In Ukraine and Mexico, fossil fuel and agribusiness put profits over people and planet
Why water defenders in Mexico will not give up the fight + How Texas plans to profit from the Russian-Ukrainian war
Why water defenders in Mexico will not give up the fight + How Texas plans to profit from the Russian-Ukrainian war
Branch Out is bringing you news from the epicenter of the climate justice movement. This week, we are looking at Yaqui water defenders in the deserts of Mexico who are in an ongoing battle to protect their homeland. Then, we are continuing our ongoing coverage of the Russian-Ukrainian war. This time, we take a look at how the U.S. fracking industry is in a position to benefit from the conflict.
Yaqui Water Defenders Accuse American Fossil Fuel and Agribusiness Corporations of Genocide, Pollution, and Theft
Over the last year, at least three Water Defenders of the Yaqui Tribal Nation in Northern Mexico have been murdered or disappeared due to their spirited efforts to prevent the ongoing theft of water by the Sonoran Government which is devastating their community’s health, livelihoods and ecosystems.
The murder of Luis Urbano Dominguez Mendoza and Agustin Valdez along with the disappearance of Tomas Rojo Valencia is part of a larger international trend targeting and oppressing Indigenous Land and Water Defenders who are on the frontlines of environmental struggle.
The Yaqui Tribal Nation has been fighting against the theft of its water for hundreds of years. The Yaqui River is the primary source of the Tribe’s subsistence, livelihoods, and spiritual and cultural traditions. It has been coveted by colonial governments since the Spanish first invaded, due to its provision of great fertility which makes the surrounding region the most agriculturally productive in Mexico.
Over the centuries, in response to repeated thefts and diversions for colonial agriculture, the Yaqui have been forced to fight for their right to honor and subsist with their homeland’s water. They have survived decades of enslavement, deportation, and killings during the course of this long struggle.
Russian-Ukrainian War highlights need to ditch fossil fuels for clean energy independence
Last week, in our coverage on the cancellation of Russia and Germany’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline, Branch Out reported that Biden was expected to approve new oil and gas projects in the United States. We are happy to tell you that so far, there has not been any change in domestic oil and gas production policy, with the Biden administration actually freezing all oil and gas drilling leases on public lands last month amid an ongoing court fight.
Biden did, however, tap the strategic petroleum reserves of 30 million barrels to try to get gasoline prices down. He has also continued to exempt Russian oil and gas from new sanctions, although he expressed that the administration has not ruled out sanctions on fossil fuels from Russia. The cost of a barrel of oil has surged to about $110, which the fossil fuel industry absolutely loves, especially the U.S. fracking industry which was already wounded before the pandemic.
Although the Biden administration remains against fracking on federal lands, the fracking industry is looking to take advantage of the Ukraine crisis, not only by profiting in the current seller’s market, but also by getting a public relations makeover in positioning fracking as a “powerful weapon against Russia.” After the completion of the Permian Highway Pipeline in 2021, Texas in particular has a greater capacity to export LNG (liquified natural gas) across the world. U.S. frackers would like to see sanctions on Russian oil and gas, which could push prices and profits up even further.
Higher prices will also hit poor and middle-class families across the world who currently rely on fossil fuels. But one possible bright side is that higher oil and gas prices make alternatives like wind and solar more financially attractive. On the other hand, higher prices immediately boost fossil fuel industry revenue, which could fund more drilling exploration and subsequent pollution.
In Case You Missed It: Russia planning to expand Northern Sea Route to bypass Suez Canal chokepoint
Remember when the massive cargo ship, the Ever Given, got stuck in the Suez Canal last year? It was actually a very revealing episode of how fragile our fossil fuel-dependent supply chain is, and it got us thinking about something else going on in Russia. That something else is the Northern Sea Route that is quickly becoming a viable shipping route between Russia and China, as climate change causes arctic ice to melt. What does this mean for international trade, relations, and most importantly, our ability to prevent climate collapse? We wrote all about it in 2021.
Science Desk
PPM CO2: 419
IPPC Report: The U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is out with a new report detailing the impacts that climate change is already having on the planet, and what is likely to happen if we do not limit warming to just a few more tenths of a degree Celsius.
Friday Forecast
For your weekend read, we are going deep on the reasons Russia is invading Ukraine, and how it impacts efforts to slash global carbon emissions. We get into some of the history of the region and connect the dots in ways that you will not see reported in mainstream media. Read the full story this weekend at branchoutnow.org
Feed the Soil
The mission of Branch Out is simple: Fight for climate justice with truth and trees.
We are working at the cutting edge of climate action and journalism, developing a regenerative funding model which makes carbon farming the foundation of our media efforts as we work towards designing a carbon-negative media ecosystem.