Our current way of life is absolutely dependant on black gold and without it we would stave in a matter of weeks.
It is everyone's responsibility to ensure the oil is extracted and transported in the least harmful manner.(I believe pipelines are safer than trucking or rail although I admit I don't know this for sure)
As with anything that will be so disruptive to those living near it, there will be resistance. I wouldn't like I pipeline in my backyard or through my water source.
I believe the solution to be 2 fold
1 - Choose the route that has the least possible harm (both immediate and potential)
2 -People who can't agree to the route coming through them would have to be "bought out"
.
While I agree that "compulsory purchase" should be the absolute last measure to be taken, in cross country projects there will be inevitable holdouts with very valid concerns.
The pipeline companies will stand to be handsomely paid for use of the pipeline and we should all stand together to make sure those people who stand to be inconvenience are fairly rewarded/compensated from the profits earned.
Transit fees or relocation fees for the landowners should be agreed at the national level not on an individual basis.
These are some wonderful solutions to avoid such harms. My friend, actually we are the core reason behind the such harmful activities because we chose the governments through our votes, and in our education system we are taught in such a way that we become robots just to serve this system, feudal system.
Nice post. I think that is the current method that the government uses to push a pipe line through. What do you propose should be done when the government runs into people who:
Do you feel the state has a valid claim on the land to force their way through for these national projects? Do you advocate the use of violence, force, relocation and other methods to ensure project success?