In brief, the Wall Street journal reports that the Clinton Foundation has accepted between a quarter and half a million dollars from a Canadian agency whose priority is to promote Keystone XL.
The article states:
One of the 2014 donations comes from a Canadian agency promoting the proposed Keystone pipeline, which is favored by Republicans and under review by the Obama administration. The Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development agency of Canada, a first-time donor, gave between $250,000 and $500,000. The donations, which are disclosed voluntarily by the foundation, are given only in ranges.
One of the agency’s priorities for 2014-2015 was to promote Keystone XL “as a stable and secure source of energy and energy technology,” according to the agency’s website. Mrs. Clinton’s State Department was involved in approving the U.S. government’s initial environmental-impact statement. Since leaving State, Mrs. Clinton has repeatedly declined to comment on Keystone.
As Credo Action
reminds us, in a site promoting a petition urging Clinton to return Clinton Foundation contributions from foreign governments (this is not the only problematic one):
As Secretary of State in 2010, Clinton said she was “inclined" to approve Keystone XL, while presiding over a State Department environmental analysis so phenomenally corrupt it was investigated by the State Department Inspector General, and so inept, it ignored Keystone XL’s primary purpose as a major enabler of tar sands expansion.
As Obama continues to put off making a final decision on Keystone XL, it becomes increasingly likely that the next president will be the one who determines the fate of the project. Even if Obama denies the permit, it is almost certain that the company will reapply.
Do we really want to nominate a person to the Democratic ticket who has so little concern for the fate of our planet? Between Clinton's statement that she is inclined to approve Keystone XL, and her family foundation's acceptance of such a large sum of money from an agency lobbying for the project, her approval seems almost certain. That would mean that whomever wins the 2016 election, Keystone XL is going to be approved.
Is that the future we are fighting for?