The basic idea here is to build a 1,7000-mile pipeline called the Keystone XL which would carry diluted bitumen (an acidic crude oil) from Canada's Alberta tar sands to the Gulf Coast of Texas. Ecologically, this is a really horrible idea. Canada's government is apparently committed to exploiting the tar sands (go here and here for more about this), while many in the U.S. have organized to stop the Keystone XL pipeline (go here to learn what you can do). Like the Soto Zen priest, Shodo Spring, shown above, who quietly sat zazen in front of the White House for several days - before being arrested along with more than 1200 other people. She says, "the way Zen practice appears in my life is twofold: sit zazen, care for the earth". I know what she means. Bows of gratitude to Shodo. Please engage.