Keystone XL and tar sands oil are emissions-free wonders that will do everything good you ever thought possible. (At least according to the American Petroleum Institute.) Let's take a look at the organization that has been lobbying their heart out to get Keystone XL approved.
The environmental review process and the recent announcement by the State Department help reveal the behind-the-scenes work of the American Petroleum Institute. This group is headed by Jack Gerard. You know, the guy who used to head the National Mining Association and the American Chemistry Council. (Chemicals, coal, oil, it's all the same to ol' Jack.) Dig a little deeper and you find that API has been spying on environmental groups (okay, paying for "intel") and has a member-company giving environmental advice to the State Department.
In their report, the State Department did not say there will be no negative environmental impact from the Keystone XL pipeline, they just said that with or without the Keystone XL pipeline, emissions from tar sands oil were going to happen. Sad but probably true. Share, comment and let people know what's going on and who is behind the drive for the pipeline by sending this cartoon around the Internets. And remember, you can find out more about the news behind this cartoon here on my website.
[soothing, confident female corporate voice]
We're innovation. We're jobs. We're American.
We're the American Petroleum Institute, and we're your best friends.
We're pleased to announce the State Department reported no significant greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the Keystone XL pipeline.
Because, like it or not, more tar sands oil is on the way.
Sometimes a pipe, is just a pipe.
Under the leadership of our CEO, Jack Gerard, we made sure the State Department hired a member of our organization to help conduct the environmental review . . .
. . . A member who has previously worked for the very company who wants to build the beautiful and necessary pipeline they're reviewing!
We at API have spent the most we ever have on lobbying, and it's paying off: With global warming confusion and a long-term commitment to fossil fuels.
But just to be sure, we've also been spending to spy on environmentalists.
Because you can buy peace of mind.
Jack Gerard is confident that after Obama's full-throated endorsement of natural gas, he'll soon give a fuller-throated endorsement of oil.
[Gerard: He'll be gargling oil for breakfast, if he knows what's good for him!]
We're almost there, thanks to the American Petroleum Institute.
Soon, the Keystone XL pipeline will be delivering clean, emissions-free tar sands oil that will do everything good you ever thought possible.
Leave the worrying about oil spills, eminent domain and carbon footprints to those unstable farmers, homeowners and hippies.
Real Americans will sit back, relax . . . and do what we tell you to do.
[endslate: "Build the Keystone XL. Now, dammit. Paid for by the American Petroleum Institute.]