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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"Final" Mackenzie pipeline hearings set for April

Mackenzie pipeline hearings set for April

Last Updated: Wednesday, January 6, 2010
CBC News

If approved, the 1,200-kilometre natural gas pipeline would be built through the N.W.T.'s Mackenzie Valley to link northern gas with existing networks in Alberta.If approved, the 1,200-kilometre natural gas pipeline would be built through the N.W.T.'s Mackenzie Valley to link northern gas with existing networks in Alberta.

The National Energy Board (NEB) will hold a final round of hearings in mid-April on the proposed Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline in the Northwest Territories.

Tar tankers: The mystery of the missing moratorium

Tar tankers: The mystery of the missing moratorium
By Blair Redlin
| January 6, 2010 // Rabble

Most British Columbians, and many Canadians, probably believe there is a moratorium preventing oil tankers from plying the waters off the fragile and beautiful B.C. north coast. After all, hasn't the federal government banned oil tankers from entering Dixon Entrance, the Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound since 1972?

TransCanada supersizes Keystone project

Pipelines International — December 2009

TransCanada is seeking regulatory approvals in Canada and the United States to construct and operate a 3,200km expansion of its 3,456km Keystone Pipeline, which would make it one of the largest oil delivery systems in North America.

"Pipeline development in the land of the free"

Pipeline development in the land of the free

BJ Lowe, Clarion, Houston, USA and Lyndsie Mewett, Associate Editor
Pipelines International — December 2009

The United States of America boasts well established oil and natural gas pipeline systems, which are continuing to grow with the proposal and construction of more pipelines across the country. Pipelines International takes a look at some of the major projects in the pipeline.

Northeast region

Wiebo Released Without Charge

Oilpatch activist released in pipeline bombings case
By Laura Drake and Richard Warnica,
Canwest News Service
January 9, 2010

GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta. — After hours of police interrogation, controversial oilpatch activist Wiebo Ludwig walked out of an Alberta police station facing no charges Saturday — a day after he was arrested in connection with a series of pipeline bombings.

Wiebo Ludwig arrested in pipeline bombings

By Ryan Cormier, Hanneke Brooymans and Paula Simons, edmontonjournal.com
January 8, 2010

EDMONTON — Convicted oilpatch bomber Wiebo Ludwig has been taken into custody by the RCMP in connection with the bombings of EnCana’s pipelines in Northern British Columbia, says a friend and his lawyer.

“We believe he’s been arrested,” said Richard Boonstra, a family friend who lives on the same property. “That’s all we know. We’re in the dark here.”

Pale Greens Honor BC Climate Vandals

Pale Greens Honor BC Climate Vandals
December 29, 2009

For some, a tiny tax outweighs massive environmental destruction

by Roger Annis

At first glance, it seemed that the “Yes Men” had scored another comedic coup for Mother Earth. CBC Radio news reported on December 16 that on the previous day, British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell was feted and presented an environmental award by many of Canada’s well-heeled “environmental groups” during the United Nations climate summit in Copenhagen.

Mackenzie Pipeline saga to drag on despite Joint Review Panel approval

Mackenzie Pipeline saga to drag on despite Joint Review Panel approval
By Lauren Krugel (CP)

CALGARY — The Mackenzie Gas Project's supporters will usher in 2010 having passed a major milestone in what has been a long and often frustrating process.

But it's not time to uncork the champagne just yet.

There are numerous hurdles the backers of the 1,200-kilometre natural gas pipeline through the Northwest Territories must clear before a single segment of pipe can be laid.

AP Story: Panel Issues Mackenzie Natural Gas Report

Panel Issues Mackenzie Natural Gas Report
Panel weighing Canada's Mackenzie natural gas pipeline issues environmental report
CALGARY, Alberta December 30, 2009 (AP)
The Associated Press

A nearly decade-long quest to build a multibillion-dollar natural gas pipeline in Canada's north has cleared a major hurdle with the release of a years-overdue regulatory report Wednesday.

"Technology will solve oilsands environmental challenge"

If you ever needed evidence that the consciousness rising around tar sands the world over was powerful, look at the horse-hockey that the Can West chain (through their Edmonton Journal) is reduced to. There is no technoligcal fix. It is currently science fiction.