On November 6, 2011, Council of Canadians chairperson Maude Barlow spoke to more than 12,000 people gathered in Lafayette Square near the White House to demand that Obama oppose the Keystone XL pipeline.
On Monday, Republican vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan said that on the first day of a Mitt Romney presidency the Keystone XL pipeline would be approved. This echoes an earlier statement made by Romney in support of KXL.
In November 2011, US president Barack Obama announced he would delay a decision on KXL until after the 2012 election. Obama later approved construction of the southern portion of the pipeline. Construction on that portion began in Texas this August and is actively being opposed by the Tar Sands Blockade (which the Council of Canadians has endorsed).
The US presidential election will take place on November 6, the inauguration of the winning presidential candidate takes place on January 20, 2013.
