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Dakota Access Pipeline Pros And Cons

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Within recent months, the proposed Dakota Access Pipeline has gained enough national attention to divide the country. Many Americans believe it would be a good investment that could bring a galore of oil, money, and jobs for the country, boosting the economy and having lasting positive effects on Americans. However, others argue that the pipeline would bring harm to the Native American culture and the environment. Nevertheless, the surrounding area of the 1,170 mile pipeline would be affected by this pipeline. The Dakota Access Pipeline puts habitats, animals, and hundreds of thousands of lives and the culture of these lives at risk of being tarnished. Four crucial habitats that would be at risk of pollution because of the Dakota Access Pipeline …show more content…

Fracking comes with a heavy expense on the environment and surrounding communities. Along with fracking in areas comes the increase in water prices and the constant risk of contaminated water (Rumpler). The communities in the area that fracking occurs also suffers a decrease in property value costs. These factors affect the wallets of the residents and farmers in the surrounding area. The health and well-being of surrounding residents are being put at risk because of fracking as well. Silica dust is released into the atmosphere when fracking occurs. This dust is extremely harmful to people that inhale it and is directly linked to the lung disease silicosis (Environment America Research and Policy Center). Air pollution is an immediate effect of fracking as well. This causes symptoms such as headaches, eye irritation, respiratory problems, and nausea to nearby residents (Environment America Research and Policy Center). A harmful effect that fracking has on both the environment and to people is it depletes the ozone layer and produces pollution that forms ozone smog and soot. These both are also directly linked to climate change, a phenomenon that has proven to cause lasting harmful effects to the environment (Rumpler). The surrounding residents have taken all of these factors into consideration while protesting, especially the Standing Rock Sioux. The Dakota Access …show more content…

Ever since the United States was founded, Native Americans have been oppressed. Relations between the Native American tribes and the United States government have always been tense and unhealthy. The United States government has a long list of offenses against the Native American rights, such as the Indian Removal Act, which forced Native Americans off their land and pushed them towards the west coast on a route that was dubbed as the “trail of tears” and resulted in the brutal deaths of hundreds of thousands of Native Americans. The Constitution of the United States affirms that Native Americans have rights by stating that the land that Native Americans are settled on may not be seized except in times of war (Frank). However, this is repeatedly violated by the United States, along with other treaties and laws that mean to protect Native American rights. The construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline through sacred Native American land and the water source of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s reservation only furthers the violation of Native American rights. Native Americans are fighting back and have assembled in protest. Brian Cladoosby, the President of the National Congress of American Indians, expressed the Native Americans frustrations by stating “For far too long, our land and resources were seen as disposable”

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