Banner photo credit: Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light
THE ISSUE
Very soon, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) will make the final decision on the 401 water-crossing permits Enbridges needs to start construction of their expanded Line 3 tar sands pipeline. We need your voice to let Commissioner Bishop know we are behind her in facing down corporate power and protecting water, treaty rights, and climate for generations to come.
Commissioner Bishop will make the final decision on the water crossing permits for the Line 3 pipeline. If it is approved, construction may begin as early as November. If she denies the permit with prejudice, the pipeline project is stopped in its tracks. If she denies it without prejudice, Enbridge can resubmit their plans to address concerns.
Numerous organizations have provided scientific evidence of the harm to Minnesota’s waters that this project will cause. Just burying the pipe under streams, lakes, and rivers, will pollute our waters and likely destroy the treaty-protected wild rice beds that Indigenous people depend on to feed their communities and sell for income. In addition, all pipelines leak and Enbridge does not have a plan to clean up spills before they harm our waterways and wildlife, meaning we could be the next Kalamazoo tar sands oil spill disaster.
We are calling on Commissioner Bishop to be courageous and live up to her lifelong commitment to protect water and climate from disruption. We are reminding her through pictures from the Relay for our Water that many Minnesotans are behind her. She faces immense pressure, and we need to speak up and encourage her to make the right decision, to avert climate disaster, uphold treaty obligations, and safeguard clean water for us and future generations.
TAKE ACTION RIGHT NOW!
1. Email Commissioner Laura Bishop and urge her to follow the science, and deny Enbridge’s 401 water-crossing permits with prejudice.
Click on this link to send this pre-written email to MPCA Commissioner Laura Bishop now. Thank you!
2. Call Governor tim Walz and urge hIm to Lobby the MPCA To follow the science, and deny Line 3’s 401 water-crossing permits with prejudice.
The Governor’s number is 651-201-3400 or 800-657-3717, or for Minnesota Relay: 800-627-3529. You will either get his voice mail or a staff member. Here is a sample script to read, or you can modify it how you see fit:
Hi, my name is [Your Name]. As a Minnesotan, who lives in [Name city], I encourage Governor Walz to urge the MPCA to listen to the science and deny Enbridge’s 401 water-crossing permit with prejudice. Like the Governor, I care about clean water, protecting Indigenous treat rights, and healing our climate for current and future generations of people, animals, and all life forms. Please don’t put Enbridge’s profit motives and money over the health and welfare of our water, our communities, and our Indigenous neighbors. Again, I ask that you deny Enbridge’s 401 water crossing permits with prejudice, and be the protector of air, water, and life that we Minnesotan’s need right now. Thank you.
3. Call Commissioner Laura Bishop and urge her to follow the science, and deny Enbridge’s 401 water-crossing permits with prejudice.
The MPCA’s numbers are 651-296-6300 or 800-657-3864. Ask to speak with Laura Bishop. You will most likely get her voice mail. Here is a sample script to read, or you can modify it how you see fit:
Hi, my name is [Your Name]. As a Minnesotan, who lives in [Name city], I urge you to listen to the science and deny Enbridge’s 401 water crossing permit with prejudice. Like you, I care about clean water, protecting Indigenous treat rights, and healing our climate for current and future generations of people, animals, and all life forms. Please don’t put Enbridge’s profit motives and money over the health and welfare of our water, our communities, and our Indigenous neighbors. Again, I ask that you deny Enbridge’s 401 water crossing permits with prejudice, and be the protector of air, water, and life that we Minnesotan’s need right now. Thank you.
4. Share this action alert on your social media pages by posting the following text and link to your social media. You can also use the photoS below.
SAMPLE LONG TEXT YOU CAN USE (For Facebook, Instagram, Etc.):
ACTION ALERT: Please urge @mnpca (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency), @GovTimWalz, and @LtGovFlanagan to follow the science and deny with prejudice Enbridge's 401 water-crossing permits to #StopLine3. In the beloved community we seek to create, we rapidly, elegantly and justly transition away from fossil fuel use; all people have living-wage careers that benefit our communities; and our climate, water, and lands are clean and life-giving. Take action now at https://www.boundlessloveproject.org/news/mpcastopline3. #RelayForOurWater #WaterIsLife #ClimateCrisis #StopLine3
SAMPLE SHORT TEXT YOU CAN USE (For Twitter)
ACTION ALERT: Urge @mnpca (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency), @GovTimWalz, and @LtGovFlanagan to follow the science and deny with prejudice Enbridge's 401 water-crossing permits to #StopLine3. Take action now at https://www.boundlessloveproject.org/news/mpcastopline3. #WaterIsLife #ClimateEmergency
5. Join the Stop Line 3 campaign.
Learn more about the issue and other ways to get involved at StopLine3.org.
6. Subscribe to our newsletter for more action alerts on social justice issues.
7. Join our RACIAL Justice Caucus.
We envision a world where all people — including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color — are valued, appreciated, and included because they exist. Help us make it happen. If interested in learning more or joining, contact us or complete our volunteer form.
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Thanks for your support!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Huge thank you to our partner, Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light , for helping create this action alert.