Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar
Turn Words Into Actions
RECEIVED Thu., Sept. 22, 2011
Mr. Editor,
The Chronicle Quote of the Week [Sept. 23] is, "If the tar sands are thrown into the mix, it is essentially game over," by James Hansen. Referring, of course, to the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline from Alberta, Canada, to Port Arthur, Texas. Since there has not been a recent story on it in your paper, readers in Austin might not know that they have an opportunity to turn words into actions by attending a public hearing on the subject and voicing their opposition. (It will be held in the Ladybird Auditorium at the LBJ School on the UT campus on Sept. 28, from noon to 8pm.) Secondarily, I'll add that one needs not believe in climate change to know that this pipeline is bad for Texas. Considering that the pipeline will pass through many of our state's freshwater sources including aquifer recharge zones and near lakes and rivers, and considering that as much as 1.7 million gallons could spill before pipe operators would know there was a leak. Do we in Texas want to run the risk of permanently contaminating our water supply when we've seen the results of trusting oil companies in the Gulf and Michigan oil disasters?
The Chronicle Quote of the Week [Sept. 23] is, "If the tar sands are thrown into the mix, it is essentially game over," by James Hansen. Referring, of course, to the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline from Alberta, Canada, to Port Arthur, Texas. Since there has not been a recent story on it in your paper, readers in Austin might not know that they have an opportunity to turn words into actions by attending a public hearing on the subject and voicing their opposition. (It will be held in the Ladybird Auditorium at the LBJ School on the UT campus on Sept. 28, from noon to 8pm.) Secondarily, I'll add that one needs not believe in climate change to know that this pipeline is bad for Texas. Considering that the pipeline will pass through many of our state's freshwater sources including aquifer recharge zones and near lakes and rivers, and considering that as much as 1.7 million gallons could spill before pipe operators would know there was a leak. Do we in Texas want to run the risk of permanently contaminating our water supply when we've seen the results of trusting oil companies in the Gulf and Michigan oil disasters?
Brian Jackson
