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.
George Monbiot stirs debate over fate of tar sands
By Matthew Burrows
George Monbiot wants the Alberta tar-sands industry shut down “as quickly as possible”.
The best-selling author, Guardian columnist, and environmentalist told the Georgia Straight he would like to see “large-scale direct actions” to make that happen.
Scream star 'horrified' by oilsands
edmonton journal
Published: 9:56 am
EDMONTON - Actress Neve Campbell toured the Fort McMurray oilsands this week and met with leaders of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and the Mikisew Cree First Nation.
"I'm horrified by the pace and scale of development in the tar sands, and the weak response by our federal and provincial governments," Campbell said in a news release today.
Oil sands will pollute Great Lakes, report warns
Massive refinery expansions for processing crude threaten to wipe out clean-up progress around world's largest body of fresh water
MARTIN MITTELSTAEDT //October 8, 2008 // Globe and Mail
The environmental impacts of Alberta's oil sands will not be restricted to Western Canada, researchers say, but will extend thousands of kilometres away to the Great Lakes, threatening water and air quality around the world's largest body of fresh water.
http://www.cjsr.ualberta.ca/cms/news/news.php?s=riseup&ep=1377&
The above link provides:
Edmonton 2010 "Spirit Train" Protest Full Length
(CJSR Radio Broadcast, hosted by Aaron Chubb)
Dr Helen Caldicott: Truth is stranger than fission
Helen Caldicott warns about the still-present nuclear danger
SCOTT HARRIS / scott@vueweekly.com
For more than 35 years, Dr Helen Caldicott has been an outspoken critic of the follies of the nuclear age, dedicating her life to shining a spotlight on the risks posed to human health and the environment by both nuclear weapons and the widespread use of nuclear power.
Dos, don'ts on energy
Another bill Congress hasn't passed
NewsDay
October 1, 2008
The bailout strikeout is not the only congressional swing-and-a-miss these days. Congress also has failed to agree on a comprehensive energy bill that could steer our economic and environmental future in the right direction.
Pipeline plan concerns Highland officials
By Terry Hillig
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
10/06/2008
HIGHLAND — Officials are wary of a plan to build a crude oil pipeline beneath Silver Lake, which is Highland's public water supply, but City Manager Mark Latham believes an agreement can be reached with the pipeline developer that will protect the city and its residents.
Keystone Pipeline spokesman Jim Prescott says there is little to be worried about. He says the chance of a leak that would contaminate the lake is remote.
Oil Shale: Viable Domestic Energy, Or ‘Dirtiest Fuel on the Planet’
By Jad Mouawad
September 30, 2008, 10:40 am
A ban on the development of oil shale — rock from which oil is melted and extracted for energy use — is about to expire.
After months of bitter wrangling, a quarter-century ban on offshore drilling along most of the nation’s coastline will expire at midnight tonight.
Fred McDonald, listed as "proof" of how good things are for Fort MacKay, has written a book where he lies about his own history and got Syncrude to publish it. He doesn't have cred even in the village itself.
--M
First Nations fine with oilsands
By GRAHAM HICKS
October 2, 2008
AMERICAN MEDICINE
Billy Bob: "The doctor said he'd have me walking within two weeks."
Skeeter: "Was he successful?"
Billy Bob: "Yep. I had to sell my car to pay his bill."
ABORIGINAL SEAL OF APPROVAL
Canada to Curb Tar Sands Exports?
September 30, 2008, 2:59 pm
By Clifford Krauss // New York Times
Canada prides itself on its clean-and-green bona fides, and its ratification of the Kyoto protocol a few years back came in sharp contrast to the Bush administration’s dismissal of the agreement.
But the country’s rapid expansion of oil sands development, a great emitter of greenhouse gases, has strangely escaped much political debate — even though it is a major reason why Canada cannot meet its Kyoto targets.
