As posted previously, there is the Right to Cultural Heritage.
An example of the denial of this right occurs when sacred land is disregarded.
This week, there was protest against oil pipelines
planned to pass through sacred indigenous burial grounds.
This week, there was protest against oil pipelines
planned to pass through sacred indigenous burial grounds.
TransCanada and Exxon will extend pipelines,
that already run from Nebraska to Oklahoma, down into Texas,
A survey done by the Oklahoma Archaeological Survey
reported 88 archaeological sites and 34 historical structures
along this Keystone XL pipeline's Oklahoma route.
The U.S. government asked to re-route parts to preserve only 17 sites and 12 structures.
 |
| Keystone XL oil pipeline map in the United States |
It seems that putting pipelines through burial grounds is an international thing.
In 2011, the Telengit people in Russia also wanted
the re-routing of construction of a gas pipeline
that would cut right across their most sacred place, the Ukok Plateau,
This high plateau in the Altai Mountains on the border between Russia and China
has been a sacred burial ground for at least 8,000 years.
This geographical site is also a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This geographical site is also a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Additionally, other rights are denied here,
including the Right to Sacredness and Right to Respect.
36 comments:
By spending more money maybe they can reroute it in a different direction. Big corporations are big because they don’t care who or what they run over in order to make money. It’s all about the money and forget about the past it’s dead anyways. Whatever happened to fuel from corn?
BRM
Oil companies look at the land and see dollar signs. They do not see the people or the history that they are hurting. Instead of being so selfish, they should put themselves in the lives of the people who appreciate cultural heritage.
JR
I feel that the re-routing of pipelines through sacred burials, archeological sites and historical structures is disrespectful because history can not repeat itself, therefore we should honor the rights of the land. YML
Now I'm no cynic, but oil companies will never care about cultural heritage. All they care about is the cheapest, easiest, and most efficient way to do business. They don't care about the cultural significance of the land they are running their pipelines through. All that matters to them is profit, and the most efficient way to make said profit.MBS.
Let's not ignore the fact that oil- a fossil fuel- is composed entirely of dead things. And all we use it for is mindlessly pumping it into our cars. How's that for respecting the dead? -SAS
Yea we need gas to fuel many things but, the oil companies are not going to care about trying to protect the archaeological sites. All they care about is finding more ways to make money. Unless the governments FORCE them to re-route the pipeline nothing is going to be done. Just simple asking the oil companies to re-route doesn’t mean they are going listen. A.h
I don't think they should put oil through the pipelines because it would destroy the archeological sites and the history of those sites. If they want to build piplines they could do it any where but the archeological sites because they are historical.-I.C.
What Oil Companies failed to see with the routes they have chosen to lay their pipe lines is that in the process they are going to destroy something that is precious to many of us, an intangible idea of you will. Just like YML stated history can not repeat itself. Many people say that money is the root of all evil and i would have to disagree, it only becomes evil when you let it blind you and that is exactly what the Oil Companies have let it done to them. JLF
The ancestors worth seems to amount to grains of salt when compared to oil profits. The ease of transporting oil should not take precedence over the sacred burials or respect to mother nature. Because nature can not defend itself, it is a prime victim for the oil tycoons.
G.C.
Sacredness is evaluated by living people. Many modern civilizations exist over thousands of artifacts and structures that we considered sacred by those before us. People have the right to fight for their cultural heritage. What will archaeologists say about how we treated each other 1000 years from today?
ALB
These companies care little about the historical/cultural significance of the mentioned sites. They find the cheapest way to do what they need to do, and don't necessarily mind if a few toes are stepped on in the process. We may complain and protest about whether or not it is correct now but let's face it, at the end of the day, when we ultimately end up the beneficiaries of it, we have no qualms about it. -JAY
I believe all of these companies make millions and millions of dollars they can spend that coming up with a better idea of rerouting oil pipelines. when it comes down to it will these people appreciate an oil pipeline running through their own back yard...I think not.
ABL
I'm sure that oil companies do their research as to where they will be building their pipelines. With a "this is business" attitude, most companies may consider this part of doing business and are willing to face the angry masses for it. Its a budgeted expense. I believe that if its worth fighting for, then you attack it teeth and nails, no matter the outcome. Win or loose, you fight it out and protecting sacred land is worth fighting for. T.L.
Sometimes there are times where we must put aside one to gain another. For example when we need safety to some extent we loose the right to privacy. So really I do not want to be heartless but in cases we need to put certain things aside to benefit others, and for our future.
-JPG
In my opinion, sacred burial grounds should not be disturbed. There are certain lines that people cannot cross, and that is one of those lines. To be honest, I don’t care for sacred burial grounds, I don’t care who is in it, nor what it represents. I don’t need a history on the place to understand that it should be respected.
AG
We should try to preserve as much of our heritage as we can. I know new eras form and there must always be room for new developement but pieces of our past is most important when moving forward.
Oil companies are destroying our planet. we, the people, have to unite against this outrageous events. Somehow we have to find a way to stop then. they are harming the biodiversity of the planet as well as the planet itself .
S.A.
I really don’t understand why money overpowers respect. There should be different ways to have less archaeological sites and historical structures. There is no good reason to being selfish. Although the oil pipeline company may not feel this place is sacred, others do, and it would be evil of them to destroy its burial grounds.-S.S.
In this world, nothing else matters but money. The best way is the easy way. The easy way would be the only way. Oil companies can care less where the pipelines are going through because these "sacred and historical" places aren't making them any profit. With that being said, if they are allowed to re-route, they will; Although, it's selfish, and inconsiderate for everyone else. KR
I agree with KR. This world revolves on money and nothing else. It is unfortunate that tons of oil is below sacred burial grounds. The families of the people who are buried there should protest and hold out against the oil companies. Just a suggestion for them.
BKR
Let's keep in mind what state our economy is in. These pipelines being passed brings us more job opportunitys and making oil more accessible. Which is likely to drop the gas prices in the near future. I believe in our present day society we must adapt, but never forget the past. J.S
I have an excellent idea! We can preserve the sacred grounds by re-routing the pipelines through our own cemeteries and burial grounds! This is an excellent idea because I'm sure we won't mind digging up our own family's graves. Am I RIGHT?
Everyone has their own culture and beliefs. Although, we may not agree with another's life style, it should still be a world law that everyone remains culture sensitive. if we don't, we lead ourselves to wars, and suffer a great loss.
-Q.M.
The Right to Cultural Heritage.
Due to having previously bad experience with the oil industries on this particular issue, the Company TransCanada is working closely this time with Indian tribes in Oklahoma. In order to avoid disrupting sacred sites of unmarked graves of their ancestors during the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, Fannie Bates, a Cherokee descent, stated, "We will walk the whole route,(from) Cushing to the Red River, to make sure they don't destroy an Indian grave." Fidela.
Yes the pipelines are an obstruction towards these sacred burial grounds. This shows a lack of respect towards our ancestry. On the other hand, they have already passed and withered. Though there may be an emotional connection with cultural pasts, there may be situations that call for unwanted actions such as the pipelines. However, this should only be the case when all other options have been exhausted.
Yes the pipelines are an obstruction towards these sacred burial grounds. This shows a lack of respect towards our ancestry. On the other hand, they have already passed and withered. Though there may be an emotional connection with cultural pasts, there may be situations that call for unwanted actions such as the pipelines. However, this should only be the case when all other options have been exhausted.
Oil companies are concerned about money, period. Nothing else is important and has no value in their eyes it seems.The cultural/historical importance of sacred land mean nothing to them. Destroying the history of those sites through pipelines in order to make money.
JJ
The US is always money hungry. They love seeing money making opportunities in other countries. Oil is a major one. They don't care about the lives they are hurting trying to get oil from these places they just care about the money and profit they are going to make. -SKT
I think this right is essential in order to preserve human kind's history, and no company should be able to affect sacred land in order to make profit, unfortunately as we can see in the media government already accepted the oil pipe line pass through some sacred land. The only thing we can do is protest or raise our voice and make it heard by our congressmen to make changes, that honestly I don't think will occur.
by ASR
It’s really sad to see that humans are unable to remember our ancestors. Unfortunately in the world in which we live, there are still people that only care about the money.
*NG*
Its so funny that people look for short cuts not caring about the people they will hurt, but then again in this case it might have been necessary for the greater good. But these companies should let the people know why they are doing these things.
A.M.
I have only one comment in the matter, "Capitalism". Majority of governmental entities around the world are more concerned about making money than considering the population's needs, wants, religious preferences, food or shelter depravations. All those are secondary to economy and funding. We live in such a materialistic world than everyday more and more we forget where we come from and the true meaning of life. AYS
If it was the ancestors of the people planning the pipe line buried at the sacred sight they might have planned a different route. They should also not have to make a compromise and only save some of them all the sights need to be left as is, it is part of the country’s history.
CP
Sacred ground is sacred ground, the reservation itself is being exploited without a care in the world. It's truly sickening how this issue is ignored by local news stations.
R.F.
-Lets be honest if the govn. is getting a big enough cut out of the deal they'll let the oil companies put a pipeline through their forehead. Rich or getting richer while the middle and poor are suffering.-J.D.
When you view this situation from the stand point of a person who cares about historical sites, you might want them to re-route. But if you’re the business owner you’re going to want to spend the least as possible and go through whatever you have to so you can get your distribution going ASAP. E.P.C
Post a Comment