Dear colleagues, Please stand with those who, on behalf of all of us, are on the front lines of protecting the earth. Stand with Standing Rock: Call Secretary of Defense Mattis. Information below. Divest from fossil fuels and move monies from banks to credit unions. Ellie elliestock@aol.com Urgent: Stand with Standing Rock! Stand with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Oppose the Army Corps permit allowing construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Call Secretary of Defense Mattis Now: 703-571-3343 Today, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced their intention to issue a permit for the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline under Lake Oahe as soon as tomorrow. This pipeline permit route jeopardizes drinking water and desecrates sacred burial grounds of the Standing Rock Sioux. The Army Corps also stated that they would grant the easement without completing an Environmental Impact Statement (an inclusive project evaluation process that allows for public input). Last December, the U.S. Army Corps found that an Environmental Impact Statement was necessary to determine the safety and environmental impact of the pipeline’s construction. Today’s announcement circumvents this legal process while jeopardizing the health, cultural, and spiritual rights of our Sioux brothers and sisters. The announcement comes only two weeks after President Trump issued a Presidential Memorandum instructing the Corps to expedite the permit. The Department of Defense has direct jurisdiction over the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Act Today: Call Secretary of Defense James Mattis and urge him not to grant the easement without a full Environmental Impact Statement that properly consults the Standing Rock Sioux and upholds treaty obligations. Call: 703-571-3343, Extension 5 to leave a message. (this is the public communications line) Here is what you might say: Hello, my name is _____ and I am from _______ (faith community/organization) in ______ (city, state). As a person of faith, I am deeply concerned about the well-being of the Standing Rock Sioux people. Granting an easement for the Dakota Access Pipeline without first completing an Environmental Impact Statement circumvents an important legal process and jeopardizes the health and human rights of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Because the Department of Defense has direct jurisdiction over the Army Corps, I urge Secretary Mattis to ensure that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers abides by the processes they set forth in December by completing a full Environmental Impact Statement, while properly consulting the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and honoring treaty obligations. Thank you. You can keep up on the latest news about legal challenges to the Dakota Access pipeline at the Earthjustice website. Please share this alert widely, and thank you for all you do for the cause of creation justice. Grace and Peace, Shantha Ready Alonso, Executive Director, Creation Justice Ministries SHARE ON FACEBOOK RETWEET ON TWITTER Connect with Us Creation Justice Ministries 110 Maryland Ave NE #203 Washington, DC 20002 (202) 827-3975 info@creationjustice.org www.creationjustice.org UNSUBSCRIBE