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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"Northern Gateway Pipeline a Go"

Northern Gateway Pipeline a Go
Fri, 2008-05-23 17:42.
Local News

THE ENBRIDGE NORTHERN GATEWAY PIPELINE PROJECT IS A GO AHEAD ACCORDING TO THE PROJECT'S VP OF PUBLIC AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS STEVE GREENAWAY. THIS ALL DESPITE THE OPPOSITION THEY'VE FACED BY ABORIGINAL GROUPS AND CONCERNED ENVIRONMENTALISTS.

KITIMAT MAYOR RICK WOZNEY IS LOOKING AT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN TOWARDS THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS THE PROJECT COULD BRING TO A REGION THAT HAS SEEN A MAJOR DECLINE IN EMPLOYMENT AND POPULATION.

THIS WEEK GREENAWAY MET WITH KITIMAT MAYOR AND COUNCIL TO DISCUSS THE CURRENT

The Tar Sands, Downstream: Cancer, and the BC connection.

The Tar Sands, Downstream
Cancer, and the BC connection.

By Blair Redlin and Caelie Frampton
Published: May 20, 2008

When 500 ducks died earlier this month after landing on a tar sands tailings pond, Canadians got a glimpse into how unfettered tar sands development is taking its toll.

Members of the Mikisew Cree and Athabasca Chipewyan First Nations living downstream from the massive industrial projects have been feeling the effects for a lot longer.

Shell 'selling suicide' by preferring tar sands to wind

Shell 'selling suicide' by preferring tar sands to wind
Terry Macalister // The Guardian // Wednesday May 21 2008

Shell was accused yesterday of "selling suicide on the forecourt" by pressing ahead with tar sands operations in Canada and continuing to flare off excess gas in Nigeria while pulling out of renewable schemes such as the London Array - the world's largest offshore wind scheme.

Environmental groups blacken reputation of Alberta tar sands

Making mention of the Pew Foundation/Charitable Trusts here is ridiculously over-simplified. The groups that the Pew fund, through the money from Sunoco (who continue to refine tar sands oil and make multiple billions), are overwhelmingly among the most tame and market driven ones-- deflecting actual campaigning against the tar sands. The story below, while it contains valuable nuggets of information, must be making those who misdirect resistance to the tar sands smile.

--M

Environmental groups blacken reputation of Alberta oilsands

Sask. to go nuclear?

Sask. to go nuclear?
By NEIL WAUGH, EDMONTON SUN

Alberta NDP Leader Brian Mason went off the Richter Scale in the legislature last week. What else is new.

This time it was over Premier Ed Stelmach's nuclear energy policy.

Basically, the policy says let's study it now and come up with a position later after the premier promises to "ask Albertans for their opinions.

"We can't put our heads in the sand," Stelmach told Mason.

(I suspect, though, he was thinking of another place to shove the pesky socialist's noggin.)

Ottawa fast tracks Kearl mine permit

Ottawa fast tracks Kearl mine permit
Decision to green-light Imperial oil sands project for a second time now sits with cabinet
DAVID EBNER AND BRIAN LAGHI
Globe and Mail
May 19, 2008

CALGARY, OTTAWA — — Work on an $8-billion oil sands mine that was delayed by the loss of a key federal water permit is now likely to get under way within weeks because Ottawa sees the file as "important" and is putting it on a fast track.

Big Oil on the Water

Big Oil on the Water
Skating Around the Tanker Issue

By CHRIS GENOVALI

A well known Victoria, British Columbia radio talk show host once told local Conservative MP (Member of Parliament) Gary Lunn on air that he was such a good skater (as in skating around the issues) that he should be competing in the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics.

Tar Sands to be Developed in Africa

Eni finds oil sands deposits in Congo
By Ed Crooks in Pointe Noire, Republic of Congo

Published: May 20 2008 03:00 | Last updated: May 20 2008 03:00

Eni, the Italian oil group, has discovered a large oil sands deposit in the Republic of Congo that is expected to become Africa's first large unconventional oil development and could hold several billion barrels.

Paolo Scaroni, Eni's chief executive, said the project, due to begin production in 2011, opened "a new front" in the development of unconventional oil.

Intervention at the United Nations by the Athabasca Chipewyan and Mikisew Cree First Nations

Here is the intervention that was made at the United Nations by the
Athabasca Chipewyan and Mikisew Cree First Nations.

INTERVENTION TO THE SEVENTH SESSION ON THE UNITED NATIONS PERMANENT FORUM ON
INDIGENOUS ISSUES

Read at approximately 12:00 noon, Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Intervention on Agenda Item 5: Human rights: dialogue with the Special
Rapportuer on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of
indigenous peoples and other special rapporteurs.

Thank you Madame chair,