There are still brutal confrontations, as the Water Protectors from Standing Rock Reservation and their allies gather peacefully in prayer to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline, People are still being maced and shot with rubber bullets and arrested, but the tide is starting to turn.
First of all, the heroism of the Protectors was displayed in an incident a couple of weeks ago, when a small number held a bridge against 250 armed law enforcement people, who were marching to participate in the demolition of the Treaty Camp. http://www.yesmagazine.org/the-standing-rock-victory-you-didnt-hear-about-20161103
Morton County investigated the Labor Day dog attack, and found that the handlers were unlicensed. The situation was referred to the local DA for possible legal action. http://www.inforum.com/news/4144837-report-dakota-access-dog-handlers-werent-licensed-work-security
On Nov. 4th, "according to reports from the Indigenous Environmental Network, Colonel John W. Henderson
of the Corps promised the Standing Rock Sioux tribe that no permit
would be issued to drill the Dakota Access Pipeline under the Missouri
River until 30 days after construction stops. After that, there will be a
comment period adequate to allow the tribes full consultation. This
could delay pipeline construction under the river by 45 days to three
months."
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/11/05/turning-point-standing-rock-resistance-and-renewed-hope-against-dakota-access
Earlier last week, "President Obama commented that his administration
would be looking at rerouting the pipeline. A new route would require a
new environmental assessment, and this time, the tribes, and others,
will insist on a full environmental impact statement -- not the
questionable environmental assessment used by the Army Corps when it
issued the first permit." The first assessment was done in small pieces, without an overall impact statement for the project. A new one could take several months.
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/11/05/turning-point-standing-rock-resistance-and-renewed-hope-against-dakota-access
Of course, for any corporate project, time is money. The delay of construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline is costing Energy Transfer about $1.3 million/day. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2016/03/24/cost-pipeline-delays-13-million-daily/82211792
The State of North Dakota has already spent $10 million on law enforcement vs. the Water Protectors, and just borrowed $4 million more, as the Protectors prepare for a long winter siege. Morton County is also hurting financially, after jailing over 400 people this past month. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/11/01/north-dakota-officials-borrow-4m-slam-feds-on-protest-cost.html
And now, a major investor, Norwegian Bank, which is contributing 10% of the financing, has said they will pull their funding out of DAPL if Native American concerns are not met.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Norwegian-Bank-Considering-by-Stephen-Fox-Bank-Investment-In-The-Dakota-Access-Pipeline_Dakota-Access-Pipeline_Los-Angeles-Progressive_North-Dakota-161107-293.html
Hang in there, folks. The tide is turning. The peaceful, prayerful protests of the Native American people will prevail.
Carol Wolman, MD
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