and then beat those hard drives to a pulp with hammer, lest her wedding emails fall into the wrong hands.

I feel like screaming, I want to join the pipeline protest but all I can do is tweet and share on FB, and make a few not funny memes, you know how all that goes. Nobody gives a damn about anything that is really important and for some reason they are not seeing the big picture that this isn't a Native American Issue, It is an issue for us all, we didn't get paid to let them poison our water, there is so much proof that leaks are inevitable there was just a huge one in Ventura CA and the Smithsonian published and article that said claim of clean up are illusion, land and water once poisoned will never be the same. Sorry to dump on you but wanted your conservative opinion, Why is pointing out the effects will impact all of us, why do those who can find fury at a man who won't stand for our flag, Not find that fury and stand for this land and water in the homeland they claim to honor? It's frustrating me, I need to find a dialogue a way to make people see whats right in front of their eyes, Corporate Big Oil Money has already been spent to ensure that "our elected rep" will decide all in their favor

I actually just heard of this in the last few days and was looking to follow up on it. I think sometimes its the "cry wolf" syndrome. I'm not targeting anyone specific with that outside of environmentalists in general. What usually hurts these causes is the lack of any willingness to offer an alternative solution or work at any sort of compromise. I'm not jumping to a defense mind you because I do not have enough detail about that one or the one in Ventura. The country will continue to run on oil for many decades to come and I know no one wants situations where leaks and spills will exist (even conservatives). I have never understood why that is always immediately linked to us. I think most of us favor RESPONSIBLE approaches to environmental issues. I grew up spending summers around the Chesapeake Bay, I know what lack of responsibility can do to an area. I have also see these areas make incredible comebacks through responsible government, citizen and industrial partnerships. I tried to find any reference to these protesters being involved prior to the construction, I went several pages deep but did not find anything. Did they get involved prior to the protests now? Again, not pointing blame as perhaps there were other venues but I looked up the jan 2015 public hearing on this. Go look at the 15 images and tell me if you see missing what I do: http://www.argusleader.com/picture-gallery/news/2015/01/22/photos-dakota-access-pipeline-public-hearing/22197457/ .

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2016/07/27/breaking-dakota-access-pipeline-approved-165275
Yes, they started protesting as soon as they were made aware of it, they met with government officials and the army corps of engineers on several occasions and their concerns and their treaty rights were ignored and violated as is the Norm when big money is involved. The process to file injunctions began the moment they were informed that approval was given by the Army Corps of Engineers. If you Google pipeline accident in the U.S. you will see a staggering list of mishaps and incidents, horrifying pictures when you look into the incidents. Now clean up efforts might be implemented on a massive scale but they have not the know how to set polluted waters and land back to what they were, life may exist but repercussions of poison in our land and water always rear up as well (Cancers/illnesses/sterility/deformities). Here is the Smithsonian article link that explains it all and erases the illusion that Big Oil presents us with http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/oil-spill-cleanup-illusion-180959783/?no-ist

So what precautions has the company taken to prevent or limit spills?

http://everydayfeminism.com/2016/09/dakota-access-pipeline/ this is another really good explanation of what is going on from my viewpoint, well written if you have the time.
So here is the Propaganda from Energy Transfers front page of lollypops and rainbows:
The Dakota Access Pipeline will employ new advanced pipeline technology to ensure safety and reliability. Pipelines are the safest mode of transporting crude oil, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Transportation. But there are always opportunities to improve on that record. Today’s crude oil pipelines are designed to exceed stringent federal safety standards. Dakota Access will be built and operated using the most advanced technology and monitoring systems to make it even safer. Yet they do not specify exactly what new technologies and monitoring system as there are several according to a PDF article from Penn State, However, this article warns against too much faith in these new technologies, did not help with the Canada Leak http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/nexen-spill-new-pipelines-not-always-safer-investigator-says-1.3159562

Sorry,I didn't mean to be an ass and abandon the conversation. I had something of a lengthy response going in my head, but then had to leave for work. I did see where a judge issued a temporary stay?

I never thought that you did. I like your reasoning respect your opinions, that is why I asked, I know you have to look through the eyes of others to really see all of what is happening.

It is tough in that case though, there is a ton of history there, and you can't really separate the history from the actual issue. The more I looked the more I wonder why they chose that particular crossing knowing they would get opposition and that public opinion would start to mount against them. I guess that is why judges get paid so much, to settle issues like this. :)

I think that judges judge in favor of who is paying. I believe that they thought this would go through unopposed because of where they chose to lay it, it is extremely difficult to get anyone's attention on anything that is happening with Native Americans, It is in the forefront now after months and months of social media promotion by many, I really do believe that the sites themselves tried as hard as they could to keep the issue from trending. I think pipelines and fracking are wrong period, no matter who it is being done in close proximity to. I would fight against or just bitch loud and wide as I am and do, all I can do. I know what you mean about oil and gas being clung to and clean energy being expensive and somewhat out of reach but at some point that is not going to be a choice anymore. Whether we just used it all up or whether we destroyed ourselves or whether Jesus comes and takes over. I know many choose not to believe, I choose to, I would rather believe and be wrong than not believe and be wrong. I need some hope. I hope people will use this opportunity to learn more about Native Americans and why they deserve to have their treaties honored, why they should be given back all the original reservation lands that keep getting annexed or taken into trust or lent out by the government, or sold. I also hope they find out the truth of how very poor most are, no big checks, no casinos, or no revenue from casinos, no tax breaks, hard lives and hard times brought up in dysfunctional cycles of many parents that only have a blood connection to their tribe but no pride, no hope, alcoholism, drugs, abuse, the ugliness that came from loss of identity, connections, hope, trust, self worth. I am so tired of trying to tell people that the majority of Native Americans are not living the high life, free college, no taxes, free land, free healthcare. All BS and most even have to deal with nepotism and scandalous profiteering from their own people who sell them out to get theirs for just them and their closest, it is so crazy when I actually see what people believe in writing on social media, the ignorance. I can't, I don't see how anyone can ever fix this broken system.

As long as there are those that want a divide, there will be a divide and different treatment. There will also be those who will exploit that on both sides, native and non-native. If you want to be treated difference then the whole package has to be accepted. In my opinion we are all Amercan but with our own heritages and customs which need not concern me if you choose approaches to things differently than I do. When someone chooses to affix a delimiter in front of "American" then they choose to set themselves apart, That goes for "African", "Gay", "muslim", "Native" or whatever is chosen. You cannot say "we are different" for some reason and not get treated differently. I've worked in large companies with people with all these differences and it never made a difference to anyone. We were all Just employees of "x" company and only judged by out performance. It did not mean anyone was treated different because they were a dark skinned employee. It would have been however if someone for instance said "i was an original employee and deserve "x". Trust me when I say I don't want anyone to feel like they need to give up a heritage or traditions, but this really is one nation and the only way to make it work for everyone is for everyone to believe they are equals. I hope you don't find this offensive as it was not meant to be. I realize there are a lot of complications to the issues but I do think "prejudiced" is an over-used exscuse as to why SOME cannot achieve, advance or improve.