Tar Sands 101
The Tar Sands "Gigaproject" is the largest industrial project in human history and likely also the most destructive. The tar sands mining procedure releases at least three times the CO2 emissions as regular oil production and is slated to become the single largest industrial contributor in North America to Climate Change.
The tar sands are already slated to be the cause of up to the second fastest rate of deforestation on the planet behind the Amazon Rainforest Basin. Currently approved projects will see 3 million barrels of tar sands mock crude produced daily by 2018; for each barrel of oil up to as high as five barrels of water are used.
Human health in many communities has seriously taken a turn for the worse with many causes alleged to be from tar sands production. Tar sands production has led to many serious social issues throughout Alberta, from housing crises to the vast expansion of temporary foreign worker programs that racialize and exploit so-called non-citizens. Infrastructure from pipelines to refineries to super tanker oil traffic on the seas crosses the continent in all directions to allthree major oceans and the Gulf of Mexico.
The mock oil produced primarily is consumed in the United States and helps to subsidize continued wars of aggression against other oil producing nations such as Iraq, Venezuela and Iran.
To understand the tar sands in more depth, continue to our Tar Sands 101 reading list
World running out of oil, says ex-CEO
World running out of oil, says ex-CEO
Jim Buckee warns of $20-a-litre fuel
By Richard Foot, Canwest News Service
January 15, 2009
Consumers shouldn't get too comfortable with cheap gasoline, because the planet is running out of oil and prices will go "sky high" --as high as $20 per litre--as petroleum reserves dwindle in the coming years.
That's the view of Jim Buckee, the British oilman who was CEO of Calgary-based Talisman Energy Inc., one of Canada's largest energy producers, from 1993 to 2007.
Activists push policy change for oil pipeline (Trailbreaker-- through to Portland, ME)
Activists push policy change for oil pipeline
TORONTO STAR GRAPHIC
At present, oil is piped to Sarnia from Alberta through pipelines that pass through Saskatchewan, Manitoba and numerous U.S. states, and from foreign distributors through Line 9 via Montreal. Enbridge's proposed program would reverse the flow on Line 9 from Sarnia to Montreal to carry oil from the tar sands through Ontario and Quebec to Portland and on to the U.S. Gulf Coast. The project would also require the flow on the Portland-Montreal Pipe Line to be reversed. Embridge does not own this pipeline.
Stalled upgrader receives approval [Petro Can Fort Hills]
Stalled upgrader receives approval
By Dan Healing And Dina O'Meara, Calgary Herald
January 21, 2009
Provincial energy regulators have approved plans for an Edmonton-area upgrader associated with Petro-Canada's proposed $24-billion Fort Hills integrated oilsands project--even though the company has deferred the project indefinitely.
In a news release Tuesday, the Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board announced it had conditionally approved the plan by Petro-Canada Oil Sands Inc. to build and operate the upgrader in Sturgeon County north of Edmonton.
Suncor shelves expansion amid first loss in 16 years
Suncor shelves expansion amid first loss in 16 years
Falling prices, rising costs prompt cuts
By Dan Healing, Calgary HeraldJanuary 21, 2009
Suncor Energy Inc. is "downing tools" on the $20.6-billion Voyageur expansion underway at its northern Alberta oilsands operations as it reports its first quarterly loss in 16 years, blamed on falling commodity prices, production setbacks and higher costs.
Sault St Marie: Canadian politicians/stakeholders see benefits from U.S. lock project
Canadian politicians/stakeholders see benefits from U.S. lock project
Posted By BOB MIHELL
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Sault St Marie This Week
Politicians from Sault Canada, Essar Steel Algoma, and the vice-president of the Canadian Shipowners Association have reacted favourably to a proposed new super lock at Sault Michigan.
Youth protest against the tar sands in Fort Chipewyan
January 9, 2009
Youth protest against the tar sands in Fort Chipewyan
Youth from Fort Chipewyan marched through the streets to protest against the tar sands in -32 degree temperatures this afternoon.
The march was organized by 10 year old Robyn Courtoreille, who got other youth involved in the protest.
"Syncrude and Suncor have been poisioning our water, air, so we protested to let them know we want a future not cancer," said Dailen Powder, 12, after the protest.
"I was protesting because I dont want anymore deformed two jawed fish in our lake," said Cherish Kaskamin, 11.
Survival is Non-Negotiable!
Survival is Non-Negotiable!
January 19, 2009
Are climate talks the new World Trade Organization?
by Ben Powless
The Dominion - http://www.dominionpaper.ca
Installation parallels art process to tar sands development
Tar Plane Wayfarer: Kamikaze Tar Plane
Installation parallels art process to tar sands development
Week of January 15, 2009
Amy Fung / amy@vueweekly.com
An Illinois native growing up amidst corn fields and prairie landscape, Mitch Mitchell knew nothing about Fort McMurray or the tar sands before his visit last October. Camping with two friends for 55 days, the U of A fine art graduate student inadvertently gained unprecedented access to active construction sites.
Economic downturn shuts down Trailbreaker reversal (tar sands in Montreal)
Economic downturn shuts down oil pipeline proposal
By Canwest News ServiceJanuary 18, 2009
Environmental activists are relieved by the indefinite shelving of an oil pipeline proposal that they say would make Ontario too dependent on "dirty oil" from Alberta and bring it to Quebec for the first time.
However, activists with Environmental Defence and ForestEthics are concerned the project put on hold by Calgary-based Enbridge could be resurrected in the future.
