Marijuana Laws Must be Implemented in DC--Decriminalization and Legalization (also National News)

The Washington, DC Council has been considering a law to decriminalize possession of 1 ounce or less of pot, with a $25 civil fine.  Today, (March 4) the DC Council voted 10 to 1 for a decriminalization bill.  Both the Washington Post and the Washington Times carry detailed stories.  Ward 7 Council member Yvette Alexander voted no saying she though it could compromise the city's medical marijuana program and creates disparities in punishment for use in public housing versus private homes.  Mayoral candidate Vincent Orange, Council At Large, abstained when his amendment to the bill preventing employers from testing for marijuana during the hiring process failed.  Mayor Gray has said he will approve the measure.  Let's hope he gets that done before the other shoe gets dropped on the "Shadow" Campaign investigation.  [ The Mayor has signed the bill as of the last week of March 2014.]

[4/11/18]  John Boehner, former Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives has just announced joining the advisory board of Acreage Holdings, a company that cultivates, processes and dispenses cannabis in 11 US states.  Nine years ago he was "unalterably opposed" to legalization, so this could be a "watershed event.  His perspective shifted after he saw how MJ helped a friend with severe back pain.  Use to treat veterans with PTSD interests him and he is concerned with the opoid epidemic  He also sees packing our prisons with low level, non violent pot users as a big waste.

[7/13/16]  This link explores some of the first research showing that medical marijuana leads to a reduction in doctors prescribing medication for pain, anxiety, and other conditions.  This research involved elderly Medicare patients.  More research is planned for Medicaid recipients.  They anticipate that since the elderly are most resistant to MJ use, results are needed for a wider population.

Over 600 people commented at the above article.  One comment explains who banned pot in the 1930s.  "Harry Anslinger, the father of the war on weed, fully embraced racism as a tool to demonize MJ.  As the first commissioner of the Fed. Bur. of Narcotics, a predecessor to the DEA, Anslinger institutionalized his belief that pot's 'effect on the degenerate races' made its prohibition a top priority."  Some of his quotes:  "There are 100,000 total MJ smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and entertainers.  Their Satanic music, jazz and swing result from MJ use.  This MJ causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers and any others."  "Reefer makes darkies think they're as good as white men."  These quotes would be a hoot if they weren't so ugly and dangerous.  This article points out that the pot war began as Mexicans entered the US escaping from the Mexican Revolution around 1910.  Details show various economic interests who promoted prohibition of MJ.

[11/9/16]  Here is some post election information on the vote results in various states and another site  with a map.   After the election there are now only six states with no form of legal marijuana.  A number of states have "limited medical marijuana."  Also some thoughts on the effects on Mexican drug cartels of the vote.  

[11/8/16]  There have been no significant changes in the legal situation in DC.  However, there is a lot happening in other states and communities regarding marijuana and hemp, with a number of measures up for vote today.  Here is a list of states, ballot measures, and candidates of special interest to green voters.  The next day, this updating site reports 3 states approved Recreational MJ, 1 state disapproved, and 1 is too close to call.  Four other states approved Medical MJ.  There is also an interactive map showing the situation in each state.  More details on all these various measures can be found at this site as well. 
    One other thing that has happened in recent days is the issue of marijuana being classified as a Schedule 1 Drug, even though it is far less dangerous or addictive than heroin, cocaine and others.  With the surge in deaths from Fentanyl and other opioids in a number of states, people are urging that marijuana be down classified as there are very few MJ related deaths.  There are many articles comparing medical use of marijuana versus opioids.
     In addition to liberalizing laws regarding marijuana, MDMA (Ecstacy) is also being considered for medical use by people with PTSD.  Reconsideration on medical studies of LSD is also being sought.

[Oct. 2016]  Here is an analysis of affect of legalization in US on drug situation in Mexico with particular emphasis on possible effect of California legalization.

[Late 2014] Now that the DC bill is signed, folks favoring legalization have moved that measure forward and the DC Board of Elections has approved Ballot Initiative #71 language for the Nov. 2014 election.  In fact Initiative #71 was on the Nov. 2014 DC ballot.   Although 70% of voters approved legalization, some Republicans in Congress still want to treat DC like their private fiefdom and withhold money to implement legalization details.  I thought I would look into the most recent results and attitudes in Colorado (a March 22, 2014 article) and Washington state.  Even some of the super-rich favor legalization as explained in this Forbes article.

Many here believed we should follow the example of Washington state and Colorado and legalize marijuana. In fact, this June, 2014, in Maryland, legalization of marijuana, taxing it and directing the more than $100 million projected revenue to improving education is a hot issue in the race for governor. Candidate Mizeur is basing part of her TV ad campaign on this issue.  Until Congress gets off our case, DC will not be able to spend any money for sensible laws like taxation and drug treatment.  Our new Mayor, Muriel Bowser has been threatened with jail for allowing legal use to go forward.

Currently, March 2015, Congress has declared that DC can spend NO money implementing the will of 70% of our voters to legalize limited pot use by adults.  At this point this means the city cannot tax or create laws regulating a number of aspects of marijuana use and distribution.  Our Council and Mayor are sticking to the interpretation that the provisions of Initiative #7 can be followed by our residents 21 and older.  They can grow up to 6 plants (12 for households with 2 or more people), 1/2 of which can be mature, carry up to 2 ounces on the street, and grow and smoke in private homes.  They cannot sell or buy pot, but can give it away.  Public housing using federal money will not allow pot growing  or use there.

In addition, the Council has ruled that private clubs cannot allow pot smoking.  On the Hill, 3 Senators, 2 Democrats and 1 Republican have proposed a bill to change the classification of Marijuana from a Schedule 1 to a Schedule 2 drug.  This would allow states were medical marijuana is legal to no longer fear federal anti crime action against them.  It would also make it more likely that additional states would approve medical marijuana, and move the country closer to full legalization.  See:  http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2015/03/senate_medical_marijuana_bill_rand_paul_cory_booker_and_kirsten_gillibrand.html

In DC almost one third of residents in Wards 5, 7, and 8 did not favor this, many to a strong degree. Here is where parents are most likely to see marijuana use and other problems in tandem.  It is important to understand that we political supporters of legalization generally favor modeling this after our alcohol laws. There should be underage rules, and others regarding safe driving and public behavior.  In addition we must be aware of potential harm to younger smokers, and have adequate education, counseling and treatment for those who end up using and in trouble from other problems.  This will be especially important if decriminalization means fewer court ordered referrals for drug counseling.

The drug war has been as big a mistake as was alcohol prohibition a century ago. It has created an army of criminals who are willing to to murder to protect the interests of their 'hoods or cartels. There are regions of Mexico where the crime lords are the rulers.  In far too many US neighborhoods gangs distributing drugs are a very real and dominate part of daily life.  As happened with alcohol, polls now document that much of the public does not support the laws against marijuana.  Medical marijuana seems to have overwhelming support even in somewhat conservative parts of the country.

DC residents are more liberal than the nation as a whole.  Thus, it should not be a surprise that 75 % of DC residents support making possession of an ounce or less of marijuana a civil violation punishable by a fine with no jail time. Only 21% would oppose doing this.  In fact, 60% strongly support decriminalization. Support for complete legalization is only slightly lower. When DC residents are asked if they would support Colorado and Washington state type legalization 63% favor it versus 30% opposed. Most politicians in our nation would love to rate 2 to1 over their opposition. 

Popularity does not imply a policy will best serve the people. There is considerable evidence that marijuana use by children is not good. With legalization all sellers will be required to verify the age of people buying the product. Obviously illegal dealers do not check the age of their customers, nor do they care if it is spiked with other more dangerous drugs.  

People should also be aware that the marijuana plant is also called hemp. This was an extremely important product for many years as a source of fiber for rope and other textile purposes.  I have read that DuPont helped promote the war on marijuana to avoid competition with their new synthetic rope fibers like Nylon.  Hemp seeds are high in protein and essential fatty acids and are a component in many bird seed mixtures.  As someone once joked, "Now I know why the caged bird sings."  Trader Joe's now sells hulled raw hemp seeds to eat.  Three tablespoons contains 10 grams of protein.  I add some to my breakfast cereal.

There is considerable research on the effectiveness of advertising in reducing tobacco use.  Such advertising can be very effective if funds are used by people who really want less tobacco use. We have every reason to think realistic information could have similar effects with marijuana. Obviously it should be sound science that is felt to be credible by its target audience.

Colorado estimates $100 million in new revenue can come from taxing marijuana. DC has slightly more than one tenth the population of Colorado. Thus we could expect roughly $10 million in taxes if we used Colorado's 29%  tax rates on their sales of roughly $34.4million. A small fraction of this tax flow would be more than enough to pay for needed advertising, with money left over to fund drug and alcohol counseling and treatment.

Legalizing pot removes the business from criminal hands.  This would go a long way toward eliminating criminal violence associated with this criminal enterprise.  Instead we would have legitimate, taxpaying and regulated businesses.

On the other hand, decriminalization will reduce penalties for the end-users, but supplying the demand would still be in the hands of criminals.  This would include dealing and selling within DC as well as the illegal transport across Maryland and Virginia.  Hopefully this unfortunate situation would be corrected before it gave prohibitionists the argument that we "tried legalization and it didn't work."  Allowing growth of small numbers of mariguana plants would reduce this problem.

Legalization would also allow the regulation and monitoring of the product which is sold. PCP is very common in DC and is an example of an adulterant that can have bad consequences.  Roughly 12% of males arrested in DC tested positive for PCP in 2012.  In Utah's legislature, there has been testimony that medical marijuana should not be approved because it leads to pot eating stoned rabbits!!  This could be a danger to themselves or others. ;-)  There are many funny comments and some videos at that link.

People should understand the medical implications for cannabis users (cannabis is the scientific name for marijuana).  The brain and body have a complex system of cannabinoid receptors specifically designed to process cannabinoids such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), one of the primary active components of marijuana. This enhances its effectiveness as a pain reliever.  There are many functions for these receptors. Their importance is highlighted by the fact that many cannabinoids in marijuana are found in mother's milk. The well known tendency of THC to enhance enjoyment of sensation includes delight in taste, colloquially called “having the munchies.”   The endocannabinoids of mother's milk specifically activate cannabinoid receptors to reinforce the critically important sucking response in infants.

For people addicted to other drugs (such as heroin, cocaine, tobacco or alcohol) marijuana can ease withdrawal symptoms and provide an alternative which, for most people, will cause less harm to the body and mind. Cannabis has many categories of potential harm, some of them very significant. However, even with these negative effects it is one of the most benign recreational drugs in common usage. It has on average less negative effects than any other recreational or illicit drug with the possible exception of ecstasy. This can be seen by comparing marijuana with commonly used drugs on addictiveness, lethal dosage, deaths caused, and association with crime.

Some people say with justification that Internet use can be addictive. Anything pleasurable can be addictive and create other problems in life.  The most commonly cited number on NIH web sites is that 9% of marijuana users will become addicted.  These agencies report much higher rates of addiction for alcohol-15%, nicotine-32%, and other hard drugs. About half of addicted marijuana users will report some explicit withdrawal symptoms.   The rest will be addicted because of pleasurable experiences.  A 1999 Institute of Medicine report says, “A distinctive marijuana withdrawal syndrome has been identified, but it is mild and short lived.”  Based on the relative ease of dealing with withdrawal symptoms a number of researchers have rated caffeine as more addictive than marijuana.  Other researchers believe the greater pleasure and intoxication effect from marijuana makes it more addictive than caffeine. This shows the subjective nature of addiction study.

In toxicology the lethal dose of a compound is usually designated with the term LD50 (deadly for 50% of organisms dosed).   The level of THC that would be fatal to half of dosed people is literally 40,000 times greater than the amount required to saturate all cannabinoid receptors and cause maximum intoxication.  For comparison, nicotine from 60 average cigarettes will reach the LD50 level for half of 60kg people (60kg=132 pounds). Caffeine from 80 to 100 cups of coffee reaches the LD50 level.  A small number of deaths from caffeine have been seen with the growing popularity of caffeine laden energy drinks. The LD50 level for alcohol is considered to be between 0.4% and 0.5% in the blood. Some fatalities occur with blood alcohol levels lower than this range. Eight ounces of pure alcohol absorbed in less than an hour will produce this level in most people weighing 160 pounds or less. Fifteen to 21 average drinks can easily provide this depending on what else is being consumed. Cocaine is also very toxic.  

Heroin is not directly toxic. However, as with all opioids it is a potent respiratory depressant and deaths can occur from a dose of 75mg to 400 mg in an inexperienced opiate user.  [A friend of my husband's stopped using heroin, finished law school, and decided to get high to celebrate.  His clean system could not handle his old higher dose and it killed him.]  The CDC reports the opioids Oxycontin and Vicodin were responsible for three fourths of the 38,329 US drug overdose deaths reported in 2010. Heroin deaths are about 3,500 per year.  The CDC estimates alcohol kills 80,000 each year and causes about 1.2 million hospital admissions.  The CDC estimates 443,000 people die prematurely from smoking tobacco or exposure to secondhand smoke.  Another 8.6 million live with a serious illness caused by smoking.  Marijuana has a minute level of risk.

People typically do not get violent on marijuana as they do with alcohol.    Three out of four reported cases of spousal abuse are associated with alcohol. One third of prisoners in local jails self report that they had used alcohol at the time of offense, and 37.7% of violent criminals say they had used alcohol.  Some years ago isolated Barrow, Alaska eliminated alcohol.  There was a 70% reduction in crime, especially domestic violence.  PCP, cocaine, and methamphetamine are other drugs known to engender violence.  Methamphetamine is one of the most addictive drugs known.  [Someone I knew, now dead from cocaine lung injury, said he would rather have used marijuana if it were easier to get than crack.]

There is ample documentation of the low to non-existent risks with cannabis for every relevant measure. Perhaps the most important issue with marijuana is the systemic use of prosecution to target African-Americans. In June of 2013 the ACLU release a report titled The War on Marijuana in Black and White. The subtitle is Billions of Dollars Wasted on Racially Biased Arrests. It is a staggering indictment of DC policy.  Our City spends at a higher rate to prosecute and incarcerate marijuana users than any American state. This “investment” resulted in a record 846 people arrested per 100,000 population during 2010. The highest state rate was New York with 535 per100,000.  It is also over three times the national rate of 256 per 100,000. Marijuana use rates are very similar across racial groups. The arrest rates of 1,489 blacks and 185 whites (per 100,000) in DC is a ratio greater than 8 to 1. This is higher than all other states with the exception of Iowa at 8.35. It is over double the 3.73 to 1 ratio for the nation as a whole.

In 2013 the Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs reported a huge 91% of drug arrests were of Afro-Americans. Actually, it is even worse than this since a number of the “white” arrests were Latinos with mixed ancestry. Washington DC has the national record for arrest rate and spending on marijuana arrests and prosecution with almost a national record high rate for differentially targeting African-Americans. In 2011 DC graduated 2,868 people from high school and arrested 5,759 for marijuana possession. This means we are giving out twice as many arrests records than high school graduation diplomas. 

High unemployment rates among blacks in DC are a serious problem. The extremely high rates at which DC gives “criminal records” to DC blacks for a “crime” largely ignored among whites explains a big part of how and why we have this problem. The legal structure of this system was laid down by Congressional Dixiecrats with a deep racial bias in a period from 1940 to 1973. Obviously there is no valid white interest in maintaining a black underclass. Society as a whole will be much more pleasant for everyone if we have greater equality and economic inclusion.  The current marijuana policy is a major destructive engine creating our black underclass.  This massive racial differential in the treatment of blacks and whites will only be eliminated with a rational legalization policy and regulations that properly reflect the underlying science.

Pres Obama, "Save the Middle Class;" Sen McCain, "put an end to greed": How About a Maximum Wage Limit?

Forty years ago, a highly destructive trend began in American life.  This was the unmerited skyrocketing growth in top corporate executive salaries relative to pay of low level workers.  Since 2008 it has become starkly evident how harmful this has been to the well-being of America and destructive to the middle class.  The same pattern occurred just before the "Great Depression" of the 1930s.  While President Obama recognizes that we must save the middle class, and John McCain in 2008 was actually highlighting the greed on Wall Street, few non violent "revolutionary" ways to save us all and particularly the middle class from this greed have gained wide traction.  Moreover, how many of our leaders have given intensive thought to the corrosive effects on the hopes of the poor that failure of the middle class could engender?  The poor must be helped with education, jobs and homes, and the middle class saved.

With all the recent talk about raising the minimum wage, now is the time to think about and also take action on the concept of the maximum wage limit.  What has happened in the past 40 years is unsustainable.  The French economist Thomas Piketty has just had his major work on Capital issued in English translation.  It covers the past 250 years of capital formation.  He examines the dangers we face as our income inequality parallels extremes not seen since the "guilded age."  It has received tremendous public attention for a field not noted for general popularity.

Some of my fellow DC Statehood Green Party members have complained that I don't seem to care enough about the poor.  This is entirely false.  During 4 years I met weekly for 3 hours with other DC street vendors trying to save the vending industry from Corporate DC and DCRA.  I saw vending as one important way for the poor to begin to work for self-sufficiency.  You didn't even have a box to check if you were a returned citizen.  Today we have fewer than 1,500.  Some years ago there were 7,000.  Thanks DCRA and big business.

 The city has systematically corporatized independent entrepreneurship with the Basic Business License, made it impossible to get one if the City says you owe $100 or more, and also made it much harder to become a resident independent taxi driver.  We managed to save about 1/2 the vendors, mostly the more economically solvent ones.  The saddest thing I saw was an elderly black man who would wheel out a chair and his shoe shine box to make a few dollars (probably no more than $30 or $40 a day) on Connecticut Ave.  DCRA made sure he and those like him lost the possibility to have a single chair operation.

A recent blow for corporate sanity has been struck by Sony Corp.  Even though it was more about economics, it is a good first step.  About 40 top executives will return bonuses totaling close to ten million dollars to help fight business losses.  This link also has a number of interesting comments.  Hopefully other major corporations will do something similar.  Only superior contributions should merit bonuses.

On November 24, 2013, the Swiss voted on something called the 1:12 Initiative, which was basically a Maximum Wage Law saying that big company CEO's should be paid no more than 12 times the wages of their low level workers.  It won the support of over 35% of Swiss voters.  While it didn't win, it has helped accelerate the discussion on maximum wages. Supporters of the measure felt that extreme ratios enable the super rich to wield undo influence over society, economics and politics, thus threatening democracy.  In the US that influence has been increased by anti people Supreme Court decisions, like Citizens United.

Last year the Swiss ratio was not 12 to 1, it was more like 148:1 according to the AFL.  They also said that the US ratio was 354 to 1, although other suggest only 273:1.  Bloomberg reported that JC Penney (a company which elsewhere has been reported to be in economic trouble) has a CEO:low worker ratio of 1,795 to 1 ($53.3 million to $30,000 typical wage).  Is this one reason JC Penney has problems?  The Economic Policy Institute reports that between 1978 and 2012, CEO's were up 875%, but workers were up only 5.4% adjusted for inflation.  In California, a tax increase is being considered for those corporations where the top to bottom pay differences are excessive.  Here is the link for a Google page with a number of articles covering this idea.

What would be an ideal ratio in this country is certainly up for discussion. Peter Drucker in 1965 felt that 20:1 was a good ratio.  Recently several have suggested 100 to 1.  A refinement has been 100:1, tied to the Minimum Wage which tends to be lower than the typical lowest level wage in a major corporation.  If CEO's wanted a wage increase, they would then have to increase their bottom level corporate wages, or even lobby for raising the minimum wage.

I began thinking seriously about this issue around 2004 when I encountered the 40:1 ratio figure of 30 years earlier.  I thought that with the increased efficiencies of modern phone and computer communication that holding to no more than a 50 to 1 ratio would stop the massive increases of the last decade in check.  Here then are some of the resulting ideas.

50 to 1 AND NO MORE!!  
Should be our war cry and a focus for group action

Wall St. has the most overpaid CEOs of the entire world's capitalist sector. Of course it makes sense that people who are obsessed with money will want the most of it. Since 2007/8 there had been some reductions in the obscene salaries paid to CEOs and upper management, but they are creeping up again. Around 1980 top CEO's earned about 40 times the salary of their low level workers. By 2007-8 this had skyrocketed to a range from 400 to 1,000 to one. In 2012 the CEO of Ford Motors was getting $58 million while the unions were negotiating for something between $50,000 and $58,000. This is a 1000 to 1 ratio, STILL??

So my motto is – THE 99% UNITE -- 50 TO 1 AND NO MORE!!

From 2007 to 2008 Goldman Sachs' CEO salary jumped from $37 million to $74 million. Spring of 2008, after discovering that the top 3 GS executives all had salaries above $65 million, 43% of stockholders approved a proposal for a Stockholders Advisory on Executive Compensation. While not a win, this was enough to scare the 2009 CEO salary down to a dainty $26 million.

So my motto is -- STOCKHOLDERS UNITE -- 50 TO 1 AND NO MORE!!

This chart from Forbes can show annual details by clicking your mouse over a single year chart column.  You cannot do that here but must click "This chart" to use the original Forbes chart.

In 2010 and 2011, the average CEO compensation for the Fortune 500 has ranged from $10 to $13 million. If the workers get $50,000 a year this is over a 200 to 1 ratio. If the lowest level workers (such as in businesses like Wal-Mart and McDonalds) only earn $20,000, then the CEOs are still averaging more than 500 to 1.  A recent progressive's victory in Seattle, around the $15 minimum wage has created considerable excitement there.  The 1% are now rallying to suppress this surprise victory.

So my motto is -- WORKERS UNITE – 50 TO 1 AND NO MORE!!

Some related thoughts: Since most annual stockholder meetings are held in the spring, people in the Occupy movement, successor organizations, and other progressives should determine date and time of meetings for major corporations and occupy the sidewalks around their meeting sites. This was done in spring 2013 at the Bank of America meeting.  Other thinkers are now raising the possibility of a maximum wage limit, while also providing a scathing analysis of the corporate compensation decision process.

Also, there are often small dissident stockholder groups which can be contacted to further enhance efforts to modify excessive upper management pay with proposals for a Stockholder Advisory of Executive Compensation. This can be tracked by buying even ONE share of a major company's stock and reading the annual Proxy information.  This will include any new Proposals by groups of stockholders.  You can even form your own group to propose changes in the company.

I visited and spoke briefly to around 150 members of the Occupy group at Freedom Plaza, DC the fall of 2011. I asked how many people actually had stock. A few raised their hands. I asked how many were in a college or university. A few more raised their hands. I then asked how many belonged to a union with a pension fund. Also some hands were raised. I then asked everyone who had raised their hand to do it again and about 1/4^th of the group did so. I pointed out that institutions of higher learning and unions invest many $millions in stock. I then urged them to find means to encourage their companies, schools, or unions to use their votes and proxies to support efforts to lower excessive upper management pay.

When top CEOs are overpaid, wage inflation also permeates the ranks of upper-level management, and affects stockholder profits and dividends.  Since more than 1/2 of Americans are invested in business through stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and pension plans, this is a very big issue for us all. However, it is also a great opportunity for us to apply leverage to corporate greed.  Since very high CEO pay in drug and health care companies also exists, this raises the cost of health care and job-sponsored health insurance, giving management another reason to move jobs overseas.

Illustrating extreme Greed Capitalism was the pay of major finance organization CEOs of Countrywide Financial and Lehman Brothers.  The 2007 Countrywide CEO salary was $142 million, in 2008 there was a modest drop to $102 million.  On the other hand, Lehman's CEO actually raised his salary from $52 million to $72 million. Then the 2008 housing bubble crash led to these companies' well-deserved extinctions.  Although Goldman Sachs' CEO salary rose from $37 million to $74 million in the same period the company survived for some reason.*

I believe that one motive for outsourcing work to cheap foreign labor countries is that it enables CEOs to overpay themselves while retaining enough profits to keep the stockholders from complaining. Lower the pay enough because of stockholder action and they will no longer have the incentive to move overseas. A look at the Forbes CEO Compensation sites for the past few years shows there had been a downward trend in CEO pay from 2008 onward, which is now moving up again. Unfortunately, while previously it was possible to examine pay figures by industrial sector, Forbes in 2010 removed this capability, and in 2011 made comparing these figures even more difficult. I doubt this was done accidentally.  This has made it a lot harder to compare CEO salaries by industry.

Another means of applying pressure is to see which companies pay their CEOs more, and patronize those who pay less. The CEO of CVS was paid $15 million for 2012,  the CEO of Rite-Aid was paid $1.32 million.  I patronize Rite-Aid.   The entire health related industry is studded with highly paid CEOs.

Perhaps Obamacare will help reduce this (probably an important reason Republicans are fighting to destroy it).  An example: for 2012 the CEO of McKesson (which helps health care providers improve their business health and care delivery, and is a pharmaceutical distributor and health care information technology company) was paid $131 million salary.  His 5 year total was $285 million.  The CEO of Gilead Science (which as a biotechnology company discovers, develops and markets therapeutics) earned $43 million, and over 5 years $214 million.  No wonder health care costs have risen far faster than the inflation rate.  Forbes link.  

* Could it be that GS had special influence, especially in the Bush White House?

Lee Aikin, Nov. 2011 to Dec, 2013

Congress Illustrates DC's Need for Statehood Once Again: Prohibits Using our Tax $$

Once again Congress has moved to prevent DC from spending its own funds.  On Jan 9, 2014, Eleanor Holmes Norton, (D-DC) issued a press release detailing the latest disrespect shown her as our elected representative.  This simply serves to reemphasize why it is so important that we gain Statehood status.  She had requested the courtesy, a bipartisan one of long standing, of being allowed to testify on a matter relating to health services for DC women.

The Hearing on H.R. 7 before the House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, has serious implications for our autonomy.  Among other things it would PERMANENTLY PROHIBIT DC from spending its local funds on abortion services for low-income women.  It would also define the DC government as part of the federal government for the purposes of abortion.  It is interesting to note that during the recent half month shut down of the government, Congress was willing to let Mayor Gray declare all DC presonnel as ESSENTIAL.  I guess they did not want to face the danger or inconvenience of lack of garbage collection, street cleaning, routine fire and police services, and the like.

The author of this grotesque discourtesy is Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ), chair of that Subcommittee.  Just as he did on this same bill in the last Congress, he denied her request again.  It is totally outside the civilized norms of Congress to treat a Representative this way when a bill directly affects their constituents.

A decade ago Representative Bob Barr (R-Georgia) was a key actor on denying DC voters the right to even count our votes in favor of medical marijuana.  If I remember correctly, DC residents were urged to actively campaign against his reelection to Congress.  He lost, gaining only 1/3 of the Republican Primary votes.  Various groups, and situations on the ground affected his defeat, but I like to think we in DC may have helped.  He subsequently completely reversed his stand on marijuna and subsequently ran as a Libertarian.

Perhaps what we need to do is plan a targeted campaign against Rep. Franks in the next election.  Maybe he might even be persuaded to reverse his racist, unfair, and discourteous treatment of our city and elected representative.  As the Barr case shows, miracles are possible.

Representative Norton wrote in her statement that "this subcommittee has been obsessed with dual objectives--infringing on the District's right to self-government and interfering with the reproductive health of the District's female residents, particularly its low-income women....this is the fourth bill [in 3 years] considered by this subcommittee that would both violate my local government's right to self-government and harm its female residents...Republicans say they support limiting the federal government's power and devolving that power to the states and localities....Republicans may not want to practice what they preach, but we do not intend to allow them to violate their own principles at our expense."  This is, of course, just one more blatant example of Republican hypocracy where women and people of color are concerned.

Rep. Norton also held a press conference with Mayor Gray and Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Ranking Member of that same subcommittee, regarding this unfairness and discourtesy.  Nadler made a motion at the hearing to allow her to testify, but Franks again refused that courtesy.

Hopefully, this bill will not be approved in the Senate or signed into law by President Obama.  We should not be subject to this kind of outrageous treatment, especially as we pay both our federal and our local taxes, with limited or even NO rights to determine how they are spent.  The only solution is Statehood as quickly as possible.  DC STATEHOOD NOW!!!

Keystone XL Pipeline, Prevent Future Tragedy Now: Qingdao Pipeline Explosion Kills 62 (& other energy news updates)

While this post started out as an anti Keystone XL Pipeline article, related fights continue and I am reporting some as they occur.

[Jan. 2018]  The price of crude oil is creeping up again from a long spell of lows.  Now it is near $65 a barrel above which it again can be profitable to ship crude from Canada.  Thus TransCanada has announced it is again preparing to push construction of the controversial pipeline.  The lively comments at the above link point out we will take a $10billion hit on our balance of payments with Canada, and Trump didn't even ask for the concessions Obama had tried to negotiate.  Apparently, we will have to pay for any accidents and clean-up like the $1billion+ in costs cleaning the 2010 Kalamazoo River spill.  In 2017 final monetary claims were approved with many criticisms of the small settlement.
[1/24/17  President Donald Trump has just signed executive actions on Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines.  350.com is leading the effort to fight them and submitted the following information I am condensing.  Another hopeful thought is that Canada now has a pro environment leader who may have his own powers on the XL issue.
     "Already more than 50,000 people have pledged to fight these projects to the end.

Trump made it seem he was approving these pipelines, but he didn't. Both Dakota Access and Keystone XL face legal, procedural and financial hurdles -- not to mention the multi-million person opposition to his administration.

If you're ready and committed to take action to stop these projects, take the Pledge of Resistance to get plugged in to action opportunities to stop Keystone XL, Dakota Access and fossil fuel projects everywhere.

Here's what you need to know about Trump's actions Tuesday:

• He did *not* approve Keystone XL or Dakota Access. He briefly succeeded in confusing a lot of people on this point (including me, I will admit).
• On Dakota Access, he told the Army Corps of Engineers that the pipeline is in our "national interest" and told them to "consider" revoking the environmental review placed on it by the Obama Administration.
• On Keystone XL, he invited TransCanada to re-apply...mandated a final decision on the pipeline within 60 days and waived input from environmental agencies.
• And when TransCanada does re-apply, they no longer have permits in Nebraska, and their permits in South Dakota are being challenged.
• Trump also placed conditions on approval of the pipelines -- like limiting oil exports, and determining where the steel comes from -- that the oil companies might not accept.

If either pipeline moves forward, they will face fierce, mobilized resistance from Indigenous communities and landowners who will bear the biggest impacts of spills and toxic pollution on their lands.

In other words: it ain't over until it's over -- and it's definitely not over. Every pledge is a demonstration that this mass movement is prepared and ready to resist. We, the signers, are a warning to any company, bank, or politician who chooses to support fossil fuel projects that will further tip our climate past its limits. 

More than 50,000 people have already pledged. Together we can make a huge impact. Join the Pledge of Pipeline Resistance.

These pipelines will transport more oil we don't need, and our climate can't bear. We have the solutions to transform our energy system and the power and will to fight for them.

Onwards, Duncan

Sources: 1) "Significant Obstacles Remain in Building Keystone XL" National Resources Defense Council.  2) "The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s Litigation on the Dakota Access Pipeline" EarthJustice"

[12/13/16] - With the election of Donald Trump, and his selection of Texas governor, Rick Perry, for Energy Secretary we can expect rough sailing ahead.  Already Trump's Energy Department transition team has asked for the names of people who have worked on climate change as well as professional society membership of lab workers.  The US Energy Dept. said Tuesday it will not comply with this request which includes 74 questions.  One asks for a list of all department employees and contractors who in the last 5 years attended annual global climate talks hosted by the United Nations.  "This feels like the first draft of an eventual political enemies list," said one DOE employee who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal. 

[12/13/16] - This site has a 42 minute podcast detailing aspects of the protest.  Here are 6 other links to articles and maps on the Dakota situation, other leak - spill, and protester's stories.  While researching the Dakota issue I encountered this very pro First Americans background story on their shameful historical treatment.   Surprisingly, I found the link to this article at the oil industry information site bakken.com.  I also found the exciting story on how First Nation residents of Nova Scotia are adding over 20 Megawatts of renewable wind energy to the grid as part of their $1 billion+ contribution to the overall economy.
[11/22/16] - Brutality has continued at the Dakota Access Pipeline protest area as protesters are shot with water cannons in sub-freezing weather.  One protester may loose her arm after being illegally hit with a concussion grenade.  Protesters met in Washington, DC on 11/27/16 to march from the Dept. of Justice (1201 Pennsylvania Ave., NW) at noon to a 1pm rally at Sylvan Theater a little south of the Washington Monument at the intersection of Independence Ave., SW and 15th St.  This follows an 11/15/16 rally at the Army Corp of Engineers in DC urging denial of a permit to continue the pipeline in Sioux territory.
[9/9/16] - The most recent anti oil action is being led by the Standing Rock Sioux whose area in North Dakota is being overrun by the Dakota Access Pipeline's 1,172-mile conduit planned to carry crude from ND to southern Illinois.  Other potentially affected tribes also object, and over 1,000 people have joined a protest encampment. A possible ancient Indian burial ground was plowed up before the state historic preservation office could evaluate it.  The pipeline will cross their essential water source multiple times.  Remember what happened to the Kalamazoo River when a pipeline broke, covered earlier in this blog.  This summer penalties over $100 million were finally ordered.
     Dr. Jill Stein, Green Party national candidate for President is facing an arrest warrent for spray-painting a Dakota Access bulldozer after a video of this activity was posted online.  Other protesters have experience numerous macings and been attacked and bitten by dogs.  The federal government has stepped in to help after a Judge ruled against the protesters.

[5/11/16] - Irony strikes the tar sands oil industry a devastating blow as an overheated late winter in Canada leads to destructive forest fires.  On May 1st, the 80,000 city of Fort McMurray was severely threatened and areas were burning leading to TOTAL evacuation of the city and 20% of houses burned (good charts and maps).  This May 21st article suggests people MIGHT be able to move back on June 1st if the weather improves fire conditions.  This June 5th technical article updates production info.

[3/15/16] - President Obama has just ruled out oil exploration off the Atlantic Coast.  However, he did approve some drilling in the Caribbean and Alaska.  As commentor, Drop_the_GOP, at the above link observed, "Three simple points:
1) Obama can abandon anything he likes, but in about 8 months is irrelevant.
2) Obama might be able to block some drilling for a while, but that is all.
3) Oil companies drill for oil and oil companies have not given up drilling in Atlantic."
     In other words this is no time to sit back and relax as oil company interest continues.  [especially now that Trump has been elected]  Apparently this ruling may run to 2022, and the Pentagon played a part because of their concern for Navy activities at the Atlantic Coast.  This British article does a particularly good job of identifying the many players.

12/13/15 - For the moment this issue is quiet.   Oil prices are falling through the floor, natural gas prices are at record lows, many oil wells are being mothballed, addition oil storage is being created for the overflow, and it is not currently economic to produce tar sands oil.  Beware of future changes in this picture and renewed activity by the tar sands developers.  The dangers of pipelines and oil trains continue. [especially with the surprise election of Donald Trump]

First information here.  Once again the Keystone XL Pipeline issue is heating up.  It is even worse now the newly elected Republicans control both Houses of Congress.  More and more pressure has been applied to President Obama to have the State Department approve building the Pipeline from Canada to Oklahoma.  The portion from the giant oil hub at Cushing, OK to Houston refineries is already under construction.  I asked a pro environment person from Texas how serious that was.  His said that area is already so damaged by the oil industry an additional pipeline makes little difference.  This link describes 45 oil disasters in 2013 the industry doesn't want you to know about. 

President Obama has exercised his promised veto, and hopefully neither house has the 2/3rd vote to overturn the veto.  Call your Congressman (202-224-3121, and ask to be transferred to your Representative or Senator).  When you reach them ask for the staff person dealing with this issue, and ask if they will read this article, then get their email address and send the link.  If they are Democrats ask them to try to persuade the defectors to support the President and the environment.

10/19/15 - This just in.  Conservative, pro oil, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has just lost election to Liberal Justin Trudeau.  Hopefully, he will be able to institute much better pro environment policies, and the XL Pipeline issue will fade away.  The link has many comments discussing implications of this victory

Here is the list of 28 Democrats who have just voted with Republicans to approve the Pipeline (Jan. 2015).  Call their staff person responsible for this issue and email this link if they will give you an email address, and some of the horror photos of pipeline  and oil transport disasters.  Here is a Congressional contact list with phone numbers and web sites.We need lots more renewables ASAP.

Brad Ashford (NE-02)
Sanford Bishop (GA-02)
Bob Brady (PA-01)
Cheri Bustos (IL-17)
Jim Clyburn (SC-06)
Jim Cooper (TN-05)
Jim Costa (CA-16)
Henry Cuellar (TX-28)
Mike Doyle (PA-14)
Gwen Graham (FL-02)
Al Green (TX-09)
Gene Green (TX-29)
Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18)
Dan Lipinski (IL-03)
David Loebsack (IA-02)
Sean Maloney (NY-18)
Patrick Murphy (FL-18)
Rick Nolan (MN-08)
Donald Norcross (NJ-01)
Colin Peterson (MN-07)
Cedric Richmond (LA-02)
Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
David Scott (GA-13)
Terri Sewell (AL-07)
Albio Sires (NJ-08)
Marc Veasey (TX-33)
Filemon Vela (TX-34)
Tim Walz (MN-01)

Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15) and Bennie Thompson (MS-02) were not in attendance but probably would have also voted YES had they been there.

Recently I heard there were two problems that ought to sway Republican opinion.  Apparently, Canada, a foreign country, is being given the right to exercise eminent domain against American citizens' property.  Also the Canadian tar sands oil companies are NOT being required to pay into a fund all other oil companies do, to pay for accidents and spills.  Republicans are saying that if we don't allow Canada to build here, then they will build to their west coast and ship oil to China.  First of all their native Americans are fighting this tooth and nail, and secondly Republicans are saying the oil is going to be used here in the US and lower gas costs.  Used in China or here, make up your minds guys!

[9/23/2015]  Hillary Clinton has now followed Sanders in declaring herself to be against the XL Pipeline.  Now all we have to do is get one of them elected.

Here is a spill which occurred in North Dakota on March 20, 2014.  There are a lot of comments.  People are beginning to realize that once the pipelines are built, most of the jobs will actually be for repairing the damage these pipeline spills and breaks cause. Here is an interesting analysis of the impact, good and bad, of major oil development in North Dakota.  I wonder how many jobs were created by the $1 billion+ Kalamazoo River spill of tar sands oil (dilbit) from a 6 foot diameter pipe?  A recent follow-up reports a mixed outcome on this 2010 mess, and that at one time 300 people were working on the clean-up.  

A recent spill (Jan. 19, 2015) has deposited 50,000 gallons of ND oil near and in the Yellowstone River.  The many comments are so interesting regarding environmental impact, I plan a separate blog article to highlight this issue.  There are beautiful photos of the Yellowstone.  A map shows the Keystone XL Pipeline route in that area.

Here is another North Dakota spill which is larger than all spills there in the past 10 year. Photos and a detailed description show how much work is involved in correcting this leak from a quarter-sized hole.  This recent gas pipeline spill in Michigan has resulted in the evacuation of 500 people who are being sheltered outside their homes [Sept. 2014].  It was a 24 or 36 inch pipe and people have not even begun to assess how much harm it has caused.  The line is owned by Trans Canada and runs from Canada to Texas.

Two years ago the North Dakota oil patch had grown so much that in this space night photo it is as large and bright as the largest US metropolitan complexes.  The light produced by flare-off burning (waste) of natural gas from fracking processes, is permitted by the government and produces large quantities of air pollution. 

The significant drop in gasoline prices starting in November 2014 should also impact the XL Pipeline issue.  According to this article, 92% of tar sands oil production needs a per barrel price of $95 to be profitable, and the rest needs $75.   Light crude for Jan. 2015 is around $63, and futures don't even break $73 until Dec. 2021.  The heavier Brent crude is currently (Dec. 2014) below $67 and is still expected to be below $83 in Dec. 2021.  As of Jan. 6, 2015, crude is around $50 a barrel. Thus, for the moment, they may have a poor argument for building the pipeline.  Be sure the new Congresspeople know this.

Recently (Nov. 2014), New Jersey has approved allowing a Perth Amboy facility to handle larger amounts of tar sands oil by train shipment.  This is approval for the area around the Perth Amboy location which is flat land and probably does not have the grade risks that led to the Lac Megantic disaster.  New Jersey also has a good record regarding safe oil handling.  On the other hand, overland transport is not covered by the current approval and no doubt needs thorough evaluation.

[11/4/15 - A conference will be held this month on the subject of oil train disasters.  Although there have been agreements to use stronger oil cars, this probably will not be enough to prevent additional problems.  See below for horrific photos and more information on the deadly Lac Megantic tragedy.]

From April 22 to 27, 2014 the Cowboy and Indian Alliance descended on DC for a week of stop Keystone XL action.  Reject and Protect brought tribal communities, ranchers, farmers and friends to DC to call on Pres. Obama to reject the pipeline with it's threat to climate, land, water, and tribal rights.  People wishing to support their efforts should click the link above to their site.  The Hip Hop Caucus with Rev. Yearwood also had a DC event as part of their Act on Climate Tour, on April 22, 2014. This short video from The Washington Post shows the Mall encampment.  This link shows the severity of environmental damage in tar sands country, Canada.  No wonder the Indians are up in arms!

The latest information is that now the Senate may do an end run around the President.  [May 2014] Here is a list of current climate change deniers in the House and Senate. Contact your Senators, send them disaster photos from the links listed below.  Use these photos with the new Congresspeople.  Also use with all your state and local elected representatives if they need to make oil related decisions.  Convince them more pipelines especially with this unusually dangerous oil are a really bad idea.  Urge them to pass legislation that will encourage more solar, wind and other renewable energy sources.  This should include R & D for cellulosic ethanol rather than using corn for ethanol production.

Over 100 people died in 2013, primarily from two major oil shipment disasters--one is a pipeline in China, the other an oil tanker car train on the US/Canada border.  Cleanup of a toxic dilbit (tar sands) oil spill on the Kalamazoo River has already cost over $1 billion and is still not clean.  This link has a number of articles detailing this spill as well as other pipelines of major concern, including a 60 year old one in the Mackinac Straits between the US and Canada Your elected leaders need to know how you feel about this.  Anyone who says transporting this oil is harmless, I DARE you to look at the photos in the two links further down and this one.

While Canadian tar sands oil and the pipelines or trains to carry it can contribute to long range climate disaster, people who are not climate activists are more likely to be persuaded to care by immediate disaster scenarios.  The massive, mile long, Qingdao oil pipeline explosion that killed 62 people has received very little media coverage in the US, and is being suppressed in China. This link explains Qingdao censorship by China, as does this one.  Is it also being suppressed in our country?  This China based follow-up report on the Qingdao disaster outlines the Social, Environmental and Economic effects of the disaster as well as ideas for prevention and mitigation.

[11/2/15]  This February 2014 article laments the death of so many people because of carelessness after the initial leak was detected.  The repair team discovered a hole about two hand-spans in size and crude oil was leaking into a sewage pipe.  No one including EPA workers there had considered the possibility of explosion, even though crude oil vapor was visibly mixing with highly-flammable sewage methane gas.  No fire department officials were there to advise.  The area was not sealed off and all 20 repair people died in the explosion which turned the crossroads into a smoking crater.  This report suggested that the agencies and personnel responsible would not be held accountable as the deaths are simply an embarrassment to both industry and politicians.

Commentary on one Chinese netizen site even suggests the late 2013 flap about flying over certain islands was a ruse to distract Chinese people from the disaster and focus anger on Japan.  Was Vice President Biden aware of this prior to his China visit??  There seems to be no recent Qingdao news at Google, and the Chinese and South Korea are now making nice, with SK helping to return bodies of Chinese soldiers buried in SK during the Korean War.

On Nov. 27, 2013, China's Ruler visited Qingdao where stories praised the lovely emergency shelters and good food provided by the military.  The same day, China, without warning announced an expanded defense zone off its coast, which prompted angry responses from Japan, South Korea, and the US as is shown in this link.  I predict that soon after Biden's visit, they will relax this crisis as they hold trials for those "responsible" for this disaster and promised major reforms.  A more recent story shows the damage to sea life from oil that flowed into the bay.  The latest articles for 2014 at this Google site mention that 63 people will be punished and that Sinopec (the company in charge) will pay damages.

The disaster happened on Nov. 22, 2013,in the port city of Qingdao. A 15 minute leak, failure to evacuate nearby people, and 7 hours later a huge explosion occurred.  [See horrific photos in 3rd link below.]  The most recent/final? count is 62 dead and 136 hospital treated.  Nine arrested, a national day of morning, and near silence except for nice human interest stories.  Very little meat with the potatoes.  See below.

http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20131208000016&cid=1103

This article points out that China plans to do a major infrastructure study throughout the country.  Should we do the same with our oil pipeline system, some of which are decades old, like the Enbridge pipline that caused the $billion plus Kalamazoo River toxic spill?  Do we have dangerous infrastructure siting issues here in the US, and specifically here in DC?  Yes we do, see last paragraph for details and link on a significant current issue that our Council has not addressed.  This link looks at important urban planning issues and danger to the public.

This link on Dec 7, 2013, has many youtube short clips and a long detailed explanation of how the disaster unfolded if you click "show more".  The following material includes two links with scores of photos from both the Qingdao pipeline disaster and the Lac Megantic oil train disaster.  Please forward these terrible pictures to as many movers and shakers as possible.  The danger is here and now, costly in lives and clean up, not just in some questioned (not by us) distant future.  Both disasters cost around 50 deaths. Moving certain kinds of oil including tar sands and some types of Bakken shale oil is far more dangerous than conventionally recovered oil types as explained here. These oils are also far more corrosive to the tank cars and pipelines transporting them.  Moreover, recent investigations show that these problems have been known for several years, and shipping is still being poorly regulated.  The material below was written 4 days after the Qingdao disaster when I first heard about it. 

"In watching US news sources, I have failed to see the most recent major pipeline disaster in Qingdao, China mentioned.  It helps to look at the TV 30 channels, especially those from China.

This pipeline leak, fire, and explosion has killed at least 55 people, wounded over 150, with others still missing, and some arrested by the government for neglect and other (non terrorist) charges.  See links below:  the second with a huge number of photos makes a powerful impression."

http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1365685/human-error-blamed-qingdao-oil-pipeline-explosion

https://www.google.com/search?q=qingdao+pipeline+explosion&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=fgSVUpfgN9SosATK44CABQ&ved=0CEkQsAQ&biw=1024&bih=652

I have participated in a number of Stop the Keystone XL Pipeline events, including the one at the State Dept. where 70 people had committed to being arrested.  This is one more massive piece of evidence of why we need to move away from fossil fuels as quickly as possible.  First we had the tar sands oil pipeline spill at the Kalamazoo River costing more than $1 billion to clean, so far unfinished, forcing people to abandon their lovely riverfront homes.  Wikipedia has an excellent article on the spill, explaining that Enbridge (the pipeline owner) knew in 2005 there were safety issues with this 40 year old pipe.  The Michigan Coalition Against the Tar Sands (MICATS) has been mobilizing activism:

http://interoccupy.net/blog/tim-dechristopher-lends-support-to-mi-cats-felons/  Students at McGill and elsewhere are urging universities, as are people in cities, to divest their investments in oil companies and related industries.  Washington, DC, has an active Divest effort.

Then we had the horrific run-away train derailing and exploding in the Canadian border town of Lac Megantic, incinerating 47 people and a big chunk of downtown.  A recent update reports that although safety rules/laws have been changed, there are big loopholes with bigger dangers:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/loopholes-mean-crude-going-untested/article15575886/
A Jan. 1, 2014 editorial by the Montreal Gazette calls for a mandated judicial inquiry, as it appears the government can't be trusted with the regulator process or investigation.  I Googled for more follow-up in 2014.  If you skip the first few stories regarding reopening the Lac Megantic library, there are a number of likely looking articles.

There has even been a more recent (2014) explosion in rural Alabama from a train carrying similar ND volatile Bakken oil.  For those who have forgotten, or for those who should see them, like our legislators, hundreds more horror photos.

https://www.google.com/search?q=megantic+oil+train+explosion&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=BBWVUoO1Mue_sQSTuYGACw&ved=0CCkQsAQ&biw=1024&bih=652

Some suspect there may have been sabotage by pipeline interests to show how dangerous rail shipping is, the bottom line is that oil is dangerous to ship by whatever method, and some oils much more so than others.  Solar and wind can never cause the catastrophic damage and death already caused by oil, gas and coal.  We must move as quickly as possible away from carbon fuels (some will always be needed) and embrace the full potential of solar, wind, and super insulation.  

Please use these links to further environmental activism and alert our people and politicians to the very current dangers.  Now we can compare visually the impact of oil train versus oil pipeline catastrophe and human error.  On Dec. 30, 2013, another oil train explosion occurred in a small (under 2,500) town 20 miles from Fargo, ND.  A grain train derailed hitting the oil train and exploding cars.  Fifty of the 104 cars have been pulled away, but the fire is so intense they are just letting it burn and debating whether to evacuate the entire town.  Should we think, oh, no, we must use pipelines, here is a recent summary of big pipeline problems.  And this Wiki article on 21st Century accidents lists 34 just for 2013.

Here is the best argument I have seen to use against those who would say these oil train explosions are a good reason to build Keystone, plus an excellent comment.

"Keystone supporters will try to use these dreadful Bakken tank car explosions to make the case for the Tar Sands pipeline. Here's why that's way off base: These rolling bombs from Bakken contain condensate, the extremely light crude oil that comes out of fracked wells.... This product is highly explosive and it is a huge problem. Ask Quebec. [Lac Megantic disaster]  Tar Sands dilbit is a mixture of putty-like bituminous oil thinned with...condensate. But rail cars can haul bituminous oil thinned down with only 15 percent condensate. Still dangerous, but it does not create mushroom clouds. Keystone will require 30 percent condensate to make it thin enough to flow, making these pipelines potentially more explosive than rail cars from Canada. Most of the reasons for approving Keystone don't hold up. The rail safety argument is not only bogus, it is an implied threat from a foreign power: build our pipeline, or we'll run these rolling bombs through your towns. Maybe Nebraska is the only place in the country with enough brass to stand up to this."

A critical issue is that these recent train accidents mostly involved the newer stronger oil cars which were supposed to greatly lower risk.  They don't seem to be doing the job, and many question if grateful politicians can ever be persuaded to insist that the oil industry institute serious improvements.

One last word--what exactly do we know about the dangers of having freight hauled through our own Washington, DC?  What kinds of toxic, flammable or explosive materials are allowed on DC railroad tracks?  How good are our emergency response plans and responders?  Would they wait 7 hours before evacuating DC residents in a dangerous situation?  Does anyone have an informative comment?  In 2013 I decided not to wait for information from others and found this link.  It describes current planned rail construction in DC which Eleanor Holmes Norton has viewed with alarm.  Our City Council held hearings in 2014, but with a new Council and a lawsuit, perhaps another look is advisable.  Our Council must demand certainty regarding types of cargo carried.  Philadelphia has now (Feb. 2015) decided to take a good look at rail dangers to that city. Unanswered questions were also asked in Olympia, Washington.

A major urban train fire occurred in Baltimore, MD in 2001, there was also a problem in DC that same year.  Both are reported on in this study prepared for the US Dept. of Transportation.  This link includes a number of articles detailing problems that still exist more than 10 years after the accident.  Here are a large number of photos on this fire and others.  DC residents are very concerned about the potential dangers of the DC tunnel reconstruction, especially for the 5 years it will be open to the sky.

While viewing various links about the recent oil train derailment and fire in West Virginia, I came across the information that CSX, which was the responsible party for this accident and another one in April 2014, is running their trains through DC.  While there is a voluntary agreement that they will not run hazardous cargo through DC, is that really acceptable?  Transporting this highly flammable ND Bakken oil through our nation's capital should be absolutely forbidden!  View these links and imagine such a disaster in the heart of DC.

Is this our future?  [62 dead]  Qingdao, China

Have Chinese hackers removed this picture?  See this link, Comment below and insert the photo that I should use to replace this blank.  Further down in this list of images you will find other disasters shown as well.



Or is this?  [47 dead]  Lac Megantic, Canada