Oil Sands Truth: Shut down the Tar Sands |
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GenderGender impacts are often completely ignored within the hollow social impact assessments often conducted in the modern era. Oil patches and natural gas operations are overwhelmingly operated by young men who naturally go into small towns nearby after weeks in the bush. Alcohol and/or drug fuelled violence and rape often increase in communities dealing with such an influx, as do drug use, alcoholism and sexual exploitation. The effect on the community leads to further social breakdown and often violence against elders—especially after the “rush” of initial construction is over and the spike in money is gone, but the torn up earth is still there, along with fatherless children in many cases. The higher the rate in inequality and alienation during a "boom" cycle, the higher the levels of gender-biased impacts. The plans for the tar sands are the single largest project, and therefore "boom" based "collateral damage" could easily match anything seen before. (Calgary) City population growth to boost housing demandCity population growth to boost housing demand In spite of the lower number of housing construction starts this year, people are moving to Calgary -- and they're buying homes in the suburbs, says the latest city census. Tar Sands overview: production history, environmental destruction and human rights violations (Part I)Macdonald Stainsby gives http://h2opodcast.com/ an overview of the tar sands, their history in development, why now, the connection to the war on terror & Iraq, trade deals, expansion of the temporary foreign worker programs in such development, violation of indigenous nations' self-determination and environmental destruction unparalleled in the world. (Part I of II)
height="10" Tar Sands overview: production history, environmental destruction and human rights violations (Part II)Part II of II: Macdonald Stainsby gives http://h2opodcast.com/ an overview of the tar sands, their history in development, why now, the connection to the war on terror & Iraq, trade deals, expansion of the temporary foreign worker programs in such development, violation of indigenous nations' self-determination and environmental destruction unparalleled in the world. Part II of II.
height="10" Change in activists' tactics poses serious threat to 2010 Games: analystChange in activists' tactics poses serious threat to 2010 Games: analyst By Stephanie Levitz, The Canadian Press VANCOUVER - Changing tactics by Canadian activists pose a serious threat to security The usually fragmented, single-issue groups are converging and organizing in ways Where there's usually a lull in protest activity in the years leading up to Industry Smokescreen to Rein in the TarpitsFinally Canada's establishment newspaper gets it right! The proposed partial moratorium is indeed a PR greenwash smokescreen: Another sex trade murder in EdmontonThe housing crisis in Alberta, as it gets more and more desperate has as it's corollary more people-- in particular young, often racialized women-- working in the survival sex trade. This, like almost everything else in Alberta, comes from the extremity of the tar sands boom with no attention paid to human or environmental cost. The woman below is likely another victim of the tar sands. --M Sex trade slay Grande Prairie suffering effects of uncontrolled growthGrande Prairie suffering effects of uncontrolled growth GRANDE PRAIRIE - On a brilliant, blue sunglasses-mandatory Monday, the good folks of Grande Prairie were enjoying the outdoor pleasures of a city that just two short years ago was ranked the fourth best place to live in the country. Ahead of Calgary. And Vancouver. And yes, even Edmonton. Sex workers cashing in on Alberta's oil boomSex workers cashing in on Alberta's oil boom Alberta's red-hot economy appears to be fuelling a flourishing sex trade as prostitutes follow men to the oil and gas fields. And they're making big money when they get there, the sex-trade workers say. "Truckers are big business and they're on the road for long stretches of time and they want to have adult entertainment," says Chastity, one of the strippers frequently seen working the bars in small boomtowns such as High Level, Alta. More on the Social Meltdown of Fort McMurrayOilpatch braces for new arrivals FORT McMURRAY, Alta. – Fifty-seven year old Gerald Morrison has only 18 months to go before he can "get out of Dodge" and retire to Port Hawkesbury, N.S. But until then, the Syncrude refinery technician has to get a roomie to meet the $2,950 monthly rent on a three-bedroom apartment north of the downtown core, which comes complete with leaks in the ceiling, frosted-over panes and window sills spongy with rot. Vancouver Launch of Dominion Special Tar Sands Issue
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