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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The great pipeline battle [The Economist]

Energy in Canada
The great pipeline battle
The energy industry and Stephen Harper’s government try to ensure tar-sands oil gets to market

May 26th 2012 | OTTAWA
The Economist

Tar sands company raises $11M, will start 1st US commercial production of tar sands in Utah

Oil sands company raises $11M, will start 1st US commercial production of tar sands in Utah

The Republic (Indiana)
May 24, 2012

SALT LAKE CITY — A tiny Canadian company says it has raised enough money from a stock offering to start producing oil from Utah's tar sands for a first-of-its kind project in the U.S.

U.S. Oil Sands Inc. says it raised $11 million from the offering and plans to start digging a 62-acre pit in eastern Utah this summer. Environmental groups fear it could lead to widespread destruction of public lands in the Rocky Mountain region.

Settlement Reached In BP Tar Sands Controversy

Settlement Reached In BP Tar Sands Controversy
By Network Indiana
Posted May 24, 2012

A settlement has been signed that will cut emissions from the highly-polluting tar sands oil project in Northwest Indiana.

The controversy over state air pollution permits to expand British Petroleum’s refinery in Whiting, Indiana is coming to an end. A precedent-setting settlement has been signed that will cut emissions from the highly-polluting tar sands oil project and provide stronger air quality protections for Northwest Indiana residents.

Global Warming: An Exclusive Look at James Hansen’s Scary New Math

A new analysis by the NASA climatologist for the first time ties specific weather events to human-induced climate change

By Paul Tullis | May 10, 2012

How can NASA physicist and climatologist James E. Hansen, writing in the New York Times today, “say with high confidence” that recent heat waves in Texas and Russia “were not natural events” but actually “caused by human-induced climate change”?

First Nations to Enbridge: 'The war is on'

The Canadian Press

Date: Wed. May. 9 2012

TORONTO — Scores of West Coast First Nations and supporters ended a colourful and noisy protest against a proposed Enbridge oil pipeline Wednesday with a declaration of war from one of their chiefs.

The Yinka-Dene Alliance argues the Northern Gateway project poses a threat to aboriginals' way of life by threatening waterways and ecosystems but Enbridge insists the project will proceed.

"The war is on," said Nadleh Whut'en Chief Martin Louie after the shareholder meeting.

First barrels of Jordanian oil shale expected this year

First barrels of Jordanian oil shale expected this year
by Taylor Luck | May 08,2012 |

DEAD SEA — An Estonian-Jordanian firm is set to pump the first ever commercially viable barrels of Jordanian oil shale this year.

Jordan Oil Shale Energy (JOSE) revealed on Tuesday that the firm was scheduled to bring the first commercially-viable Jordanian oil share to the surface in the central region of Attarat this September.

Tough Questions for Enbridge on Its Alleged Support from First Nations

Tough Questions for Enbridge on Its Alleged Support from First Nations
by Damien Gillis l The Canadian.org

It seems like every time BC First Nations draw major press coverage on their opposition to Enbridge, the company comes up with increasingly wild claims about how much support they have from First Nations.

Can T&T Survive Extreme Extraction?

*Can T&T Survive Extreme Extraction?*

April 22nd, 2012

In late March 2012, I was introduced to Mr. Macdonald Stainsby.

I had been looking forward to meeting Mr. Stainsby after having been informed of his intent to visit Trinidad by Miss. Monique Walker of Green TNT.

Mr. Stainsby is from Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada, but for the past 5 years or so, he has been living in Alberta, home of the third largest oil reserve in the world, behind Venezuela and Saudi Arabia.

'Mining tar sand will destroy Govt' [Trinidad]

'Mining tar sand will destroy Govt'
By Kim Boodram

Apr 22, 2012

ENVIRONMENTAL activist Wayne Kublalsingh said yesterday any decision by Government to mine tar sand in southwest Trinidad could mean the end of their time in office.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, on her return from the Sixth Summit of the Americas in Colombia last week, said her Government was looking into the exploitation of tar sand deposits in South Trinidad and she had spoken to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper about lending his country's expertise.

Environmentalists sound warning: Tar sand extraction a danger to T&T

Environmentalists, from left, Chezette Bailey, David Albreight, Trevor Bridgelalsingh, who attended the seminar; Macdonald Stainsby, Canadian activist; and Kyle DeLima, chairman of Earthwise Ltd. PHOTO: SHASTRI BOODAN

Environmentalists sound warning: Tar sand extraction a danger to T&T

Saturday, April 28, 2012
SHASTRI BOODAN
The Guardian (T&T)

Serious environmental issues which may affect southwest Trinidad are on the front burner once again. Environmentalists are now concerned about the Government’s plans to extract oil from tar sands in the La Brea area.