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.

warning: Creating default object from empty value in /var/www/drupal-6.28/modules/taxonomy/taxonomy.pages.inc on line 33.

On the Matter of Tar Sands & Indigenous Lands

Check out the video podcast:

http://citizen.nfb.ca/blogs/citizenshift/on-the-matter-of-tar-sands-indi...

Chipewyan Prairie Dene Suing to Block New Tar Sands Project

First Nation wants court to block oilsands deal
Posted By THE CANADIAN PRESS

A tiny aboriginal community wants to force Alberta to consult with First Nations in a meaningful way before approving oilsands projects that native leaders say threaten their traditional way of life.

The Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation is asking Court of Queen's Bench to block the approval of Phase 3 of MEG Energy Corp.'s Christina Lake project near Fort McMurray until the province agrees to improve its regulatory process and hold talks with band leaders.

MPs to study impact of Alberta's tar sands on water supplies

MPs to study impact of Alberta's oilsands on water supplies

OTTAWA — A parliamentary committee is launching a study on the impact of Alberta's oilsands on Canada's freshwater supplies.

The House of Commons environment committee agreed this week to proceed June 16 with a study.

Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia says there's growing concern in Alberta and among Canadians about the effect of the sprawling oilsands on the future of the country's freshwater supplies.

Kearl Project Permit Restored

Imperial's oilsands permit restored
Reuters
Published: Saturday, June 07, 2008

CALGARY - Imperial Oil Ltd. again has all the approvals it needs to go ahead with its $8-billion Kearl oilsands project after the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) reinstated its authorization, revoked in March during a legal battle.

The federal department gave Imperial, Canada's biggest oil producer and refiner, a new permit yesterday to disturb fish habitat at the proposed northern Alberta mining site, DFO spokesman Phil Jenkins said.

Stop the Tar Sands Oil Rush [Illinois]

Stop the Tar Sands Oil Rush
What's New

Major oil companies want to use Illinois as a major artery for bringing dirty tar sands oil from Canada to the U.S. market — with enormous consequences for our local environment and our global climate.

Background

Regulatory delay hits pipeline

Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Published Monday, May 26, 2008

YELLOWKNIFE - The Mackenzie Gas Project is facing another regulatory delay.

A report by the Joint Review Panel (JRP) expected in mid-2008 has now been once again delayed to sometime next year.

"We cannot see this as a positive development for the project," said Pius Rolheiser, a spokesperson for Imperial Oil in Calgary.

Rolheiser said it will delay the ultimate decision on whether the pipeline will proceed.

Corp. Press Release: "Deep Well Purchases 6 New Sections of Land in the Peace River Area"

Deep Well Purchases 6 New Sections of Land in the Peace River Area

EDMONTON, ALBERTA, May 28, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) ----Deep Well Oil & Gas, Inc. and its subsidiaries ("Deep Well") (PINK SHEETS: DWOG) are pleased to announce that they have purchased another 6 sections in the Peace River area.

Alaska governor recommends TransCanada's pipeline bid on Alaska Highway Pipeline

Alaska governor recommends TransCanada's pipeline bid
ANNE SUTTON
The Associated Press
May 22, 2008 at 6:39 PM EDT

JUNEAU, Alaska — — Alaska Governor Sarah Palin on Thursday recommended that state lawmakers approve a proposal from TransCanada Corp. [TRP-T] to build a natural gas pipeline from Alaska's North Slope to a hub in Alberta.

"Fort McMurray feels duck glare 'unfair'"

Fort McMurray feels duck glare 'unfair'

Carrie Tait, Financial Post // Saturday, May 17, 2008

CALGARY - Christopher Allen Van Moorsel was crushed by a giant dump truck at an oilsands operation April 26, an accident that received a smattering of attention in Alberta. The national press ignored it.

Three days later, roughly 500 ducks died when they landed on a toxic tailings pond at another oilsands operations. International media from as far away as Turkey covered the story --for days.

Life, Liberty, Water

Life, Liberty, Water
by Maude Barlow

As climate change and worldwide shortages loom, will people fight over water or join together to protect it? A global water justice movement is demanding a change in international law to settle once and for all the question of who controls water.