iowa, and into illinois, where its slated to link up with another pipeline to carry the oil down to refineries in the gulf. The project has faced months of resistance from the Standing Rock sioux in north dakota, members of more than 200 indigenous nations from across the americas, and thousands of their nonnative allies all concerned the pipelines construction will destroy sacred sioux sites, and that a Pipeline Leak could contaminate the Missouri River, which serves as a water supply for millions. Standing rock protester maurine archambault celebrated the news. We are slowly getting there, like winning this in, but there are going to be a few battles were going to have to go through whenever we are going to win this thing. Amy we will go to north dakota for more on the Standing Rock sioux after headlines. The Washington Post is reporting Donald Trumps protocolbreaking telephone conversation with taiwans leader on friday was an intentionally provocative move that has been planned weeks in advance. Taiwan president tsai ingwens call to trump on friday marked the first communication between leaders of the United States and taiwan since 1979. China lodged a diplomatic protest with the United States, saying the one china policy was the bedrock of relations with the United States. China considers taiwan to be part of its territory, not an independent nation. This is Chinese Foreign minister wang yi. Taiwans engagement is a petty action that cannot change the china structure, but international community. I believe it wont change the longstanding one china policy of the United States government. Amy trumps call with the president of taiwan has also raised new questions about his business dealings. There have been multiple reports that representatives of the Trump Organization have traveled to taiwan in recent months to explore possible deals including building Luxury Hotels near taiwans main airport. Donald trump has nominated former president ial candidate dr. Ben carson to serve as secretary of the department of housing and urban development. Carson has been vocal critic of huds fairhousing rule, which requires local communities to assess patterns of income and Racial Discrimination in housing. Dr. Carson has described the rule as a mandated socialengineering scheme. He said this is just an example of what happens when we allow the government to infiltrate every part of our lives. This is what you see in communist countries. Meanwhile trump is reportedly , broadening his search for a secretary of state. New candidates being considered include former utah governor jon huntsman, former u. S. Ambassador to the u. N. John bolton, retired admiral james stavridis, and democratic senator joe manchin of west virginia. Other finalists are said to include exxonmobil Ceo Rex Tillerson former massachusetts , governor mitt romney, former new york city mayor rudy giuliani, and senator bob corker of tennessee. Michigan has become the second state to conduct a recount of the president ial election. Early this morning a federal , judge ordered officials to being recounting ballots today at noon. The order was made following a request by green Party President ial candidate jill stein. Donald trump won michigan by under 10,000 votes out of 5. 5 million cast. A recount is already underway in wisconsin. Meanwhile, dr. Steins efforts to force a recount in pennsylvania were dealt a setback when a judge ordered petitioners to post a 1 million bond. Stein is holding a press conference outside trump tower today at 10 00 a. M. To discuss next steps on the recount. In oakland, california, at least 33 people have died after a fire ripped through a converted warehouse hosting an electronic music concert on friday. The death toll is expected to continue to rise. It is already the deadliest fire in the citys history. The fire broke out in what was known as the ghost ship, an artist collective that housed many Young Artists and musicians. Mourners have been gathering to remember those lost in the fire. They were amazing. You know . They were amazing. I am sorry for everyones loss. The people i didnt know. It is just i cant it is mind blowing. It is heartbreaking. Amy cuba has concluded nine days of mourning after the death of fidel castro. On his ashes were entombed near sunday, the remains of cubas independence hero jose marti in the cemetery in santiago de cuba. Cuban president raul castro , Fidel Castros brother, talk about his legacy. He demonstrated, yes, it was possible. It was possible to overcome the obstacle, any threat to her challenge to our undertaking of building a socialist cuba are likewise, guarantee independence of sovereignty of the fatherland. Amy attendees at Fidel Castros funeral included former brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da silva. I see your right now much sadness. I know it fidel represented here in santiago for the cuban nation, throughout the whole world, for those who struggle for social equality, for those who struggle for dignity. Amy that is the former brazilian president. In news from austria, a Green Party Politician has been elected president defeating the head of the antiimmigration freedom party. The freedom partys Norbert Hofer was attempting to become the first freely elected farright head of state in europe since world war ii. The party was founded by former not the party members. Green leader Alexander Van der bellen who won 53 of the vote celebrated his victory. I will try to be an nminded, liberal minded, federal president of the republic. Amy in other news from europe, italian Prime Minister matteo renzi has announced he will resign after his plan to reform the constitution was rejected by voters. This leaves italy in a state political turmoil. The rejection of the referendum was hailed as a victory by several antiestablishment and antiimmigrant groups in italy. In news from louisiana, the naacp and other groups have staged a series of protests after authorities released a man suspected of shooting and killing former nfl player joe mcknight in a possible case of road rage. The suspect, 54yearold ronald gasser, who is white, was released without being formally charged even though he admitted shooting mcknight, who is africanamerican, multiple times. Police said they are still investigating the incident. Jurors in South Carolina are scheduled to resume deliberations in the case of michael slager, the white Police Officer who was caught on video shooting 50yearold African American walter scott in the back as he ran away. Killing him. On friday, the jurors twice informed the judge that they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict. One man has said he will not vote to convict the Police Officer. Over the weekend, federal authorities in texas reportedly released nearly 500 women and children from the nations two largest family detention centers. Legal advocates say most families were released without travel plans, and volunteers worked with a local church to open shelter space early saturday morning. The move followed a ruling friday by a texas judge that bars the States Department of family and protective services from issuing child care licenses. Advocates say conditions at the facilities are equivalent to prisons. The judgment effectively invalidates the licenses now used to operate the faculties, which are owned by geo and corecivic, formerly known as Corrections Corporation of america. Human Rights Groups have called on the Obama Administration to end the practice of detaining families before the end of his administration. An american priest assassinated in guatemala in 1981 has moved a step closer to sainthood. On friday, the vatican declared reverend Stanley Rother to be a martyr. Rother was killed by a rightwing death squad in his church rectory. He died on the same day u. S. Backed guatemalan troops killed 13 people and wounded 24 others in the same town where he was shot. Stanley rother is the First American to ever be declared a martyr by the catholic church. In washington, d. C. , an armed North Carolina man was arrested sunday after walking into the popular pizza restaurant comet ping pong and then firing at least one shot. For weeks rightwing websites have been spreading conspiracy theories about the restaurant claiming Hillary Clinton and other prominent democrats were running a child sex ring from the restaurants backrooms. The fake news story became known as pizza gate. The North Carolina man, Edgar Maddison welch, told police he traveled to d. C. To selfinvestigate the story. He has been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon. In other news, president elect donald trump took to twitter early on sunday to slam the latest episode of saturday night live. He wrote just tried watching saturday night live. Totally biased and not funny. And the out baldwin impersonation just cant get any worse. Sad. Trump wrote the message shortly after baldwin poked fun of Donald Trumps use of twitter. I just reach we did the best tweet. Well, what a great, smart tweet. Mr. Trump, were in a security briefing. I know, but this could not wait. The young man named seth command seth amy on alec baldwin responded sunday, to trump on twitter. Baldwin wrote on twitter realdonaldtrump. Release your tax returns and ill stop. Ha. And some residents of the chevy chase neighborhood in washington, d. C. , are welcoming their newest neighbor, Vice President elect mike pence, by hanging rainbowcolored flags from their homes. Pence is living in the neighborhood until inauguration day. This is alison fenn one of pences neighbors. Given the governors stance on gay rights issues, it seemed like a really crucial message to make that Everyone Needs to be supported in a rather than feel threatened. I think we have a fun little disagreement with his stand on this and just want to not only bring it to his attention, but to make others feel supported and might otherwise feel threatened. Amy and those are some of the headlines. This is democracy now democracynow. Org, the war and , peace report. Im amy goodman. In north dakota, water protectors resisting the 3. 8 billion Dakota Access pipeline have one in historic victory. On sunday, the u. S. Army corps of engineers denied Energy Transfer partners, the Company Behind the pipeline, a permit to drill underneath lake oahe on the Missouri River officially halting construction. The piline is slated to carry crude oil from the bakken oilfields of north dakota, through south dakota, iowa and into illinois, where its slated to link up to another pipeline to carry the oil down to refineries in the gulf. The project has faced months of resistance from the Standing Rock sioux in north dakota, members of more than 200 indigenous nations from across the americas, and thousands of their nonnative allies all concerned the pipelines construction will destroy sacred sioux sites, and that a Pipeline Leak could contaminate the Missouri River, which serves as a water supply for millions. The growing Resistance Movement is the largest gathering of native americans in decades. In a Statement Issued sunday, Joellen Darcy, the armys assistant secretary for civil works, said although we have had continuing discussion and exchanges of new information with the Standing Rock sioux and Dakota Access, its clear that theres more work to do. The best way to complete that work responsibly and expeditiously is to explore alternate routes for the pipeline. Darcy also indicated the government will undertake an Environmental Impact statement for this section of the pipeline a lengthy process that takes , months, if not years. The armys announcement sunday came as thousands of native and nonnative military veterans gathered at Standing Rock, ready to form a human shield around the water protectors, who have faced an increasingly Violent Police crackdown that has cost the state of north dakota more than 10 million. In response to the armys announcement, Energy Transfer logistics,d sunoco which is slated to operate the pipeline if it is built, issued a joint statement accusing the white house of taking a purely Political Action and saying the companies are fully committed to ensuring that this vital project is brought to completion and fully expect to complete construction of the pipeline without any additional rerouting in and around lake oahe. Well, for more, we go directly to Standing Rock were we are joined by Standing Rock sioux chairman dave archambault. Chairman, welcome back to democracy now first, respond to the latest news, the action of the u. S. Army corps of engineers. I think it is something that is his stork, like you had said, and it is something it takes a lot of courage for decisionmakers to come up and make the right decision, to make the right choice in this matter. We have been talking about this with the corps of engineers for almost two years now. We have been letting them know that we have problems with this pipeline because it not only threatens our water, it threatens our heritage and culture and our environment. We as a people have a right to stand up for this. We expect those feelings from the very beginning. We expect those with the company. We expect those feelings with the senators of the state, the congressman of the state everybody knew that Standing Rock was opposed to this pipeline because of the threat that has on our people. We had a lot of support. When this decision came down by the corps of engineers, finally, for the first time in history, over centuries, somebody is listening to us. In order to listen to us, they have to make the right decision. It takes a lot of courage to do that when youre up against an oil company who tries to dictate to the federal government what has to be done and when it has to be done and where it has to be done. Amy were you surprised . Yes, i was very surprised. Something like this has never rolled in our favor ever. I am just thankful for all of the people who gave support, all of the people who contributed in one way or another. And believed in this and state with a peaceful protests all along. I think that was what helped us over the edge. We maintained our position as we were peaceful and prayerful, and we tried to do the best that we can to build awareness for everyone. I want to thank you, amy, for all of the work you have done as well. To build awareness. Amy chairman, the army corps of engineers has denied the permit to build the pipeline under the missouri, which it needs, but Energy Transfer partners says now it does not need this and they are moving full steam ahead. Theyre going to continue building. Is this possible . No, it is not possible. If they continue to press the government, theyre going to shut the whole program down. They will shut the whole progress or graham down and there will be no pipeline. That is not possible. The Company Knows they need easement in order to move forward. This is just another example of the corporate world forcing its hand on a people and on the government. This has to stop. They have to realize the laws are there and if they can start to break laws, they force their hand on everybody, they threaten but their investors at risk and nothing will happen. Amy the armys assistant secretary for civil works Joellen Darcy said in a statement, the best way to complete that work responsibly and expeditiously is to explore alternate routes for the pipelines crossing. What would that mean, chairman . I would say get it off of our treaty lands. We know within our treaty boundaries, though sites are sacred. What places are sacred to us. If they just rerouted i had a discussion with kelcy warren and he felt dust if we have the discussion early on, this would not be the final route. But because they will with the desperate the investors money at risk by building without a permit, he has nowhere else to go so he is going to try to force this project through at this site. Sometime were going to have to put people before money. Amy do you now expect the government to undertake a full Environmental Impact statement and what would that mean . The difference between an Environmental Impact statement and an environmental assessment, the assessment only looks at the least impactful route for the environment. With the eis, you take into consideration people. What we have here is a people the first people that occupied this nations land. We were always here before anyone else. That is something special. That is meaningful. And because we were here, we have every right to oppose this pipeline because we feel this pipeline was threatened would threaten not only our water, better heritage, our culture, our environment. We have to say, dont do that to us anymore. You did that to us for 200 years for the interest of energy independence, national security. We pay for that. We continue to pay for that. Today we are asking you to stop, dont do that anymore. Someone is finally listening. Amy last week, donald trump expressed his support for the completion of the Dakota Access pipeline. And it medications prevent, trumps Transition Team said his support for the pipeline has nothing to do with his personal investments. Between 500he have thousand dollars and 1 million invested in Energy Transfer partners, although the trump spokesperson recently claimed trump has sold off his shares in the company. What about this . And what does this transition of power mean for the pipeline . Could this just be reversed when donald trump becomes president . I see it as an opportunity for Indigenous Peoples, for tribes to start a relationship with president elect and help them understand what is important to the first occupants of this nation and what we have paid for. His wealth is built off of our backs. And he does not realize it. Yep to help them understand it. We have to help them understand it. And this decision made by the corps of engineers is the right decision. You have to come at one time, but money aside and say, what is it that the people want . What is it that we can do to make lives better for this country . Lets look at the years to come, the 50 years ahead and find out what we can do to make sure that there still is life here. We have a huge opportunity in front of us to help president elect understand our issues. I look forward to a conversation just like i had with kelsey worn. I have nothing personal against the president , nothing against kelcy warren, nothing personal against the senators and the congressman of this state of north dakota or the government. They have to realize that we are here and we have always been here and were not going anywhere. There are some things that are precious and important to us and everybody has to understand that and we are not opposed to pipeline construction. We are not opposed to economic development, energy independence. Just dont continue to do it and expect us to pay for it. So when this pipeline breaks, who is going to pay for it . We will be the first one to pay for it. We have been patient hang for this nations wealth, safety, and security from day one. Amy chairman archibald, what happens now at the resistance camps . They have swelled to thousands. You have the Dakota Access pipeline saying theyre moving ahead. What is next . The pipeline is not going to move ahead. Enjoympers that are there the winter with their families at home. The winters are going to get harsh. It is time. They had a purpose and that purpose was served, that was to help us build awareness and show the support and stand with us. Today, it is a beautiful day. Good day. Is a they have to realize that. We are no longer needing the purpose of they set out to do. It is ok. The company will not build beyond the easement that isnt given to them. They can go home. Amy chairman archibald, you are among the hundreds of people who have been arrested since the resistance grew. What happens now with the sheriff, with the Police Actions that have become increasingly violent from the Water Cannons to the sound cannons to military equipment 10 million, we understand, has been spent at least on Police Activities . What we have to do is we have to try to rebuild relationships that were harmed. You have to understand, i live here in this community. When this all disperses, the water protectors leave, the energy partners, the pipelines thee, and were left with residual effects. So it is important for us to try to continue to establish relationships with the state and with the surrounding communities. County and the sheriffs departmen now, ioie there an opportfor the sheriff tter handle the situation. There was a better opportunity for the governor of the state to better handle this situation. Harmed path they chose relationships, so we have to try to reestablish and rebuild those relationships. Amy chairman archibald, i want to thank you very much for joining us from the Standing Rock sioux reservation. We thank you for this update. Of course, we will continue to follow what takes place. What do you say to those who say they are not moving, they dont have faith that the pipeline wont go forward . Theyre staying at the camps . They have to continue to pray. They have to start taking the lessons that were given at this camp. What did we learn at this camp . Is what is and peace going to help us be successful. It is not the violent acts that build awareness. This the moral high ground that Everybody Needs to take. If they want tuesday, it is going to be at their own risk. Theres really no need for them to stay. They can go home and enjoy this winter, enjoy the holidays if they celebrate them, with their families. I am sure their families are yearning for them. It is ok now. I understand their mistrust of the government and for this company because from the we askedothing the copy to voluntarily to stop, but they would not stop. I understand how they feel, but it is ok. The company did not get the easement, so that is going to be a process. A long, drawn out process. Even if the company tries to reverse this and even of the president tries to reverse it, it is not going to happen this winter, so it is ok for them to go home. Amy i want to thank you again, chairman dave archambault, chairman Standing Rock sioux tribe speaking to us from Standing Rock in north dakota. When we come back, we will speak with one of the many veterans who have come to protect the water protectors. He comes from arizona, navajo, his grandmother a navajo his grandfather a navajo code talker. Stay with us. [music break] amy this is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. On sunday, the u. S. Army corps of engineers tonight Energy Transfer partners, the comedy behind the Dakota Access pipeline from a permit to drill underneath the Missouri River officially halting construction. The announcement came as thousands of native and nonnative military veterans dissented on Standing Rock, bound to form a human shield around the protectors who have faced an increasingly Violent Police crackdown that is injured hundreds of people and caused cost the state of north dakota more than this is navy veteran 10 million. Rob mchaney. I am here because i saw in television what was taking place and i saw it on bbc, nonamerican news, because they were not showing it. There are doing things to people there that we dont even do in town that. I cannot stand by by taking a nose for this country and see what is happening here and not stand up for it. Amy u. S. Army corps of engineers had originally said it would close access to the main resistance camps today, december fifth, setting up a possibility of a major showdown between the department of the army and other branches of the was armed forces. But instead on sunday, the army announced it was denying the pipeline permit. This is native American Veteran aidan bearcat reacting to the news. This lifted my heart. We came down here from Washington State to support. Hese very water protectors we came in yesterday expecting the worst, but this is the best news i have heard forever. The best news for native people, native country, the whole United States all of the people. Water is so precious. Amy for more we are joined by , remy, a navy veteran and member of the Navajo Nation who has been at Standing Rock for the past five and half months. He is a Movement Artist and member of the indigenous Veterans Council at Standing Rock. Welcome to democracy now your response to the army corps of engineers announcing they will not grant a permit for Energy Transfer partners to build the Dakota Access pipeline under the missouri . I am kind of skeptical about the ruling. I think everyone at camp is cautious as well. Were just moving forward with. Ontinuing to really winterize until the project has ended, we will continue to move forward in the same fashion we have been all along. Amy so you are a veteran with the army it was the army that made this decision to deny the permit. Your thoughts about that . I think is great that we have some sort of solidarity with the other armed forces that were here. And the ones that are doing things in washington and other places. It is great that we have this generationement where we are able to reach across all of the armed forces. Amy how did sandra veterans extended for Standing Rock come together . How money would you estimate have dissented on the resistance camps . Eventually was this project was put together by Phyllis Young and wesley clark. Phyllis have put out a call to wesley and he answered. And with him came over 2000 veterans to Standing Rock. Amy not to begin fused with the general who ran for president . Wesley clark, jr. Camplmost 10,000 people at in support of our movement to stop this pipeline. This is maybe a little offtopic, but in you tell us about your grandfather, what it meant to be a navajo code talker . To clarify that, that was my grandmothers brother. In our culture, i call him he was a navajo code talker. Winnininstrumental in the world war ii, the code that was never brokeng. Coming here and seeing other members of the armed forces that have gone through other battles and persevered is something that i take with me and ive always had with me. He was a holy person. His prayers are songs and traditions remain with me and have kept me here and protected me while i have been here in Standing Rock. Amy how long have you been there . I have been here over 5. 5 months solid, but originally, one of the original people who answered the call from Standing Rock, from another tribe, he actually invited us out over seven months ago. Amy i want to go back to something you said when you talked about the two people who founded this veterans stand for Standing Rock, and you talked about wesley clark and you said it is wesley clark, jr. So he is the son of the retired u. S. Army general wesley clark who ran for president , who organized the veterans to come to Standing Rock . That is correct. He came out, reached out a couple of weeks ago. He wanted some on the ground organizing that was happening, so he reached out to me. He wanted somebody who is trusted and also a veteran. Having been here so long, we made a connection. Through phyllis, we of been able really bring together this this number of people. Were looking at probably around 3000 veterans that have answered the call. Amy it is fascinating that it is wesley clark, jr. , is formally sr. The Supreme Commander of natos military forces. Remy, the plans right now, are biggests at one of the ones they have been with the thousands of people there . Today was really ground zero, but now all of that changes with the denial of the permit. So are you planning to go back home . In arizona, what are the struggles you face there around black mesa . Until the project has ended, were not planning to go anywhere. This is similar to some of the struggles we encounter in arizona. On our reservation, were surrounded by six qualifier coal fire plants. It is not by accident, it is by design. We have Natural Resources and indigenous coulters. The corporations that profit from it. It is because of our coal on our reservation that we made progress possible. We provide electricity and not only arizona, but nevada and southernof california as well. We make progress possible, yet we dont get to participate in it. Some of our elders dont have Running Water or have electricity in some areas of our reservation. That is something that brought me here to Standing Rock because it is a different location, but it is the same fight. Ultimately, when you look at this, it is all indigenous land. I see this as a natural transition to come here and offer what i could in service of the Standing Rock sioux tribe. Is one of gabbard those veterans who came out, the Hawaii Congress member . Yes, she did. She answered the call as well. You have congresspeople who are really in solidarity with us as well. It was great to have her come on board and get involved. She was well received. She does a lot of great work herself. We welcome her with open arms. We support her and her bringing the message not only to hawaii, but the rest of the world and her followers. Amy finally, remy, how has this changed you, the standoff at Standing Rock, which you have been a part of for many months now, going through the summer to the snowcovered camps . It has changed me quite a bit because i see how the indigenous veterans have come here in support. Jr. s to wesley clark, call, we have had many who have stood up to bullies, held off police. Using this knowledge that they had got from the state. These are techniques that we have been given. We have been able to really use that against the state itself that is oppressing us. Were also using that to support and further e message that this pipeline must end, and we should be able to respect indigenous bodies. And, really, you have seen a , the pride that comes with serving our country. Again, this is our land originally. We offer our service, it is really an extension of what we have always been in harmony with , with the land. We do whatever it takes to protect it because it protects us. It gives us life. Water is a part of that. And these elements, they are all lifegiving elements. We respect it and protect it. We have been out here in solidarity, not only with the Standing Rock people, but in solidarity with mother of itself. Amy remy, thank you for being with Us Navy Veteran and member , of the Navajo Nation. He is a Movement Artist and organizer who helped organize veterans stand for Standing Rock. Thousands came to north dakota this weekend. This is democracy now stay with us. [music break] amy one of the bands members was among the more than 33 victims of the tragic warehouse fire in oakland, california. She was 22 years old. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. On sunday, celebrations erupted at Standing Rock after the u. S. Army corps of engineers dakotaed a denied the access Pipeline Company a permit to build the final segment of the 3. 8 billion project that would study a possible reroute of the pipeline. This is Cannupa Hanska luger. I think this sort of opportunity here, the thing that is happening here is that we recognize that we have agency. We have given a lot of our power to other entities saying, please, help us, please, save us. When we come together as living things come as people, suddenly, we recognize we have power. That is what this country was posted be built about. That is what we were supposed to be promised from the corps. , we areis president human beings. We are the people. We are the living things here, you know . Hopefully, that will move forward and can be shared. If you look down the road, there lights as far as the eye can see. People of coming to recognize we have agency, we have power. When we come together, we realize it is easier to share [indiscernible] is easier to share than it is to take away, you know . I just got a kiss from that guy. This is easy. I just stood here. Amy the what alternate routes would be considered . What will the process of an environmental state look like . Can this decision be reversed once Donald Trump Takes Office . What is next for the Resistance Movement . To answer some of these questions, were joined by tara houska, National Campaigns director for honor the earth. She is ojibwe from couchiching first nation. She joined us on our show both times we were in north dakota. Welcome back to democracy now where were you when the news came down yesterday and what is your response . I was actually i got a that the some of call from the white house had taken place. I really got into my vehicle and went out to camp. I happen to be in service. I was driving down highway six bank highway 6 instead of 1806, which is blockaded. Grassroots organizing reaching the highest levels of government. Specific to this project, were seeing the decision not to grant an easement under lake oahe and n into an of our military statement. Amy the chairman says there is no way that can build right now, that they will move forward. Is not surprising to hear Energy Transfer partners say those things sing as they openly said the attorney state of the permit was of her malady and the judge said is clearly not of her malady now, is it . That kind of have this very arrogant attitude of what they believed to be [indiscernible] Energy Transfer partners is planning to proceed without a permit would be a flagrant violation of the law. I would want to know, what is the administrations response to protecting the land, protecting the Public Interest . That is what the Environmental Impact statement is about. If federal marshals are going to be sent out. Amy what about this rerouting idea . The rerouting of the pipeline and the Environmental Impact statement process . One part of the process willd with an eis consider alternate routes, no build option, all of these Different Things that should have been done in the first 1200 for now is 1200 mile pipeline. Im hopeful that this impact statement is done and done effectively and done allencompassing, which is what theyre supposed to do them and itping it sounds like will be on the one little tease instead of a cumulus impact statement. That is unfortunate the continue to use i hope it opens to more litigation to taking that part of the process. Amy what happens with Donald Trump Administration when he becomes president , who has said he supports the pipeline . Can you just reversal of this . Yes. Does thisreality of victory is a momentous occasion of feeling the power of the people, but at the same time, we are very aware that the next president coming in is in support of the Dakota Access and will probably just cancel whatever Environmental Impact statement is in progress and attempt to push this pipeline through. It is really incumbent upon us to remain vigilant to recognize the power that is within us of organizing and coming together. This wasnt just Indigenous People, this is people from all nations that came together in support of the water and support of future generations because this is an issue that affects us all. Amy does the Energy Transfer partners lose something by not building by january 1 . They do. They said so far we have cost them 100 million, that the demonstrations against their project has cost them dearly. It is reality that this will eventually become if they cant reach the generate first held that lines are forced to push this project back, i hope many of their funding partners, which we have looked at and we know theres a full list of them and people of ghana done direct action, nonviolent direct action at those places, dont support a project that negatively impacts so many people. It is indigenous lands. This is sacred sites being destroyed. No investor should want to be part of a project like that. Look to renewable energy. Amy finally, what are you saying about the resistance camps . There are thousands of people who are there. The chairman of the Standing Rock sioux tribe, dave archambault, says now you can go home and enjoy your winters at home because this pipeline at this point cannot move forward. Do you feel the same way . Think know, i feel like i the response of the administration from president obama was under pressure. They put out this army corps letter saying they were treating Indigenous People as trespassers. They said theyre going to subject us to local law enforcement. More people came. The veterans all showed up. Thousands and thousands of people to effectuate this change. So knowing the Trump Administration is coming in, despite it is not over, i think people might need a break. Some folks probably need to go home and regroup after such violations have happened post up really, violent altercations on behalf of the police. I think we need to remain vigilant at the same time and know this could happen in just a few short months. Amy tara houska, thank you for being with us National Campaigns , director for honor the earth. She is ojibwe from couchiching first nation. She has been living in north dakota for many months. Youre not at the resistance camp, youre at honor the earth support house. Are there is there anyone else in jail now who was arrested for protesting the Dakota Access pipeline, the jailed being in man dan, where you are . Theres a woman who remains in incarceration. She was originally charged with attempted murder and now they have dropped that and are charging her with a felony discharging a weapon. Amy tara houska is also an indigenous lawyer. Protesters across the world have been demanding banks divest from the 3. 8 billion Dakota Access pipeline. We nodapl our coalition, were here today december 3 at the Wells Fargo Branch in bellingham, washington, to protest the institutions investment in the sun cola just ask Energy Transfers and energy iner equity, reviews her decision to support the destructive fossil fuel economy in general, and the Dakota Access pipeline in particular. Amy this comes as an report exposes the ruby finances county Dakota Access pipeline, as they say, published by the analysis in the Sightline Institute that has the weakness of the project. Missing the generate first deadline opens up the possibility be Pipeline Company may lose its contracts with Oil Companies. For more we go now to seattle, washington, where were joined by clark williamsderry, director of Energy Finance at the Sightline Institute. He is the coauthor of the new report, the rickety finances behind the Dakota Access pipeline. And were joined by michael vendiola, a member of the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community and the bellingham nodapl coalition. He helped organize a Standing Rock solidarity action on saturday calling on wells fargo and other banks to divest from the Dakota Access pipeline. We welcome you both to democracy now lets begin with clark. Summarize your findings. Whitey talk about the rickety financing of the Dakota Access pipeline . That is a good question. One of the fundamental findings of our report was that the oil market has changed dramatically since the pipeline was first proposed in early 2014. Back then, oil prices were at 100 a barrel or more in Oil Production in north dakota was rising. They kept rising and rising. Said oile forecast prices would remain high and will production in north dakota would remain robust. It almost as soon as the companies signed up its first set of shippers, for his commitment from oil companys to ship to the pipeline, you started to see the oil market collapse. He saw prices fall from 100 a barrel to 50 a barrel and is that happened, Oil Companies in north dakota started to pull back. They were not drilling as more as much. They started losing money in the bakken region. You saw a decline in reduction. You are raising a 20 drop in the oilen region since prices started to collapse. It is still declining by percent or two every month. If those declines continue, it is not clear the pipelines capacity will be there been a bunch of pipelines built and improved with a lot of the Refining Capacity in the region. There is capacity in the region. The dakotaapacity of access pipeline just may not be necessary. Amy and that poses a real risk to the company. Amy gender reversed deadline. What happens of oil shippers, negotiate contracts . Lawyers for the Dakota Access pipeline has said that theyre committed shippers have the right to terminate the contracts if the company does not meet its generally first deadline. We dont know. We heard a few things suggesting it is just an informal deadline but it argued clearly to the courts that this is an actual contractual deadline. If some of the shippers were to pull out of the Dakota Access pipeline at that point, you can see it would start to create a financial disaster for the company. Depends on really those contracts. You can imagine some of the oil shippers might be thinking, well, production down with prices down, maybe this would be a great time to pull back from our commitments for the pipeline. Investors in those companies should be encouraging the oil shippers to pull back and take a second look and think about whether it makes sense to the long run in a region where Oil Production is falling, you dont want to make a seven to 10 year the member to keep shipping oil to keep shipping oil through the pipeline. You will just wind up wasting money. Come onhael vendiola sunday the decision came down by the Obama Administration, the army corps of engineers, to deny the easement under the missouri. Your response to that and what your plans are now from the United States to canada . Sure. We are excited that the Obama Administration has made this decision, but were also wary of policy that is put forward. We are in alignment with the Standing Rock sioux and the sacred stone camp, and were going to be following their lead and seeing as this progresses, you know, we signed treaties with the federal government. We know that those treaties can be betrayed. This is just another socalled agreement that is put forth which could be turned over as soon as another president comes in. Our strategy right now is to follow the lead of water is life. That is what we are organizing under, the banner put forth by the Standing Rock sioux and the sacred stone camp. To be cliche, we are trying to hit them in the pocketbook. Amy which are the banks your targeting, michael . Our action this past saturday was against wells fargo. Were looking at chase bank, u. S. Bank, bank of america. We have a list of 17 banks that are investors within Energy Transfer partnerships and putting the Dakota Access pipeline together. Amy the canadian Prime Minister has Just Announced that the government has cleared the way for kindermorgans transmountain expansion project, a pipeline. Your response and how you are linking it to the Dakota Access pipeline . That looks to be the west coast version of dapl. Travesty. Ke it is a really, we were working on providing testimony, we and our tribes, of Washington State, were invited to give testimony on the kindermorgan project. We feel a bit betrayed by this decision by the Prime Minister to go forward with this after we had given a consolidated testimony. Amy clearly another issue we have to cover but we have to wrap up now. Michael vendiola, thanks for joining us. Clark williamsderry, we will link to your report the rickety finances behind the Dakota Access pipeline. Two that were celebrating our anniversary tonight were celebrating our anniversary. Tune in at 7 00. Democracy now is looking for feedback from people who appreciate the closed captioning. 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