DoTheMath | 350.org | Bill McKibben | Global Climate Crisis | Washington D.C. |

On November the 18th, 2012 Bill McKibben who started 350.org, brought his United States DoTheMath tour to an end in Washington D.C. The tour included a presentation, prior to a demonstration circling the White House at its conclusion. McKibben spoke of the recklessness of the oil industry and the ecocide brought on through their “extreme energy” techniques.

I calendared the arrival of the tour to the East coast months ago, then signed up for the final day of the event in Washington D.C. McKibben talked to a capacity crowd at the Warner Theater in Washington prior to the March. The audience consisted of every age group; from people with babies in tow, to college students to retirees. He featured projections of his travels around the globe visiting the people of countries who are at higher risk due to global warming, for example low lying areas in India and Asia; pointing out that those most affected by climate change are the ones who have contributed to the phenomena the least.

He implicates the fossil fuel industry as the major culprits. They ravage the environment the most, specifically with the following extreme methods.

Deep Water Oil Drilling, which this link to an article in the New York Times indicates, “After a yearlong drilling moratorium, BP and other oil companies are intensifying their exploration and production in the gulf…and expanding into Cuban and Mexican waters…beyond most American controls.”

Fracking – Hydraulic fracturing which rapes, I mean reaps from the earth to extract natural gas. As this article in IVN Independent Voter Network describes, “The Price of Fracking: Earthquakes & Groundwater Contamination”. In addition, as this article in the Nation reveals, Fracking involves excessive contamination that causes farmers to become ill as well as livestock. “Exposed animals “are making their way into the food system, and it’s very worrisome to us,” Bamberger says. “They live in areas that have tested positive for air, water and soil contamination. Some of these chemicals could appear in milk and meat products made from these animals…No one doubts that fracking fluids have the potential to do serious harm. Theo Colborn, an environmental health analyst and former director of the World Wildlife Fund’s wildlife and contaminants program, identified 632 chemicals used in 
natural-gas production.”

The rally in Washington D.C. specifically focused on the destruction that will result if the Keystone XL Tar Sands continues and morphs into a continental pipeline construction to feed the energy needs of the U.S.

The picture above is from a National Geographic article “Canadian Oil Sands” describing this boom and its worth. Its worth to the oil industry is at a cost that will result in enormous irreparable environmental destruction.

Bill McKibben’s DoTheMath presentation consisted of a slideshow of places around the globe affected by global warming and a number of talks by various people. Among them was a representative of the indigenous Indian tribe in Canada whose sacred homeland and culture are being destroyed by their proximity to the tar sands pits. Reverend Lennox Yearwood Jr., president of the Hip Hop Caucus spoke of disinvesting in the fossil fuel industry. A video recorded message featured Desmond Tutu, the South African social rights activist, who was one of the first people to join 350.org at its inception. He, as well as a video message by the founder of GreenPeace, Kumi Naidoo, spoke of the fact that this is not merely an environmental issue, but a moral one. His blog features this photograph to the left. And to remind you of all of the different unique creatures that share this planet, take a look at Joel Sartore’s photographs.http://www.joelsartore.com/galleries/the-photo-ark/ Irreversible damage to the planet and the extinction of its species is not only a crime against humanity and future generations, but utmost criminal negligence against all of life and creation. It is insanity.

Disinvestment in companies involved in “extreme energy” was the critical topic; fracking, tar sands, mountain top removal & deep water drilling. Each spoke of the need to “disinvest” in the Fossil Fuel Oil giants, just as the Western businesses had disinvested in the South African government, which was THE primary vehicle that finally ended apartheid.

Disinvestment means to encourage your bank, university, school, church – virtually any establishment – to stop investing in anything that has to do with the fossil fuel industry. Ironically, the industry gave lots of money to presidential candidates, and will seduce anyone who wants to be their spokesperson. “Fossil Fuel Industry Ads Dominate TV Campaign“. When these giants are no longer getting blanketed with funds, they can not continue to do what they are doing.

Ironically, on my trip I pulled out a Christian Science Monitor magazine that I’d brought with me in case I had the time to read, one of the first articles I came upon was talking about oil harvest and ecocide.

The world’s 10 largest oilfield technology companies are listed here.

The top fifteen United States based oil and gas companies ranked by assets are listed below.

After we prepared with some chants, we went out to march from Liberty Square, circling to cross before the White House and back.
chants like
• We are unstoppable another world is possible
• hey Michelle tell your man stop the keystone pipeline plan

I had hitch-hiked from PA to DC, and learned a lot from the driver’s with whom I traveled, about numerous topics. Several were aware of 350.org, which made me happy.

From my former article on this blog https://digesthis.wordpress.com/2012/04/12/gross_domestic_problem_-why-measurement-of-wealth-depends-on-a-healthy-environment/