Oil Sands Truth: Shut Down the Tar Sands

Water

Water is needed in huge amounts in tarsands production and in all other construction stages of tarsands infrastructure across the continent. It takes five litres of water to produce one of usable petrol. There is also water used to move gas, build new tar pits or that water which becomes polluted in the outlying areas. Waste tailings ponds are so vast as to be visible from outer space at this early point in production. Water is now being privatized in slow motion, as “access rights” are available in Alberta. As production grows and climate change continues to parch southern Albertan land, more and more water will be needed to help supply fuel for the American market. This water will ultimately be diverted from rivers, lakes, farms and cities throughout Canada; the water levels in the Athabasca River have already dropped several meters. The Deh Cho/Mackenzie River is already threatened, both from development along its valley and it is downstream from tar sands operations. A generation ago, the Athabasca River was clear and drinking was common. Now, those that live with the river consider it poison and off-limits.

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Royal Dutch Shell: Reviewing Assets and more across Canada

When Royal Dutch Shell recently bought out Shell Canada, the world's most notorious oil corporation became directly involved in many of the world's most deadly plans for the environment, social rights and indigenous self-determination. In northern British Columbia, RD Shell has inherited an exploration permit to look in the sacred headwaters of the Nass, Skeena and the Stikine rivers for Coalbed Methane, perhaps the single worst water damaging form of gas extraction that has been linked to stillbirths in animals and humans nearby.

CNPC withdrawal will not stop Gateway Pipeline: Enbridge

Enbridge still online with Gateway project
Jul 12, 2007 06:31 PM
http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/235384
Dina O'Meara
Canadian press

CALGARY–Enbridge Inc. was taken by surprise Thursday by comments PetroChina, its major partner in an ambitious Alberta to British Columbia pipeline, was pulling out of the $3-billion project.

"We have not discussed CNPC's comments with them," spokesperson Glenn Herchak told The Canadian Press. "So it would not be appropriate to comment."

Black gold's tarnish seen in Canada-- LA Times

Black gold's tarnish seen in Canada
Cash and jobs flow bountifully from Alberta's oil sands, but they come at a cost to the environment and native peoples.
By Tim Reiterman, Times Staff Writer
July 8, 2007
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-oilsands8jul08,0,732...
FORT MCMURRAY, CANADA — The Aurora Mine exudes the odor of petroleum and the look of untapped riches.

Expedition to raise awareness about threats to Athabasca River

By Lynn Martel - Rocky Mountains
Expedition to raise awareness about threats to Athabasca River
http://www.rockymountainoutlook.ca/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=128&cat=4...
Jul 11 2007

"Water is the ultimate traveller. It flows off mountains, all the way to oceans, and it can fly too."

The Richest First Nation in Canada

The Richest First Nation in Canada
by Macdonald Stainsby / July 10th, 2007
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/07/the-richest-first-nation-in-canada/

The primarily indigenous and mostly Cree (also ‘Chipewyan Dene’) community of Fort MacKay — just north of the internationally famous tar sand “boom” city of Fort McMurray — is said to be the “richest First Nation in Canada.” The question should be asked: How well does this reach the entire community, and does the economic benefit outweigh the cost?

Military experts say worldwide water scarcity could lead to future conflict

Military experts say worldwide water scarcity could lead to future conflict
Sat Jul 7, 2:20 PM

By Michael Oliveira

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/070707/national/great_lakes_water_wars

(CP) - Some of the world's most powerful nations are getting increasingly desperate
for fresh water and observers are concerned that a day will come when countries will
fight for the dwindling resource.

Countries in the Middle East and Africa have long dealt with water shortages but now
the likes of China, India and the United States are grappling with the problem.

"Stop the TransCanada Pipeline Now"

Landowners Oppose Pipeline
http://www.keloland.com/News/NewsDetail6371.cfm?Id=0,57795
06/11/2007

TransCanada's proposed Keystone pipeline consists of 1,845 miles of 30-inch pipeline running from Alberta Canada to Illinois. The proposed route has the line going through eastern South Dakota, where it's running into opposition from landowners.

TransCanada says it would pay for long and short term damage the pipeline may cause, but some landowners are concerned with more than the money.

Will the coming oil crisis be the end of suburbia?

Will the coming oil crisis be the end of suburbia?
By ERIC R. GREEN
http://www.chieftain.com/editorial/1183874885/6

Eric R Green is the library director at Lamar Community College and an adjunct sociology instructor. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Sierra Leone, West Africa.

Three years ago, when I started to teach Introduction to Sociology for Lamar Community College, my brother sent me the DVD, “The End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the American Dream,” concerning the “coming oil crisis."

Tar Sands Tanker Traffic 'under radar' along BC Coastline

Oil tanker traffic ‘under radar’ along B.C. coastline
http://www.ladysmithchronicle.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=18&cat=23&...
By Brennan Clarke
Black Press
Jul 03 2007

VICTORIA – Increasing oil tanker activity in B.C.’s northern waters has West Coast NDPers calling on Ottawa and Victoria to “formalize” a long-standing moratorium on tanker traffic and offshore exploration.