Standing Rock article in this week's Bohemian

Following is my brief article in this week's Bohemian OpenMic section. The link follows. If one makes a comment, it keeps these issues in the news, can update what is happening, and encourages the editors to publish more articles on Standing Rock. One can also write letters to the editor.


Standing Tall, Local efforts to block Dakota Access Pipeline grow
BY SHEPHERD BLISS

Think globally and act locally. This is the intention behind the Sonoma County Commission on Human Rights' Nov. 18 resolution in opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota.

"We wanted to support the Standing Rock Sioux, but also the actions of our local tribal leadership from the Coyote Valley Band and Kashia Band of Pomo, Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria and Ya-Ka-Ama," says human rights commission vice-chair Dmitra Smith.

The commission joins 19 municipalities around the country and more than 300 tribes who have rallied in support of the Standing Rock Sioux's stance against the routing of the Dakota Access oil pipeline under the Missouri River near their reservation. The $3.8 billion, 1,172-mile pipeline would cross both the Missouri and Mississippi rivers to carry fracked oil. The Army Corps of Engineers halted construction of the Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners' pipeline on Nov. 14 and called for "additional discussion and analysis."

Meanwhile, around 300 people gathered at the downtown Santa Rosa Citibank Nov. 15 to protest its funding the pipeline. It was one of hundreds of protests at Citibank around the country. Earlier this month, on Nov. 6, about 600 people attended an inspiring benefit at the Sebastopol Grange for the indigenous people and their allies, raising nearly $29,000.

"This is the rebirth of the native nation," declared Adam (who declined to give his last name), an indigenous man who led drummers and chanters at both events. "This is a spiritual movement connected to our legal rights."

Tribe elder Tom Goldtooth, interviewed Nov. 17 on KPFA's Flashpoints, called the pipeline "blood oil. They are degrading our sacred space. They are commodifying nature. We're fighting for everyone, not just native people. Seventeen million people live downstream from this Missouri River site, depending on it for their water, which an oil spill could pollute."

Standing Rock may seem far away from San Francisco's North Bay, but by joining in solidarity and educating each other about what's at stake, we can make a difference.

For more information, go to standingrock.org and facebook.com/SonomaNoDAPL.
Dr. Shepherd Bliss has contributed to 24 books and farmed for the last two decades.

Open Mic is a weekly feature in the 'Bohemian.' We welcome your contribution. To have your topical essay of 350 words considered for publication, write[email protected].

The best coverage of Standing Rock is done by Amy Goodman on Democracy Now. You can hear it each weekday on KPFA-FM, 94.1 or read it at the website. You can subscribe for free at [email protected]. Today's stories follow Thursday, November 24, 2016	democracynow.org
Stories
Standing Rock Special: Unlicensed #DAPL Guards Attacked Water Protectors with Dogs & Pepper Spray Many across the United States are celebrating this Thanksgiving holiday. But many for Native Americans observe it as a National Day of Mourning, marking the genocide against their communities and the theft of their land. We spend the hour ... Read More →
Standing Rock Special: Historian Says Dakota Access Co. Attack Came on Anniv. of Whitestone Massacre While reporting from the standoff at Standing Rock in September, Democracy Now! sat down with Standing Rock Sioux tribal historian LaDonna Brave Bull Allard to ... Read More →
Standing Rock Special: Dakota Excess Pipeline? Media & Water Protectors Face Strip Searches, Jail Today we're revisiting Democracy Now! reports on the ongoing standoff at Standing Rock in North Dakota, where thousands of Native American water defenders ... Read More →
Standing Rock Special: Dallas Goldtooth on Police Violence & Repression of Movement Against DAPL We continue our look back at Democracy Now!'s coverage of the ongoing standoff at Standing Rock in North Dakota, where thousands of Native American ... Read More →

I want to give a public shout out to my long time friend and also long time Sebastopol resident Julia Bystrova who is, right now a this moment, at the Standing Rock main camp assisting with the medic and healers group. Julia is a local hero, as are also the other activists at Standing Rock. Julia has been giving many of us front line reports on her Facebook page.

There may be other local heroes at Standing Rock right now. Please report if you know any.

Will Parrish of Mendocino is currently at Standing Rock. He is an excellent journalist whose articles are likely to appear in the Bohemian, East Bay Express, and Mendocino's AVA. I appreciate Scott for informing us that Julia Bystrova is there now and reporting. I hope that she will consider posting some reports here on Waccobb.net.

from PPI:

We will be sitting for one hour of silent prayer tomorrow Saturday November 26th at 1pm Pacific time at PPI-Ati Ling, in support of the community in resistance at Standing Rock, North Dakota, and hope that others will be able to do the same in their homes or wherever they are this weekend.

We want to honor the aspiration of the Native elders involved that people everywhere come together in silent prayer for the safety and well-being of Earth, its resources and its peoples, and – at this time especially – for the Native peoples everywhere in the United States whose existence, culture and lands have been under attack for so long. While noting that there may be differences of opinion among local Sioux tribe members and others about the pipeline and the protest, this doesn’t detract from the extraordinary power of the peaceful gathering that has emerged in response to the DAPL, and the support from so many around the world. So we pray wholeheartedly in solidarity with this movement and its highest aspirations. May all beings everywhere find temporary and ultimate freedom and happiness.

https://praywithstandingrock.com/home

Barry Cogbill of Santa Rosa just donated, delivered, and set up solar panels to charge cell phones, etc. He has a fundraising page on Generosity because his van broke down in Wyoming. He is also on Facebook giving updates since the press is not covering it.

If Somehow Sonoma County could have wanted a continual flame from the last time an Olympic torch passed by, could there be a flame here in recognition of what is happening there?