Keystone XL Pipeline Fighter Completes 2,150-Mile Trike Ride
ORT ARTHUR, Texas, December 22, 2011 (ENS) - Tom Weis arrived Wednesday in the refinery town of Port Arthur, after pedaling his "rocket trike" 2,150 miles along the proposed U.S. route of TransCanada's Keystone XL pipeline.
One of the first people to be arrested this summer at the White House protesting the pipeline proposal, Weis undertook his 10-week-long journey to warn U.S. residents along the route of the dangers of bringing heavy tar sands oil from northern Alberta to refineries on the Texas Gulf Coast.
"The most difficult part of this journey was witnessing first-hand how this foreign corporation has turned peoples' lives upside down and caused them so much pain and anguish," Weis told ENS in an interview.
"Because of this toxic tar sands proposal, hardworking Americans, ranchers and farmers who live on the Great Plains have had to dedicate themselves to fighting this transnational corporation to protect their families and protect their water," said Weis.
"This is the job of government," he said. "It's because government is not standing up for the people living on the front lines, they've got to do it for themselves and this is not right."
Weis is critical of President Barack Obama, who must decide whether or not the Keystone XL pipeline is in the the national interest.
"The number one job of the President of the United States is to protect America and the American people. Transcanada's proposed pipeline is a direct threat to the American people and he is failing at his job," said Weis.
Keystone XL Pipeline Fighter Completes 2,150-Mile Trike Ride
