A group of environmentalists and liberal celebrities are organizing civil disobedience protests at the White House against a proposed oil pipeline — with the emphasis on “civil.” 
 
 In an open letter, actor Danny Glover, activists Bill McKibben, James Hansen, David Suzuki and others ask for volunteers willing to risk arrest at the White House from mid-August to Labor Day. 
 
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 But they don’t want downtown Washington to look like Vancouver after the Stanley Cup Finals. 
 
 “We will do it in dignified fashion, demonstrating that in this case we are the conservatives, and that our foes — who would change the composition of the atmosphere are dangerous radicals,” the letter states. “Come dressed as if for a business meeting — this is, in fact, serious business.” 
 
 At issue is the proposed TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline that would run from the Canadian oil — or tar — sands to the Gulf coast. Environmentalists have lobbyied against it because of concerns over the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions linked to the use of oil sands-based crude oil, as well as worries about potential spills and the impact on low-income and minority communities. 
 
 The decision currently rests with the State Department, which is reviewing the environmental impacts of the plan and is expected to make a call on the project by the end of the year. 
 
 "This is one issue where the president has total control — he has to grant or deny the necessary permits. Congress can't get in the way," said environmental activist Bill McKibben in a statement. "It's where Obama can get his environmental mojo back.” 
 
 To that end, the organizers want the protesters to support the current White House occupant. 
 
 “And another sartorial tip,” the letter states, “if you wore an Obama button during the 2008 campaign, why not wear it again? 
 
 “We very much still want to believe in the promise of that young senator who told us that with his election the ‘rise of the oceans would begin to slow and the planet start to heal,’” it adds. “We don’t understand what combination of bureaucratic obstinacy and insider dealing has derailed those efforts, but we remember his request that his supporters continue on after the election to pressure the government for change. We’ll do what we can.” ||||| Dear Friends, 
 
 Early last summer when folks decided to take on the Keystone Pipeline, we set up tarsandsaction.org so we could have a broad front supported by many groups. Matt, Linda, Rae, Duncan and Josh came on board and got to work—those of you who came to DC to get arrested met them in person, and the rest of you have been in touch with them one way or another all fall. 
 
 Now the good news is that we’re going to try to keep them going—in fact, we’re bringing them aboard 350.org as our US Climate Action Team. They’ll still be working hard on tar sands but expanding their work to take on issues like fracking, and systematic change like ending fossil fuel subsidies and attacking the idea that corporations are people. 
 
 Since many of you belong to both tarsandsaction.org and 350.org, we know you’ve been getting duplicate emails, and that seems pointless. 
 
 From now on you’ll hear from the 350.org US Action Team (US because 350.org also exists in 188 other countries, where people are also hard at work!), and from the other good folks at 350 when important news breaks related to climate change. 
 
 We’re going to go ahead and add everyone here to the 350.org email list, where you’ll get critical updates from this team on ongoing organizing on Keystone XL and other similar issues. 
 
 But if you’re not interested in staying on, click here and we’ll remove you (we’ll be sad to see you go): act.350.org/cms/unsubscribe/unsubscribe/ 
 
 We have the funding we need to get this moving, but to keep the Action Team in the field long term, we’ll need a bit more on hand. We don’t do a lot of asking for money at 350.org – we’d much rather you were out taking action yourself – but if you can pitch in to keep these folks going at it, I would be very grateful. Here’s where you can donate: act.350.org/donate/2011_1 
 
 Of course it’s been a tough year economically for many of us, so if you don’t have funds to spare, don’t even think about giving. There are plenty of ways to help out. 
 
 For me this is the very finest of Christmas presents. I’ve enjoyed working with these five actioneers enormously, and I’ve watched them fit in seamlessly with the young people who run 350.org. If we’re going to give the fossil fuel industry a run for their (limitless) money, we’re going to need to be a lean loving fighting machine. 
 
 This will help—but only if you’re a part of it. 
 
 I’m feeling entirely fired up about 2012. This time last year I had no idea that we’d be fighting Keystone together, or that I’d be spending time in jail, or any of it; I’m pretty sure the year to come will be just as exciting. 
 
 As always, I am quite grateful for all of the hard work you’re doing. 
 
 Bill 
 
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– Actor Danny Glover is among a group of celebrities and green activists seeking volunteers to risk arrest this summer in DC over a proposed oil pipeline that would run from the Canadian tar sands to the Gulf Coast. “We want you to consider doing something hard: coming to Washington in the hottest and stickiest weeks of the summer and engaging in civil disobedience that will likely get you arrested,” the activists write in a letter reprinted at Politico. The State Department is set to decide on the TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline by the end of this year, and the president "can get his environmental mojo back" by rejecting it, says activist Bill McKibben. The group plans daily marches on the White House the last two weeks of August. The letter even offers a "sartorial tip" for participants: "If you wore an Obama button during the 2008 campaign, why not wear it again?" The group's website is here.