Keystone pipeline harmful in many ways

Say no to drill, drill, drill. Oil spills pollute our water, are hazards to precious habitat, and increase air pollution; these are just a few reasons to steer us away from the Keystone XL Pipeline.

Leaders from various communities as well as tribal nations owning land along the proposed pipeline route voice serious concern for underground water reservoirs in Nebraska. Spills have occurred which make this threat reasonable.

This is not the only objection that environmentalists have to the Keystone XL Pipe line proposed to carry oil from Canada to Texas. According to leading scientist James Hansen, if the dirty tar sands oil is developed from the Canadian reserves, the amount of carbon to be released into the atmosphere basically insures game over for planet Earth.

Asthma and other diseases caused from airborne pollutants are increasing at alarming rates because the U.S. has yet to curb allowable chemicals spewed into the atmosphere. Precious habitat for indigenous species along the route will be disturbed as well.

The claim that environmentalists are against jobs is simply not true. By supporting the innovative spirit that put a man on the moon, new jobs will be created. Wind, solar, and geothermal are clean sources of power to choose over the dirty standard of coal or oil.

America can get the job market going with this can-do spirit. Investing in the industry of renewable energy sources will create thousands of jobs as well as a market for their products, and not wreak havoc on our planet. The sensible response is to say no to the proposed Keystone pipeline in order to protect our planet for our future generations.

Connie Schmidt

Warrenville