Digital Media analysis
Digital Media analysis
Different views on the Keystone XL Pipeline
The three sources we have chosen consist of an objective article from BBC, a YouTube-film featuring Bill McKibben who is against the Keystone XL and lastly an informative text pro the pipeline, written by the company behind it, TransCanada. BBC News gives an objective view, with strictly informative writing. In the article from BBC about the project they discuss the issue from different opinions and facts. The video of Bill McKibben and TransCanada’s press text are far more subjective, displaying clear, sometimes radical opinions.
TransCanada is the company proposing to build the pipeline through North America, and therefor they have much to gain financially from the project. This shows clearly in their text, as they do not raise any negative concerns about the environment and only stress the positive outcomes such as the jobs this project will create. TransCanada are also very withdrawn about mentioning their own financial possibilities compared to the opportunities to restore the stability of the American economy.
In contrast to the economical and job summoning possibilities, environmental activists claim there is a major threat to the climate of the world and the obstructed nature life of the US. Bill McKibben an environmentalist fighting against the Keystone XL so badly that he has already been sent to jail for summoning a protest surrounding the white house. He propagates passionately for the terrible outcomes that might occur on our planet and the US if this pipeline is built and Canada keeps working on the oil sands. He cites Jim Hansen, expert at NASA, saying that exploiting the Canadian oil sands would result in a “game over” for the environment.
These media sources do not only feature different focuses, they also find different angles on the same points. Whilst TransCanada claims the building of the pipeline would create 13 000 jobs and 118 000 “spin-off jobs”, McKibben predicts fewer jobs and claims the construction jobs are only temporary. According to him and his fellow activists, the purpose of a pipeline is making transport of oil easier, and human work unnecessary.
The reasons these sources argue against each other are mostly due to ideological and financial differences. TransCanada has an obvious conflict of interest, since the approval of their pipeline would mean a blossoming billion-dollar industry. McKibben on the other hand has practically nothing to gain personally from his protests. His only motive is his passion for our planet.
Karoline Hermansson, Douglas Persson and Bianca Merckling
Reference List:
BBC News (08/11 2011) “State department faces Keystone XL review”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15631968
(Accessed on 9 December 2011)
TransCanada Corporation (18/11 2011) “Key Projects, Oil Pipelines, Keystone Pipeline Project”
http://transcanada.com/keystone.html
(Accessed on 9 December 2011)
Democracy Now (23/08 2011) “Bill McKibben: Why I Spent 2 Days in Jail Protesting the Keystone XL Tar Sands Oil Pipeline”
(Accessed on 9 December)
Deborah and Christina’s group
Karoline Hermansson, Douglas Persson and Bianca Merckling