Editorials

by: Autumn Anderson, Emma Fetterolf, Alyssa Huiskens, Olivia Jones, Rebecca Morrison, Stephanie Purifoy, Hope Rahn, Brianna Sharp.

May 3, 2017

TRAVERSE CITY, MI. -- Sweeping expanses of white, sandy beaches, broken only by bright splashes of dune grass waving defiantly in the breeze. The rolling hills of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore meet shoreline where gentle waves lap the sand. The water of the Great Lakes is clearer than any ocean, containing more than twenty percent of Earth’s fresh water.

Small towns scattered across Northern Michigan attract millions of tourists who provide the economy's backbone. Locals rely on the lakes for more than their livelihoods.Water is a way of life in Northern Michigan, but this utopia is being threatened by a danger unknown to a significant portion of the population.

That danger began on April 23rd, 1953 when Canadian Enbridge Energy Company installed a pipeline carrying natural gas and oil through Michigan to Sarnia, Ontario. Known as Line 5, it runs under the Straits of Mackinac, raising concern among native tribes, religious groups, and citizens alike. Even Attorney General Bill Schuette remarked, “You would not build a Straits pipeline in this decade. Its days are numbered, its duration is limited in my opinion.” The 64-year-old pipeline has exceeded its intended lifespan of 50 years and is starting to deteriorate.

In 2014, Dr. David Schwab released a study of simulations showing that an oil spill in the Straits would spread for hundreds of miles, polluting aquatic habitats. Enbridge has an appalling history, with 800 documented spills, one resulting in America’s largest inland oil spill in the Kalamazoo River. Governor Snyder created the Pipeline Advisory Board to oversee its safety; however, many Michigan locals believe the government isn’t following through on its promises.

In two years, Snyder’s Advisory Board has done nothing except gather information and conduct studies. We as citizens of Michigan are becoming increasingly frustrated. As one speaker at a recent Advisory Board meeting stated, “We are not asking you to do more research.” The Board’s inaction serves to protect a Canadian company that does little for the state economy.

Our generation will carry the burden of what’s to come regarding Line 5. If the line breaks, we will be forced to live with the oil-stained tattoos along the shoreline of the “Most Beautiful Place in America.” We will have to find alternative revenue with the decline of tourists and the realization that Michigan’s freshwater is now worthless.

We will become the policy makers of tomorrow. We’ll be handed the responsibility of stewarding Michigan, the consequences of the pipeline falling directly on our shoulders. The only solution? Decommission the pipeline that poses a threat to the stability of life for not only Michigan natives, but citizens of the United States as a whole.

by: Amanda Dow, Jade Giddis, Madelynne Gregory, Shianne Knoch, Micah Mabey, Paul Oh, Olivia Schmitz, Reeli Threet.

May 2, 2017

“Enbridge takes all the money and we take all the risk.” -Ed Timm

TRAVERSE CITY, MI. -- The Dakota Access Pipeline, also known as Keystone XL, is well-known to the public for crossing Native American tribal lands and threatening drinking water in the region. But while thousands have swarmed to protest Keystone XL, capturing national attention, almost no light has been shed on an equally dangerous Michigan pipeline.

Line 5 runs under the Straits of Mackinac, a region between Michigan’s Lower and Upper Peninsula where the Great Lakes of Michigan and Huron intersect. It is well past its expiration date, pumping crude oil and natural gas for 64 years when it was only meant to withstand 50. The Canadian company that owns Line 5, Enbridge Energy Company, has a long history of reported oil spills, which would wreak havoc on the already-fragile Great Lakes ecosystem. Even though the pipeline is outdated and damaged, Enbridge continues to operate it.

Michigan receives only 5-10 percent of the light crude oil that is carried through Line 5, and the Upper Peninsula receives some of its propane. These are the only benefits that Michigan obtains by allowing Line 5 to run through its land and water. The Line 5 Pipeline poses more risks for Michigan than benefits. The Straits have been named as the worst possible place to have an oil pipeline, mainly because of its strong, direction-changing currents that could spread the oil far and wide in the lakes.

If we let Line 5 spill, it will have effects that will impact the world, starting with those who depend on Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. An estimated number of 800,000 jobs would be threatened, destroying the vacation economy of Northern Michigan and one of the most beautiful places on earth. In contrast, Enbridge provides 250 Michigan jobs. Even if that number could be trusted (Enbridge has been inconsistent about the numbers it has provided), the balance is clear. This is unacceptable. Corporate interests are being prioritized over hundreds of thousands of civilian lives. Michigan has ongoing issues with potable water, as evidenced by the Flint Water Crisis. Unfortunately the man best positioned to shut down Line 5 is one Governor Rick Snyder, whose administration has mishandled the Flint crisis.

With all of this knowledge now in our head, it’s time for us to think. Is Line 5 Pipeline something that we want the next generation to have to deal with when it’s already too late, or do we want to deal with it now? We could do so much ahead of time to stop a disaster. Why are we waiting? It’s time to decommission Line 5.

by Micah D. Mabey

May 4, 2017

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” (Pres. Barack Obama. Feb 8, 2008)

TRAVERSE CITY, MI. — It seems that Line 5 and activism go hand in hand. Using everything from documentary filmmaking to paddle-boarding the Straits of Mackinac, people have shown they want their voices to be heard on the subject. This article reviews only a few of the many forms of activism that people have taken, and offers ways to get involved.

“Great Lakes, Bad Lines” is a 28-minute documentary following two Michigan natives (as well as some fellow travelers) and their fossil-fuel-free journey along the route of Line 5. “Through the lens of adventure, personal stories, and natural beauty, this film highlights the ecosystems and livelihoods that are at risk and inspires all to take action within their own lives.” (Films For Action) The filmmakers surf, bike, sail, and hitch a ride in a vegetable oil-fueled minibus. Find the documentary on YouTube or Vimeo.

Oil & Water Don’t Mix is a non-profit coalition of organizations and citizens across Michigan who are working to keep oil out of the Great Lakes. One way the group is sending a message to Enbridge is with the “Pipe Out Paddle Protest & Flotilla”. This annual event calls for the shutdown of Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac A ‘flotilla’ is “a large group of kayaks/kayaktivtsts protesting on the water a cause or calling for an action.” Learn more on the Oil & Water Don’t Mix official website.

“Bike the Line” was a summer 2016 project built on the idea of biking 705 miles from Superior, Wisconsin (where the line starts) all the way to Marysville, Michigan (where it leaves the States). The goal of “Bike the Line” was to connect with residents about the dangers of Line 5 and what to do if it spills, and to energizing the movement to shut the pipeline down. Learn more on the official Facebook page for “Bike the Line” or on their official website.

Earth First! is an activist group that formed in 1979 “in response to an increasingly corporate, compromising and ineffective environmental community.” (Earth First! Official Website)

On Wednesday, July 6, 2016, a group of protesters (comprised of both Earth First! and Michigan Coalition Against Tar Sands members) arrived at the home of Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette to demand that he immediately order the shutdown of Line 5. The group hung massive banners between trees, poured chocolate syrup (to simulate crude oil), chanted, and held a mock funeral for Enbridge. Some politicians and groups label Earth First! As a group of “thugs” causing mayhem, but Earth First! spokeswoman Sara Wool said "it's unfortunate that Attorney General Schuette is concerned about people putting chocolate syrup on the sidewalk but he's not concerned about the safety of the Great Lakes."

Creating Your Own Response

The whole idea of a democracy is that the government is shaped of the people, for the people, and by the people. If citizens don’t take a stand for what they believe, it’s easier for stagnant politics to occur. The less citizens are actively involved in their government, the greater the separation between the common person and the politician.

Indivisible: A Practical Guide For Resisting The Trump Agenda is exactly what it sounds like: a guide on resisting the Trump agenda. Not everyone may agree with everything that has been published in this document, but it makes some thought-provoking points when it comes to protesting and activism. To borrow some of those ideas, here’s how you can get involved in protests against Line 5.

The title/focus of the guide’s third chapter is “Organize Your Local Group To Fight For Your Congressional District.” For example, Northern Michigan is home to many activist groups. Both For Love of Water (FLOW), and the Groundwork Center call Traverse City home. From June 2016 to March 2017 FLOW held ten events open to the public. In January 2017 alone Groundwork Center held three open events. One way to get educate yourself on Line 5 is to attend these events.

You have plenty of opportunities to get out and do some good. If your area of residence does not already have an activist group, then start one yourself. Social media is a way to connect with local people with similar views and interests. You won’t be alone. Go out and recruit people who are interested in your cause.

The Indivisible guide also suggests getting involved by going to local government-sponsored events. Members of Congress will be at local town hall meetings, ribbon cuttings, and even out kissing babies’ heads. “Don’t even let them get photo-ops without questions about racism, authoritarianism, and corruption,” the guide suggests. In this case, don’t let them get photo-ops without questioning them about Line 5. Remember, they want to get reelected. If your group attracts enough citizens, the government will have to listen.

For those still unsure of how to get involved, use the words of Sir Ian McKellan: “Try to understand what part you have to play in the world in which you live. There’s more to life than you know and it’s all happening out there. Discover what part you can play and then go for it.”