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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 13, 2015
Contact:
Jane Kleeb, 402-705-3622, jane@boldnebraska.org
Massive Crop Art of Presidential Seal Sends #NoKXL Message to Pres. Obama
Nebraskans Urge Obama to Protect His Climate Legacy by Rejecting Keystone XL
Neligh, Nebraska — During what is normally a time to plant crops, Nebraskans went into the field for a different reason — to create a massive crop art installation of the Presidential Seal with the words “Climate Legacy, #NoKXL” to send a message to Pres. Obama that his legacy is tied to rejecting the Keystone XL tarsands pipeline.
“We worked for days in the field, on land directly in the path of this risky tarsands pipeline, to send the president a message that his climate legacy must include a rejection of Keystone XL,” said Art Tanderup, the farmer whose land hosts the 15-acre-spanning crop art installation. “I am a farmer who has taken climate action by installing solar panels and water sensors and adopting sustainable practices like no-till. I urge the president to stand with the people of the Heartland and to honor his climate legacy by saying no to Keystone.”
This is the second crop art installation that Nebraskans have created with artist John Quigley, who has traveled the world installing art projects with a clear message of protecting the land and water and urging citizens and leaders to take climate action. Last year, an image of the Cowboy and Indian Alliance logo was etched into the land as farmers, ranchers and Native allies rode horses in Washington, DC to carry the message “Reject and Protect.”
“This new image calls for President Obama to rise to the challenge of the most urgent issue facing the world today — protecting water, land and future generations from the disastrous impacts of extreme climate change,” said artist John Quigley. “Rejecting the Keystone Pipeline will be the defining moment for his climate legacy. History and future generations will hail this landmark decision as a critical turning point.”
Landowners and citizens remain confident President Obama will reject Keystone XL given the impact tarsands has on carbon and water pollution. Over 100 landowners in Nebraska refuse to sign over their land to TransCanada and have an active lawsuit over eminent domain for private gain.
Additionally, landowners, citizens and Tribal Nations in South Dakota are contesting the proposed pipeline’s state-based permit over concerns of water pollution and treaty rights.
Nebraskans started fighting Keystone XL in 2010 to protect property rights and our precious water sources. Pres. Obama first tied the pipeline to climate change with the historic speech he gave in June 2013 at Georgetown University. Advocates now call on the President to back up those words with continued climate action.
“After years of making the case and making our voices heard, we hope this crop art message to President Obama seals the rejection of this risky tarsands pipeline. Our families’ legacies are tied up in the land, and the President’s climate legacy is tied up in the rejection of Keystone,” stated Jane Kleeb, Bold Nebraska Director. “The time has come to make a decision so our families can move on with their lives, and so the President can move on to sealing long-term climate action in Paris with world leaders, and across the United States with the ambitious Clean Power Plan.”
CROP ART DESCRIPTION
- Etched into the land directly on the proposed Keystone XL pipeline route in Neligh, Nebraska
- The image spans 15 acres and was etched into the land across 8 days with volunteers from Bold Nebraska, Wica Agli and landowners in the proposed KXL route
- The design was made using a 1978 John Deere tractor, flags, yard tape, shovels, rakes, grid paper and landscape fabric (which is the black contrast in the design to the green Rye and tan corn stalks); no GPS tools were used
- John Quigley created the image modifying the US Presidential Seal and pulling in symbols to reflect the pipeline fight
- The words of the seal include “Climate Legacy” “#NoKXL” and “Heartland”
- 6 arrows in the Eagle’s talon to represent the 6 states in the original path of Keystone XL pipeline (MT, SD, NE, KS, OK, TX)
- Olive branch with the arrows in the talon of the Eagle symbolizes the power of peace and war in the original Presidential Seal; Nebraskans stand firmly with our allies of the Great Sioux Nation whose treaty rights are being violated with Keystone XL
- 6 stripes on the Eagle’s shield to represent the 6 states on the original route; please note that KS, OK, TX are part of what is now referred to as “Keystone Gulf Coast Segment” but Nebraskans acknowledge the risk these landowners are under with the pipeline being broken into two segments as a tactic for TransCanada to get an approval
- 3 stars to represent the states in the fight to protect their land and water from proposed Keystone XL route—MT, SD, NE
B-ROLL
- View and download Crop Art B-roll Clip #1: http://bit.ly/1IGqHR6
- View and download Crop Art B-roll Clip #2: http://bit.ly/1F20k8L
- View and download Crop Art B-roll Clip #3: http://bit.ly/1OUt3kz
- View and download Crop Art B-roll Clip #4: http://bit.ly/1bXasSX
PHOTO
- #NoKXL crop art image can be downloaded here: http://bit.ly/CropArtNOKXL
- View album of Crop Art and creation of the image: http://bit.ly/1F748CF
- Photo Caption: A massive crop art replica of the Presidential Seal calling for President Obama to protect his climate legacy by rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline covers a 15-acre field outside of Neligh, Nebraska. Farmers, ranchers, native allies and advocates hope this action helps seal Pres. Obama’s rejection of the tarsands pipeline. Art Tanderup, who owns the farm, drove the tractor that etched the image based on a design created by artist John Quigley. Photo by Dakota Aerials for Bold Nebraska.