Thursday, August 21, 2008
Indian Uprising Radio: Price of tar sands oil
KFAI's Indian Uprising, August 24, 2008 from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. CDT #279
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2008/08/indian-uprising-radio-price-of-tar...
Daryl Sager (Turtle Mountain Ojibwe), Energy Justice Program
Associate, Fresh Energy, Inc. Fresh Energy of St. Paul, Minnesota is
an organization leading the transition to a clean, efficient and fair
energy system. Its goals are: Healthy Economies, Healthy People,
Healthy Environment and Energy Independence. Fresh Energy focus areas
are: Clean Electricity, Energy Efficiency, Transportation Policy,
Global Warming Solutions and Energy Justice. www.fresh-energy.org
"Fresh Energy is the only nonprofit in Minnesota whose sole focus is a
clean, just energy future for the Upper Midwest. Often, the
economically disadvantaged are the most adversely affected by energy
decisions. The Energy Justice program at Fresh Energy works to pass
policies that help build the capacity of low-income individuals to
have a strong voice in those decisions."
Tom Goldtooth (Dine’/Dakota), Director, Indigenous Environmental
Network, Bemidji, Minnesota
IEN (nonprofit) is a network of grass-roots Indigenous Peoples
empowering Indigenous Nations and communities towards sustainable
livelihoods, demanding environmental justice and maintaining the
Sacred Fire of cultural traditions. IEN is dependent on private
foundations and individual donations but does not solicit for federal
grants. www.ienearth.org
One immediate concern, says Goldtooth, is the proposed 36-inch
diameter tar sand oil pipeline cutting through northern Minnesota
running almost 1,000 miles, from Alberta, Canada, to Superior,
Wisconsin, dubbed the Alberta Clipper.
"The Real Price of Tar Sands Oil - Enbridge, a Canadian company, seeks
to build a pipeline to carry synthetic crude oil from Alberta, Canada,
into southern Illinois. Of the many problems with this project, the
greatest one stems from the energy approach driving its construction:
bitumen extraction from Alberta's tar sands.
Tar sands oil is produced through a destructive process that has
deplorable consequences. Extraction and processing of just one barrel
of synthetic crude oil from bitumen requires up to five barrels of
fresh water and 1,000 cubic feet of natural gas. The gasoline yield
from that single barrel is only enough to fill a Chevrolet Avalanche's
tank three-quarters full.
The environmental impact is severe. In 2007, greenhouse gas emissions
from tar sands plants were roughly equivalent to the annual emissions
of 27 million American passenger vehicles. High levels of carcinogens
in fish, water and sediment have been found downstream from tar sands
areas.
Meanwhile, annual production of tar sands oil from Alberta is expected
to at least triple by 2015, fueled principally by U.S. demand.
While no one enjoys reliance on OPEC oil, the alternative of a pending
environmental catastrophe is intolerable." – Brian P. Granahan, Staff
Attorney, Environment Illinois Research and Education Center
(washingtonpost.com, Jan. 2008).
* * * * Indian Uprising is a KFAI Public & Cultural Affairs program
relevant to Native Indigenous people, broadcast each Sunday on 90.3 FM
Minneapolis and 106.7 FM St. Paul. Volunteer producer & host is Chris
Spotted Eagle. Note: Chris is taking a leave of absence for five
months, starting September 1st.
For internet listening, visit www.kfai.org ,
click Play under ON AIR NOW or for listening later via their archives,
click PROGRAMS & SCHEDULE > Indian Uprising > STREAM. Programs are
archived for two weeks.
