Oil Sands Truth: Shut Down the Tar Sands

Energy

Energy and how it is captured and consumed is barely viable in tar sands production. While the amount of oil in places such as the tar sands in Alberta or the Orinoco Belt in Venezuela may have deposits of similar size to the reserves of countries such as Saudi Arabia or Iraq, the return of new energy after expending energy in production is not even close. In Iraq, the process of using one barrel of oil generates 100 new barrels. In the tar sands, estimates of 3 to 1 and even as low as 1.5 to 1 have been made. Offsetting the net energy loss would require minimally 25-30 tar sands facilities for one Saudi plant operating at the same capacity.

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Toxic rocks and declining health: 3.5 years after Enbridge's tar sands pipeline disaster

Toxic rocks and declining health: 3.5 years after Enbridge's tar sands pipeline disaster
By
Sonia Grant
| January 14, 2014

As communities in Ontario and Quebec await the National Energy Board’s (NEB) decision on the Line 9 reversal, new details about the devastating impacts of Enbridge’s now infamous 2010 Kalamazoo River spill in Michigan raise a series of unanswered questions about the health impacts of exposure to spilled diluted bitumen (dilbit), and about Enbridge’s ability to manage potential pipeline incidents.

The Kalamazoo River’s toxic rocks

Neil Young renews push on treaty rights, tar sands development

Neil Young renews push on treaty rights, oil-sands development

BRAD WHEELER

The Globe and Mail

Published Monday, Jan. 13 2014

On the day following his Honor the Treaties concert at Massey Hall, where he had lambasted the Canadian government’s handling of Alberta’s oil-sands development, Neil Young continued his campaign against the environmental policies of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s administration.

How Is Climate Change Reshaping Our Culture?

Tell us what you think. Then hear leading thinkers on shifts in tech, business, politics and nature at free Jan. 22 event.

By Geoff Dembicki, Today, TheTyee.ca
Jan 14, 2014

English Bay, Vancouver

Patent for refining heavier and heavier 'oil' ...

Patent Application Titled "Process for Prediciting the Stability of Crude Oil and Employing Same in Transporting And/Or Refining the Crude Oil"...
01/09/2014

Enbridge’s Expansion: The Flanagan South Pipeline

flanagan south

Enbridge’s Expansion: The Flanagan South Pipeline

The Cause:

To resist the construction of the KXL and the expansion of tar sands infrastructure and dedicated to stopping Tar Sands transportation and extraction infrastructure in the beautiful heartland of North America.

1: Opposition to all forms of Tar Sands exploitation
2. Opposition to Infrastructure Which Supports Further Tar Sands Exploitation
3: Explicit Support for Indigenous Peoples
4: Acknowledgement of Direct Action as A Legitimate and Necessary Tactic
5: No Condemnation of Resistance

A rant on the Federal attempted approval of Enbridge Gateway

(This was written in the hours after the Federal announcement of 209 conditions on Gateway approval, essentially a 'yes'.)

If anyone is surprised or disheartened by today's announcement about Gateway, you haven't been paying attention.

This government is the most rancidly reactionary, anti-democratic and pro-industry ever seen in Canada. That is not to let anyone else off the hook for their crimes, either.

It means you forgot the basic fact of how this works: They cannot be negotiated with. They must be stopped.

Imperial Oil's Mackenzie Valley pipeline still on ice

Imperial Oil's Mackenzie Valley pipeline still on ice
Cost of gas project now expected to be around $20B

CBC News Posted: Dec 19, 2013

Imperial Oil has announced it will not go ahead with the Mackenzie Gas Project, as the market conditions are just not good right now, says a company spokesman.

Imperial Oil had to give its decision on the construction of the pipeline to the National Energy Board by the end of 2013. The company was also required to provide an updated cost estimate.

Business Page rantings about Gateway and Keystone

Enbridge Gateway Win Shows Stopping Keystone Won’t Halt Oil (1)
By Jim Efstathiou Jr. and Rebecca Penty December 20, 2013

Keystone XL backers say the proliferation of alternative projects, such as one to carry oil-sands crude to a Canadian seaport that advanced yesterday, undercuts opponents who claim blocking the pipeline will keep the high-carbon fossil fuel in the ground.

Construction Advances on Flanagan South Pipeline Project

Construction Advances on Flanagan South Pipeline Project | Not first pipeline for area
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Charles Dunlap/Staff Writer

Enbridge Energy Company Inc. of Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta, work on the Flanagan South Pipeline Project has advanced in Lafayette County over the recent weeks. Pipeline trenches, welding and laying of pipeline work has increased. Driving to the west or north of Concordia will find its pathway.

Piles of tar-sands waste in Chicago are pissing people off

By John Upton
Grist
Nov 19, 2013

Clouds of coal dust and petroleum coke, a waste product from the refining of tar-sands oil, have been enveloping neighborhoods on Chicago’s southeast side. Federal, state, and city officials are finally moving to temper the dangerous air pollution.

The villains: KCBX Terminals (a division of Koch Industries) and Beemsterboer Slag Co.