The Keystone XL pipeline, which would transport oil extracted from tar sands in Canada to the US, has been denounced by local environmental groups.
Dozens of locals joined the call for President Obama to deny a permit for the controversial pipeline, as protests were held in several cities around the country Monday night.
The protests come after the US state department released its final environmental impact statement last week, stating that the pipeline would be unlikely to alter global greenhouse gas emissions.
Local protest organizer Neilly Kelly says the pipeline would be a disaster for the environment.
She says, even though the pipeline itself wouldn’t run through New York state, climate change is an issue that affects everyone.
“It’s something that will impact everybody on this planet and it’s already starting to impact millions of people in this country and around the world from the increase in extreme weather that we’ve been seeing continually increase for the past 10-12 years.”
“The climate change impacts of exploiting the tar sands oil cannot be denied or hidden, or whatever, hidden away. And I have two children, a six year old and a seven year old and their future is threatened if we don’t stop.”
The pipeline, if approved, would run far west of New York state, from Alberta, Canada to Texas.
About 40 protesters lined the street across from the Armory on Culver Monday night with signs urging Obama to deny the permit for the project.