At least nine people were arrested as a few dozen demonstrators opposed to the Dakota Access pipeline defied a Wednesday deadline to leave a protest camp they have occupied for months to demand an end to construction of the project. &quot;We knew this day was going to come,&quot; said North Dakota Highway Patrol Lieutenant Tom Iverson.

President Donald Trump has pushed for the completion of the multibillion-dollar pipeline since he took office last month, despite objections from Native Americans and environmental activists who say it threatens the water resources and sacred land of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.

Republican Governor Doug Burgum and the US&nbsp;Army Corps of Engineers had set a 2 pm&nbsp;deadline for protesters to leave the Oceti Sakowin camp, located on Army Corps land in Cannon Ball, North Dakota.

As freezing rain and snow fell, some demonstrators ceremonially burned tents and other structures at the camp in what they said was a tradition before leaving a dwelling place. But others said they were going nowhere.

Around three dozen protesters gathered near the camp entrance as the deadline passed. About 20 police vehicles waited up the road and a few dozen protesters remained in other parts of the camp, a Reuters witness said.

Protesters and law enforcement have clashed multiple times and hundreds of people have been arrested since demonstrations began in August.

The Standing Rock Sioux asked protesters to leave the area in December as they challenged the pipeline plans in court, but some 300 demonstrators had remained.

State officials have set up a travel assistance centre to provide departing protesters with food, water and health check-ups, as well as a voucher for one night&#39;s accommodation at a Bismarck hotel and a bus ticket home.

Trump, a Republican, signed an executive order clearing the way for the $3.8 billion pipeline to proceed.

A judge denied a request earlier this month by two tribes seeking to halt construction. The tribes are seeking an injunction to order the Army Corps to withdraw the easement.

The pipeline will be complete and ready for oil between March 6 and April 1, according to court documents filed Tuesday.&nbsp;

(Reuters)

Native Americans, environmentalists and others protested for months, but Trump signed an executive for the $3.8 billion project to contine

At least nine people were arrested as a few dozen demonstrators opposed to the Dakota Access pipeline defied a Wednesday deadline to leave a protest camp they have occupied for months to demand an end to construction of the project. "We knew this day was going to come," said North Dakota Highway Patrol Lieutenant Tom Iverson. President Donald Trump has pushed for the completion of the multibillion-dollar pipeline since he took office last month, despite objections from Native Americans and environmental activists who say it threatens the water resources and sacred land of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Republican Governor Doug Burgum and the US Army Corps of Engineers had set a 2 pm deadline for protesters to leave the Oceti Sakowin camp, located on Army Corps land in Cannon Ball, North Dakota. As freezing rain and snow fell, some demonstrators ceremonially burned tents and other structures at the camp in what they said was a tradition before leaving a dwelling place. But others said they were going nowhere. Around three dozen protesters gathered near the camp entrance as the deadline passed. About 20 police vehicles waited up the road and a few dozen protesters remained in other parts of the camp, a Reuters witness said. Protesters and law enforcement have clashed multiple times and hundreds of people have been arrested since demonstrations began in August. The Standing Rock Sioux asked protesters to leave the area in December as they challenged the pipeline plans in court, but some 300 demonstrators had remained. State officials have set up a travel assistance centre to provide departing protesters with food, water and health check-ups, as well as a voucher for one night's accommodation at a Bismarck hotel and a bus ticket home. Trump, a Republican, signed an executive order clearing the way for the $3.8 billion pipeline to proceed. A judge denied a request earlier this month by two tribes seeking to halt construction. The tribes are seeking an injunction to order the Army Corps to withdraw the easement. The pipeline will be complete and ready for oil between March 6 and April 1, according to court documents filed Tuesday. (Reuters)

US: At least 9 arrested for defying deadline to leave Dakota Access pipeline protest camp

Construction has begun on the final segment of the controversial Dakota Access oil pipeline in the northern United States, prompting a court challenge from a Native American tribe which says its religious rights are under threat.

Energy Transfer Partners, the developer of the 1,172-mile (1,886-kilometer) oil pipeline, now expects to begin operation &quot;in approximately 83 days,&quot; spokeswoman Vicky Granado told AFP on Thursday.

The segment&#39;s route under the Missouri River and man-made Lake Oahe in North Dakota was the subject of months of protests, as Native Americans and their supporters argued it ran the risk of potentially polluting the water.&nbsp;

The Cheyenne River Sioux tribe, whose reservation is near the waterway, asked a federal judge to issue a temporary restraining order halting construction on the grounds that the pipeline would harm its ability to perform religious rites.&nbsp;

&quot;The pipeline will desecrate the waters upon which Cheyenne River Sioux tribal members rely on their most important religious practices,&quot; the court filing said.&nbsp;

&quot;And in view of the threat to the tribe&#39;s and its members&#39; constitutional right, this court may not wait until the oil is slithering under the Tribe&#39;s sacred waters. The law entitles the Tribe to relief as soon as the government acts to threaten their rights.&quot;&nbsp;

The Cheyenne River Sioux want work stopped while its lawsuit filed jointly with the Standing Rock Sioux tribe proceeds through the courts.

The US Army Corps of Engineers -- having approval authority over the pipeline&#39;s underwater route -- cleared the way on Tuesday for the project to be completed.&nbsp;

Under the administration of Trump&#39;s predecessor Barack Obama, the Corps had called for further review and halted construction. But President Donald Trump ordered officials to reconsider. &nbsp;

Protesters began camping out near the pipeline&#39;s river crossing starting in April last year, in order to physically prevent construction, at times violently clashing with authorities and pipeline company workers.&nbsp;

The company has claimed the project is safe, and that there are already other pipelines operating safely under the disputed waterway. &nbsp;

US District Court Judge James Boasberg was expected to set a court hearing to consider arguments on the Cheyenne River Sioux&#39;s motion.

(AFP)

Since 2016, Native Americans and environmentalists have been fighting to prevent the pipeline's completion

Construction has begun on the final segment of the controversial Dakota Access oil pipeline in the northern United States, prompting a court challenge from a Native American tribe which says its religious rights are under threat. Energy Transfer Partners, the developer of the 1,172-mile (1,886-kilometer) oil pipeline, now expects to begin operation "in approximately 83 days," spokeswoman Vicky Granado told AFP on Thursday. The segment's route under the Missouri River and man-made Lake Oahe in North Dakota was the subject of months of protests, as Native Americans and their supporters argued it ran the risk of potentially polluting the water. The Cheyenne River Sioux tribe, whose reservation is near the waterway, asked a federal judge to issue a temporary restraining order halting construction on the grounds that the pipeline would harm its ability to perform religious rites. "The pipeline will desecrate the waters upon which Cheyenne River Sioux tribal members rely on their most important religious practices," the court filing said. "And in view of the threat to the tribe's and its members' constitutional right, this court may not wait until the oil is slithering under the Tribe's sacred waters. The law entitles the Tribe to relief as soon as the government acts to threaten their rights." The Cheyenne River Sioux want work stopped while its lawsuit filed jointly with the Standing Rock Sioux tribe proceeds through the courts. The US Army Corps of Engineers -- having approval authority over the pipeline's underwater route -- cleared the way on Tuesday for the project to be completed. Under the administration of Trump's predecessor Barack Obama, the Corps had called for further review and halted construction. But President Donald Trump ordered officials to reconsider. Protesters began camping out near the pipeline's river crossing starting in April last year, in order to physically prevent construction, at times violently clashing with authorities and pipeline company workers. The company has claimed the project is safe, and that there are already other pipelines operating safely under the disputed waterway. US District Court Judge James Boasberg was expected to set a court hearing to consider arguments on the Cheyenne River Sioux's motion. (AFP)

Dakota pipeline work resumes, US tribe heads to court

US authorities said on Tuesday they will approve a permit to complete the controversial Dakota Access oil pipeline.

The decision comes after months of protests by Native Americans and their supporters led the Obama administration to nix plans to build the pipeline close to native grounds.&nbsp;

But President Donald Trump supported the 1,172-mile (1,886-kilometre) oil pipeline, which would snake through four US states, and ordered officials to reconsider. &nbsp;

The Army Corps of Engineers, which has approval authority, said on Tuesday that it had &quot;completed a presidential-directed review&quot; and planned to grant permission for the pipeline to cross government land at the Missouri River and man-made Lake Oahe reservoir -- the final sticking point, which will effectively allow the last stretch of the pipeline to be completed. &nbsp;

The reservoir is the drinking water source for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, which objects to the pipeline&#39;s routes. The tribe vowed to challenge The Army&#39;s decision in court, and called on supporters to head to Washington on March 10 for &quot;a Native Nations march&quot;. &nbsp;

&quot;We ask that our allies join us in demanding that Congress demand a fair and accurate process,&quot; tribe chairman Dave Archambault said in a statement. &quot;Our fight is no longer at the North Dakota site itself. Our fight is with Congress and the Trump administration.&quot; &nbsp;

The Dakota Access pipeline would connect the Bakken and Three Forks oil production areas in North Dakota to an existing crude oil terminal near Patoka, Illinois.

In addition to the risk to its water, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe had also claimed the project endangered areas with sacred historic sites and artefacts.&nbsp;Additionally, it claimed that it was not appropriately consulted during the process&nbsp;and that a proper environmental review was required.

Energy Transfer Partners, the pipeline&#39;s operator, has denied the tribe&#39;s claims, saying the pipeline is safer than the current transport methods of rail and truck, and that archaeological experts it hired had failed to find sacred artefacts along the pipeline route.

&nbsp;

Opponents vow to fight on

North Dakota leaders who have supported the project promptly backed the Army&#39;s decision. &quot;This is a key step toward the completion of this important infrastructure project, which has faced months of politically-driven delays,&quot; North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum in a statement. &nbsp;

North Dakota Senator John Hoeven, who also praised The Army&#39;s decision, said the acrimonious process had nevertheless raised some questions.

&quot;Going forward, we need to review the permitting process to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to be heard and that a fair, certain and legal process has been followed,&quot; Hoeven said. &nbsp;

The pipeline has been the subject of intense protests in North Dakota and around the country, galvanising hundreds of Native American tribes, environmental groups and their supporters.

Protesters had also camped on land near the pipeline&#39;s path just north of the tribe&#39;s reservation in order to physically block its completion -- at times clashing violently with authorities.

Tom Goldtooth, executive director of the Indigenous Environmental Network -- a group that had a strong presence at the North Dakota protest, charged that The Army&#39;s decision on Tuesday went against protocol and the established legal process.

&quot;It disregards more than 100,000 comments already submitted as part of the not-yet-completed environmental review process,&quot; Goldtooth said.

(AFP)

Obama cancelled it after months of fierce protesting by Native Americans and their allies. But Donald Trump supports the pipline

US authorities said on Tuesday they will approve a permit to complete the controversial Dakota Access oil pipeline. The decision comes after months of protests by Native Americans and their supporters led the Obama administration to nix plans to build the pipeline close to native grounds. But President Donald Trump supported the 1,172-mile (1,886-kilometre) oil pipeline, which would snake through four US states, and ordered officials to reconsider. The Army Corps of Engineers, which has approval authority, said on Tuesday that it had "completed a presidential-directed review" and planned to grant permission for the pipeline to cross government land at the Missouri River and man-made Lake Oahe reservoir -- the final sticking point, which will effectively allow the last stretch of the pipeline to be completed. The reservoir is the drinking water source for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, which objects to the pipeline's routes. The tribe vowed to challenge The Army's decision in court, and called on supporters to head to Washington on March 10 for "a Native Nations march". "We ask that our allies join us in demanding that Congress demand a fair and accurate process," tribe chairman Dave Archambault said in a statement. "Our fight is no longer at the North Dakota site itself. Our fight is with Congress and the Trump administration." The Dakota Access pipeline would connect the Bakken and Three Forks oil production areas in North Dakota to an existing crude oil terminal near Patoka, Illinois. In addition to the risk to its water, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe had also claimed the project endangered areas with sacred historic sites and artefacts. Additionally, it claimed that it was not appropriately consulted during the process and that a proper environmental review was required. Energy Transfer Partners, the pipeline's operator, has denied the tribe's claims, saying the pipeline is safer than the current transport methods of rail and truck, and that archaeological experts it hired had failed to find sacred artefacts along the pipeline route. Opponents vow to fight on North Dakota leaders who have supported the project promptly backed the Army's decision. "This is a key step toward the completion of this important infrastructure project, which has faced months of politically-driven delays," North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum in a statement. North Dakota Senator John Hoeven, who also praised The Army's decision, said the acrimonious process had nevertheless raised some questions. "Going forward, we need to review the permitting process to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to be heard and that a fair, certain and legal process has been followed," Hoeven said. The pipeline has been the subject of intense protests in North Dakota and around the country, galvanising hundreds of Native American tribes, environmental groups and their supporters. Protesters had also camped on land near the pipeline's path just north of the tribe's reservation in order to physically block its completion -- at times clashing violently with authorities. Tom Goldtooth, executive director of the Indigenous Environmental Network -- a group that had a strong presence at the North Dakota protest, charged that The Army's decision on Tuesday went against protocol and the established legal process. "It disregards more than 100,000 comments already submitted as part of the not-yet-completed environmental review process," Goldtooth said. (AFP)

US authorities to approve Dakota Access Pipeline permit

Former US president Barack Obama&#39;s eldest daughter Malia Obama joined the protest against the&nbsp;Dakota Access Pipeline&nbsp;in Utah on Monday. &nbsp;

Police have used aggressive tactics against protesters including water cannons in sub-zero temperatures, rubber bullets and attack dogs. But Malia has a White House security detail.&nbsp;

Malia flew down from the family holiday at Palm Springs to attend screenings at the festival. It was not clear if she was there as part of her internship with Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.&nbsp;

&quot;Divergent&quot;&nbsp;actress Shailene Woodley told Democracy Now,&nbsp;&ldquo;It was amazing to see Malia. I saw her last night when we did the event with [Standing Rock] chairman Dave Archambault. And it was incredible to see her there.&rdquo;

&ldquo;To witness a human being and a woman coming into her own outside of her family and outside of the attachments that this country has on her, but someone who&rsquo;s willing to participate in democracy because she chooses to, because she recognises, regardless of her last name, that if she doesn&rsquo;t participate in democracy, there will be no world for her future children,&quot; she added.&nbsp;

After large-scale protests, Obama had decreed that the construction of the pipeline will be stopped. However, Trump reversed the order after taking office. According to his federal disclosures form, Trump holds stock in the company building the Dakota Access oil pipeline, CBS reports. While the amount of stock in Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners is modest compared to the rest of his portfolio, estimated at between $15,000 and $50,000, he also owns between $100,000 and $250,000 in Phillips 66, which has a one-quarter share of Dakota Access, CBS reports.

Protesters are planning to challenge the executive order and &quot;mobilise&quot; after the setback.&nbsp;

&ldquo;What we could do now as a population, as a society, is to hold our corporations accountable and hold our banks accountable, because there are a lot of banks that are invested in this pipeline,&rdquo; Woodley told MSNBC. &ldquo;Regardless of any executive order or what our politicians want to do, if there&rsquo;s no money invested in the pipelines, then they can&rsquo;t be built.&rdquo;

Woodley has been a staunch critic of the Dakota Access Pipeline, which would transport crude oil through the sacred lands of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, polluting the tribe&#39;s water source. &nbsp;Woodley was arrested with 26 others&nbsp;for criminal trespassing in October while protesting.&nbsp;

(WION)

&nbsp;

After large-scale protests Obama decreed construction of the pipeline be halted, but Trump reversed the order soon after coming into office

Former US president Barack Obama's eldest daughter Malia Obama joined the protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline in Utah on Monday. Police have used aggressive tactics against protesters including water cannons in sub-zero temperatures, rubber bullets and attack dogs. But Malia has a White House security detail. Malia flew down from the family holiday at Palm Springs to attend screenings at the festival. It was not clear if she was there as part of her internship with Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. "Divergent" actress Shailene Woodley told Democracy Now, “It was amazing to see Malia. I saw her last night when we did the event with [Standing Rock] chairman Dave Archambault. And it was incredible to see her there.” “To witness a human being and a woman coming into her own outside of her family and outside of the attachments that this country has on her, but someone who’s willing to participate in democracy because she chooses to, because she recognises, regardless of her last name, that if she doesn’t participate in democracy, there will be no world for her future children," she added. After large-scale protests, Obama had decreed that the construction of the pipeline will be stopped. However, Trump reversed the order after taking office. According to his federal disclosures form, Trump holds stock in the company building the Dakota Access oil pipeline, CBS reports. While the amount of stock in Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners is modest compared to the rest of his portfolio, estimated at between $15,000 and $50,000, he also owns between $100,000 and $250,000 in Phillips 66, which has a one-quarter share of Dakota Access, CBS reports. Protesters are planning to challenge the executive order and "mobilise" after the setback. “What we could do now as a population, as a society, is to hold our corporations accountable and hold our banks accountable, because there are a lot of banks that are invested in this pipeline,” Woodley told MSNBC. “Regardless of any executive order or what our politicians want to do, if there’s no money invested in the pipelines, then they can’t be built.” Woodley has been a staunch critic of the Dakota Access Pipeline, which would transport crude oil through the sacred lands of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, polluting the tribe's water source. Woodley was arrested with 26 others for criminal trespassing in October while protesting. (WION)

Malia Obama seen protesting against Dakota Access Pipeline

Companies behind the Dakota Access Pipelines filed papers on Monday in Washington district court to &quot;end the Administration&#39;s political interference&nbsp;in the Dakota Access Pipeline review process&quot; late Monday.&nbsp;

Energy Transfer Partners and its subsidiary, Sunoco Logistics Partners, who are responsible for the construction of the pipeline said the delay has&nbsp;cost them more than $100 billion.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, protesters took to the streets of New York in solidarity with the Sioux people after the government&#39;s hold up over granting an easement for the pipelines construction.&nbsp;

The 1,172 mile (1,885 kilometer) oil pipeline will pass through sacred burial grounds and the Missouri river--the major water source for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.&nbsp;

&quot;We want to stand with the Sioux people in defending sacred land against poisonous pipelines,&quot; said protester Marty Goodman. &quot;They&#39;re threatening millions of people in the entire region and threaten ultimately the climate of the entire planet.&quot;

The $3.7 billion pipeline, which is nearly complete has drawn severe criticism from enviromental activists who say in addition to destroying the burial grounds, it will pollute all nearby water sources.&nbsp;

Robert O&#39;Neil, a protester told Reuters, &quot;I honor the Native American, I honor what they stand for, I honor what they say in terms of being earth and water protectors.&quot;

&quot;They want nothing but clean water for their area at Standing Rock. That&#39;s the simple truth. They don&#39;t want to play any games, they just want to have clean water and they have every right to that on their sacred land.&quot;

(WION with inputs from Reuters)

The firms behind the pipeline filed papers late Monday in Washington's district court to end 'Administrations political interference'

Companies behind the Dakota Access Pipelines filed papers on Monday in Washington district court to "end the Administration's political interference in the Dakota Access Pipeline review process" late Monday. Energy Transfer Partners and its subsidiary, Sunoco Logistics Partners, who are responsible for the construction of the pipeline said the delay has cost them more than $100 billion. Meanwhile, protesters took to the streets of New York in solidarity with the Sioux people after the government's hold up over granting an easement for the pipelines construction. The 1,172 mile (1,885 kilometer) oil pipeline will pass through sacred burial grounds and the Missouri river--the major water source for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. "We want to stand with the Sioux people in defending sacred land against poisonous pipelines," said protester Marty Goodman. "They're threatening millions of people in the entire region and threaten ultimately the climate of the entire planet." The $3.7 billion pipeline, which is nearly complete has drawn severe criticism from enviromental activists who say in addition to destroying the burial grounds, it will pollute all nearby water sources. Robert O'Neil, a protester told Reuters, "I honor the Native American, I honor what they stand for, I honor what they say in terms of being earth and water protectors." "They want nothing but clean water for their area at Standing Rock. That's the simple truth. They don't want to play any games, they just want to have clean water and they have every right to that on their sacred land." (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Dakota Access Pipeline protesters gather in New York

Since March, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe&nbsp;have&nbsp;protested&nbsp;in Cannon Ball, North Dakota, to protest the building of a proposed pipeline near their reservation that they say threatens to pollute the nearby river and endanger&nbsp;sacred land.

It&#39;s drawn attention global attention since&nbsp;for being a near perfect convergence of disasters rolled into one.

The story encompasses everything from the US government ignoring landright claims&nbsp;to concerns over climate change, fracking, and it&#39;s all enforced by a militarized police acting as, essentially,&nbsp;muscle for Big Business. It is fundamentally about the government&#39;s indifference to Sioux&#39;s basic health and legal rights.

The efforts to oppose the Dakota Access Pipeline has reverberated around social media in the form of the hashtag, #NoDAPL. Also, more than a million people from around the world have logged onto Facebook and &quot;checked in&quot; to the Standing Rock Indian Reservation page, to show solidarity with the Sioux.

<a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/11/01/500268879/more-than-a-million-check-in-on-facebook-to-support-the-standing-rock-sioux">NPR </a>reports that originally, this was intended to confuse police, who were said to be using people&#39;s Facebook location to track activists protesting the pipeline, which&nbsp;turned out to be false.

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The Sioux are literally being forced at gunpoint to accept ecological risks that North Dakota&#39;s white residents refused.
&mdash; scare-acotta warrior (@suntzufuntzu) <a href="https://twitter.com/suntzufuntzu/status/792449947769511936">October 29, 2016</a></blockquote>
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As Kelly Hayes writes in <a href="http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/38165-how-to-talk-about-nodapl-a-native-perspective">Truthout</a>, the pipeline was originally proposed to run through Bismarck, North Dakota, a community&nbsp;over 90 per cent white. But the people of Bismarck objected to the risks the pipeline posed to the safety of their drinking water, so the government redirected the pipeline onto treaty land instead.

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Actually it&#39;s on unceded treaty land. Land that is held by force by the US in violation of international law. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NoDAPL?src=hash">#NoDAPL</a> <a href="https://t.co/2BQ9MIXwPQ">pic.twitter.com/2BQ9MIXwPQ</a>
&mdash; Jacqueline Keeler (@jfkeeler) <a href="https://twitter.com/jfkeeler/status/792851687161462784">October 30, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<a href="http://www.vox.com/2016/9/9/12862958/dakota-access-pipeline-fight">Vox </a>reports that activists claim&nbsp;the land actually belongs to the Natives under an 1851 Treaty that the government is ignoring. Instead police have arrested hundreds of protesters&nbsp;and attacked them with&nbsp;Tasers,&nbsp;pepper spray, sound cannons and attack dogs.

On October 20 alone,&nbsp;the National Guard and police driven in from six surrounding states&nbsp;arrested at least&nbsp;117 people, and attacked protesters&nbsp;with flash grenades, bean bag launchers, and there were even reports of the use&nbsp;of live ammunition.&nbsp;

Meanwhile bulldozers have already started tearing into the ground to make way for the pipeline, that will stretch underground for over 1,100 miles and cost&nbsp;$3.4 billion.&nbsp;

The conversation centres on &quot;tribal sovereignty&quot;. The US government is treating the Sioux like they do not exist, rather than as a fellow government body entitled to legal rights, let alone human decency.

Lest this sound&nbsp;oversimplified or hyperbolic, please watch the police,&nbsp;literally armed with US army&nbsp;weapons, interact with completely unarmed protesters&nbsp;and see for yourself if this makes sense:

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aVXejqh-Zuk" width="560"></iframe>

(WION)

Police in Hummers with machine guns turrets and grenade launchers meet demonstrators protesting against Native sovereignty violations

Since March, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe have protested in Cannon Ball, North Dakota, to protest the building of a proposed pipeline near their reservation that they say threatens to pollute the nearby river and endanger sacred land. It's drawn attention global attention since for being a near perfect convergence of disasters rolled into one. The story encompasses everything from the US government ignoring landright claims to concerns over climate change, fracking, and it's all enforced by a militarized police acting as, essentially, muscle for Big Business. It is fundamentally about the government's indifference to Sioux's basic health and legal rights. The efforts to oppose the Dakota Access Pipeline has reverberated around social media in the form of the hashtag, #NoDAPL. Also, more than a million people from around the world have logged onto Facebook and "checked in" to the Standing Rock Indian Reservation page, to show solidarity with the Sioux. NPR reports that originally, this was intended to confuse police, who were said to be using people's Facebook location to track activists protesting the pipeline, which turned out to be false. The Sioux are literally being forced at gunpoint to accept ecological risks that North Dakota's white residents refused. — scare-acotta warrior (@suntzufuntzu) October 29, 2016 × As Kelly Hayes writes in Truthout, the pipeline was originally proposed to run through Bismarck, North Dakota, a community over 90 per cent white. But the people of Bismarck objected to the risks the pipeline posed to the safety of their drinking water, so the government redirected the pipeline onto treaty land instead. Actually it's on unceded treaty land. Land that is held by force by the US in violation of international law. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/2BQ9MIXwPQ — Jacqueline Keeler (@jfkeeler) October 30, 2016 × Vox reports that activists claim the land actually belongs to the Natives under an 1851 Treaty that the government is ignoring. Instead police have arrested hundreds of protesters and attacked them with Tasers, pepper spray, sound cannons and attack dogs. On October 20 alone, the National Guard and police driven in from six surrounding states arrested at least 117 people, and attacked protesters with flash grenades, bean bag launchers, and there were even reports of the use of live ammunition. Meanwhile bulldozers have already started tearing into the ground to make way for the pipeline, that will stretch underground for over 1,100 miles and cost $3.4 billion. The conversation centres on "tribal sovereignty". The US government is treating the Sioux like they do not exist, rather than as a fellow government body entitled to legal rights, let alone human decency. Lest this sound oversimplified or hyperbolic, please watch the police, literally armed with US army weapons, interact with completely unarmed protesters and see for yourself if this makes sense: (WION)

Watch: Militarised police attack unarmed Dakota Access Pipeline protesters

Thousands of people&nbsp;&quot;checked in&quot; at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation on Facebook to support the activists fighting construction of an oil pipeline in North Dakota on Monday.

On Monday more than 4,600 people used the location tagging feature on the social media site to confuse police who they believe are using the social network to track the protesters. The Reservation is near the site of the $3.8 billion Dakota Access pipeline. The Facebook &quot;check in&quot; boosted the number of people actually present.

The local sheriff&#39;s department refused they were using social media to locate the demonstrators in a Facebook post.

&nbsp;

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The pipeline threatens sacred sites and local water supplies, say the Sioux Tribe and other objectors. They suggest that transporting oil by road or rail would be safer and more cost-effective. The 1,172-mile (1,885-km) pipeline is being built by a group of companies led by Energy Transfer Partners LP, Reuters reports.

Most of the check-ins at the site were made remotely. The cell phone reception is actually poor at the protest camp in rural southwestern North Dakota. People walk up a small mound dubbed &quot;Facebook Hill&quot; to get a signal.

Mekasi Camp Horinek, a protest leader from Bold Oklahoma, an environmental advocacy group, welcomed the move.

&quot;It is a lot of people showing their support for Standing Rock,&quot; Horinek said on Monday by telephone from North Dakota, reported Reuters. &quot;They can&#39;t be with us here physically, but they are with us in spirit and prayer.&quot;

The police have arrested more than 400 protesters in demonstrations against the pipeline since Agust 10. The movement has attracted support from celebrities as Mark Ruffalo, Shailene Woodley, and Chris Hemsworth. Horinek was among the 142 protesters arrested by police last week at an encampment set up on private land, Reuters said.

There were also demonstrations at banks linked to the pipeline&#39;s financing on Monday.

Environmental activists and protesters have been carrying out protests since April, which even prompted the US government to halt construction of the pipeline in September. &nbsp;

(With inputs from Reuters)

People believe the police are using the social media to keep a track on the protesters' movements

Thousands of people "checked in" at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation on Facebook to support the activists fighting construction of an oil pipeline in North Dakota on Monday. On Monday more than 4,600 people used the location tagging feature on the social media site to confuse police who they believe are using the social network to track the protesters. The Reservation is near the site of the $3.8 billion Dakota Access pipeline. The Facebook "check in" boosted the number of people actually present. The local sheriff's department refused they were using social media to locate the demonstrators in a Facebook post. The pipeline threatens sacred sites and local water supplies, say the Sioux Tribe and other objectors. They suggest that transporting oil by road or rail would be safer and more cost-effective. The 1,172-mile (1,885-km) pipeline is being built by a group of companies led by Energy Transfer Partners LP, Reuters reports. Most of the check-ins at the site were made remotely. The cell phone reception is actually poor at the protest camp in rural southwestern North Dakota. People walk up a small mound dubbed "Facebook Hill" to get a signal. Mekasi Camp Horinek, a protest leader from Bold Oklahoma, an environmental advocacy group, welcomed the move. "It is a lot of people showing their support for Standing Rock," Horinek said on Monday by telephone from North Dakota, reported Reuters. "They can't be with us here physically, but they are with us in spirit and prayer." The police have arrested more than 400 protesters in demonstrations against the pipeline since Agust 10. The movement has attracted support from celebrities as Mark Ruffalo, Shailene Woodley, and Chris Hemsworth. Horinek was among the 142 protesters arrested by police last week at an encampment set up on private land, Reuters said. There were also demonstrations at banks linked to the pipeline's financing on Monday. Environmental activists and protesters have been carrying out protests since April, which even prompted the US government to halt construction of the pipeline in September. (With inputs from Reuters)

North Dakota pipeline: Facebook users 'check in' to support protests

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