Oil Sands Truth: Shut Down the Tar Sands

Health

The Health implications in terms of these projects are vast, and not just the deadly explosions and industrial accidents that happen in production-—from reported increases in rare forms of cancer downstream from tar sands production to the pollution of fresh water leading to poisoned diets (fish, moose and plant toxicity)—-direct links are hard to establish but impossible to either rule out or ignore, especially where tarsand operations constitute overwhelmingly the greatest change to the environment in most corners of the continent effected directly by tarsand infrastructure.

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350 More Ducks Killed In Canada's Toxic Tar Sands Tailing Ponds

by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 10.28.10
Science & Technology

Just days after Syncrude was fined over C$3 million for , there are more duck deaths to report. At last count, the Vancouver Sun reports 350 ducks have been killed.

The birds landed on the Mildred Lake tailing pond in northern Alberta and had to be euthanized after coming into contact with tarry bitumen floating on the surface. Ducks were found to have landed at similar tailing ponds at Suncor Energy and Shell tar sands facilities.

Syncrude Fined $3m for Duck Kill at Tar Sands

Syncrude Fined $3m for Duck Kill at Tar Sands
by Richard Komorowski – Cornwall Ontario – October 23, 2010

Cornwall ON – Syncrude, which last year had revenues estimated at $7 billion, was today fined almost $3m for the massive duck kill in April 2008.

The company, which is jointly owned by a number of multinational oil companies, was convicted of one offence under the federal Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, and one count under the Alberta Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act.

First Nations Women to Speak Out in Toronto against Tar Sands

First Nations Women to Speak Out in Toronto against Tar Sands
By Kathleen Airdrie
Published Oct 25, 2010

National First Nations Women's Speakers Tour on Tar Sands will hold an event October 27, 2010 at the University of Toronto.

The women’s tour is sponsored by several organizations concerned with the devastation caused by the massive projects’ degradation of the land.

First Nations Women Speaking Out

Rash of spills puts new tar sands oil pipeline on hold

Rash of spills puts new tar sands oil pipeline on hold
By Ed Brayton 10/18/10 7:40 AM Digg Tweet

U.S. State Department approval of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, a massive project that would carry crude oil from the tar sands of Alberta, Canada all the way to southern Texas, has been delayed and observers say the spill of a million gallons into a Michigan waterway is likely one key reason why. AP reports:

Activists increase scrutiny of industry

No Stopping Shareholders; Influence key to corporate transparency

By Shaun Polczer, Calgary Herald
October 6, 2010

Unconventional resource development such as oilsands and shale gas is increasingly drawing the attention of shareholder activists and influencing corporate decision-making, the head of one of Canada's largest integrated oil companies said in Calgary Tuesday.

Keystone XL pipeline on hold amid oil's recent woes

Canada-US pipeline on hold amid oil's recent woes

By JAMES MacPHERSON and JOSH FUNK

BISMARCK, N.D.

A company waiting for the U.S. government to approve the last leg of its multibillion-dollar oil pipeline network between Canada and the United State may be running into public concerns stemming from recent oil disasters.

Some experts conclude the so-called Keystone XL pipeline is a victim of guilt by association amid the negative publicity of the Gulf Coast oil rig explosion and other spills.

Albertan NDP loves the tar sands

Oilsands closure not an option for NDP

By FRANK LANDRY, Legislature Bureau

Last Updated: October 5, 2010
Alberta’s NDP does not want to shut down the oilsands, says Leader Brian Mason.

It’s a point Mason said he wants to drive home as he tours the province, talking up the party’s policies.

“It’s part of correcting this perception that (Premier) Ed Stelmach and the Conservative government have been trying to spread about where we stand,” said Mason, in Fort McMurray on Tuesday, outlining his party’s stance on jobs and the oilsands.

Proposed oil refinery the center of political debate

Proposed oil refinery the center of political debate
Iowa politicians weigh environmental risks against potential economic gains
By Matt Vasilogambros 10/6/10
The Iowa Independent

A proposed 400,000-barrel-per-day tar sands oil refinery along the South Dakota-Iowa border is stirring an increasingly polarizing debate, bringing both environmental and economic concerns to the forefront. The refinery is even becoming an issue in the gubernatorial campaign between Republican Terry Branstad and Democrat Chet Culver.

Minnesota and Alberta Tar Sands

By Kevin Karner, TC Daily Planet

October 11, 2010

A September 22 forum at St. Thomas University, Alberta Tar Sands: Minnesota's Dirty Oil Secret explored Minnesota's dependence on the oil sands of Alberta.

Shell Cancels Tar Sands Upgrader

Shell ditches oilsands project
Energy giant cancels $30B upgrader plan

By Dan Healing, Calgary Herald
October 9, 2010

Shell Canada has withdrawn its regulatory application to build a 400,000-barrel-per-day oilsands upgrader, a four-phase project estimated by analysts to have a price tag of around $30 billion.