Oil Sands Truth: Shut Down the Tar Sands

Labour / Migration

It is falsely assumed that big projects equal lots of jobs and, by extension, labour peace if not outright satisfaction. The size and scope of the tarsands means for incredibly dangerous work conditions-- some fatalities at the plants have already occurred. The products seldom get their "value added" in union-run locations, instead the heavy bitumen can be shipped to many different locations across North America for refining, denying benefits to the union. However, the Union does not represent the "guest worker", now being imported in increasing numbers as legislation is changed to make access easier, the term of exploitation last longer, without any new efforts or pathways to deciding to stay after helping tear up the earth.

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Everyone's Downstream: A Conference on Tar Sands Realities and Resistance

Everyone’s Downstream: Tar Sands Realities and Resistance
Conference to be held at:
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
November 24-25th, 2007
http://oilsandstruth.org

CNRL threatens to "Leave"(Wanna help them pack?)

I must comment on this-- This corporation is the one that is trying to re-shape human rights, migrant and labour rights law and is leading the way in getting the flood gates opened for massive amounts of "temporary foreign worker" programs. They have been operating in their "Horizon Oilsands Project" with 500 no-rights, no papers labourers. These workers are the ultimate in cost saving, and CNRL, apparently while making people "learn while they go on the job", have killed 2 in accidents and wounded four others, all from China. If this doesn't save them enough money, then nothing will.

Fort McMurray teens swapping sexual favours for shelter

Fort McMurray teens swapping sexual favours for shelter: report
'Pace of life' in booming city contributing to problem, official says
Last Updated: Thursday, September 27, 2007 | 8:19 PM NT
CBC News

A survey by a homelessness committee found some teenagers in the booming city of Fort McMurray are resorting to prostitution in exchange for a bed or couch for the night.

The report, released this month by the region's Homelessness Initiatives Steering Committee, said 65 young people between the ages of 11 and 17 are without a permanent home in Fort McMurray.

SPP Super Highway almost ready: US Senator

Copyright 2007 The Tulsa World
Tulsa World (Oklahoma) // September 29, 2007
Senator: NAFTA Superhighway is nearly a reality
RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer

State Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, said Friday that the so-called
"NAFTA Superhighway" is "close to reality" and is being built for
"transporting goods and people from Mexico and China."

Brogdon made the remarks during a news conference at Tulsa
International Airport for the Oklahomans for Sovereignty and Free
Enterprise conference being held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at

Long emergency or long march back to the cave?: America's New Religion, Part II

America's New Religion, Part II
Dubai, UAE
Thursday, September 27, 2007

Long emergency or long march back to the cave? You decide,
Resurrection the mainline of American industrial power,
Tarantulas and the Gila monsters in Las Vegas and more...
-------------------------

Joel Bowman, reporting from the sweltering Middle East...

Yesterday we brought you an essay by James Howard Kunstler. Mr. Kunstler is the author of the book, "The Long Emergency," in which he predicted, as Eric pointed out yesterday, "the end of the privileged, energy-dependent American lifestyle."

Energy Corporations on offensive against Alberta royalty report

Energy Corporations on offensive against Alberta royalty report
Last Updated: Monday, September 24, 2007 | 6:01 PM MT
CBC News

Oil and gas producers, angry with a government report that recommends hiking the royalties they pay, shot back Monday warning higher royalty rates will be a major blow to Alberta's energy sector.

The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, which represents major companies in the industry, says last week's report is flawed.

Hundreds march in Edmonton to protest labour laws

Hundreds march in Edmonton to protest labour laws
Canadian Press
September 22, 2007 at 10:21 PM EDT

EDMONTON — Hundreds of angry and loud tradespeople have laid Alberta's labour code to rest in a dramatic mock funeral.

Protest organizer Eric Klyne led the funeral procession to the legislature Saturday, flanked by men dressed as the grim reaper and a priest.

The demonstration capped off two weeks of labour unrest that began following an Alberta Labour Relations Board ruling that forbid the carpenters union from going on strike.

Tuning in to the North, review of "Late Nights on Air"

Tuning in to the North
Review by MARIAN BOTSFORD FRASER
September 22, 2007
"Late Nights on Air"
By Elizabeth Hay // McClelland & Stewart // 364 pages, $32.99

Tar Sands send Loonie Past Dollar

"The rise in value of the Canadian dollar "is an energy story," said Busch. With crude oil futures trading at more than $83 U.S., investment capital is pouring north to help extract oil from so-called tar sands, also known as oil sands, in the province of Alberta.

"The average cost to produce a barrel from tar sands is $40 to $45," Busch said. The current world oil price "puts oil development from tar sands on steroids."

Go crazy: Dollar sinks below loonie
Bill Barnhart | Market report
September 21, 2007

TransCanada Defends Keystone Pipeline, Disputes Union Claims

It appears here the one being less than honest below is this Robert Jones-- shipping bitumen that has been "blended" with a Kerosene like by product called diluent that is needed to make the bitumen flow in a pipe is not refining. The refining process, and this is exactly the purpose of the Keystone-- will take place "downstream"(as the industry likes to call it) in Illinois. In other words, this press release on his part is Jones, working for TransCanada, trying to count on ignorance among people who would be aghast if they understood the facts. Disinformation is not a military policy only.