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
"Lone-wolf threat feared at Vancouver Olympics"
Lone-wolf threat feared at Vancouver Olympics
Authorities see single terrorist as a key threat
Stewart Bell, National Post Published: Thursday, November 27, 2008
Ward Perrin/Canwest News Service
A federal study of terrorist threats to Olympic facilities in
Vancouver has raised the spectre of an attack by a "lone wolf," like
the anti-abortionist who struck during the 1996 Atlanta games.
The lone-wolf scenario is one of four terrorist threats listed in the
government intelligence assessment, a copy of which was obtained by
The Nuclear Push
The Nuclear Push
Mining lobby wants uranium ban lifted
November 24, 2008
by David Parker, Asaf Rashid, Angela Day
HANTS COUNTY, NOVA SCOTIA–As the global demand for energy increases and resources dwindle, a collusion of provincial government and extractive industry officials are pushing to establish a uranium mining industry in rural Nova Scotia through a "voluntary planning” process.
Risk-free pipeline projects make sense
Risk-free pipeline projects make sense
Deborah Yedlin, Calgary Herald
Published: Tuesday, November 25, 2008
In the midst of the market mayhem, something surprising happened last week; two Calgary-based pipeline companies raised almost $2 billion from the debt and equity markets.
First out of the blocks was TransCanada Pipelines, tapping the public equity markets for a total take of $1 billion priced at $33 per share. The shares closed Monday at $32.22, up 27 cents.
Controversy rocks lead-up to 2010 Olympics
Controversy rocks lead-up to 2010 Olympics
Real News // November 26, 2008 (Video below)
2010 Olympics promotional train tour becomes target for protests across Canada
Hidden tar-sands agendas
Hidden tar-sands agendas
BARRY HEALEY
November 13, 2008
Toronto -- Jeffrey Simpson points out the dishonesty of Stephen Harper in proposing to unite with the U.S. to combat global warming while leaving the tar sands out of the agreement (Little New For Obama In Ottawa's Energy 'Offer' - Nov. 12).
Petro Canada may delay McKay River project
Company may delay McKay River project
2008-11-25
By KRISTINE OWRAM, THE CANADIAN PRESS
TORONTO -- Petro-Canada CEO Ron Brenneman says the company is considering a delay of its McKay River oilsands expansion and a $1-billion equipment improvement at its Montreal refinery to reduce costs.
Brenneman, speaking to media ahead of the company's investor day, said the McKay River expansion in northern Alberta, as well as its Montreal coker, haven't yet received regulatory and corporate approvals.
Tar sands surviving downturn
Tue, November 25, 2008
Oilsands surviving downturn
Projects benefit as economic crisis makes contractors and suppliers hungrier for work
By MARKUS ERMISCH, SUN MEDIA
While delays of several oilsands projects have again raised the question whether it is cheaper to upgrade bitumen in the U.S. rather than in Alberta, the sagging loonie, easing inflation and lower demand for labour could be working in the oilpatch's favour.
Claims of industrial genocide in northern AB
Claims of industrial genocide in northern AB
Click here to email Troy Adams
11/24/2008
A speaker at a conference of people opposed to oilsands development in northern Alberta says aboriginals face a ``genocide'' as companies release waste into rivers that flow through their communities.
Mike Mercredi told the Everyone's Downstream 2 conference in Edmonton that it's a slow, industrial genocide.
"Indians: Tar sands development 'genocide'"
"Indians: Oil sands development 'genocide'"
EDMONTON, Alberta, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- A Canadian Indian rights advocate claims oil sands development in Alberta is akin to genocide from water contamination on reservation lands.
Speaking at a conference in Edmonton Sunday, Mike Mercredi, 33, said death rates at the Fort Chipewyan reservation's 1,200 people 400 miles northeast of Edmonton were on the rise, the Edmonton Sun reported.
'It's killing us off'
Mon, November 24, 2008
'It's killing us off'
Oilsands development a danger to aboriginal community: Band member
By KEVIN CRUSH, SUN MEDIA
Mike Mercredi, a community member of Fort Chipewyan, was on hand yesterday at Edmonton’s Native Friendship Centre to talk about the impact an oilsands development is having on his First Nations community.
Fort Chipewyan is facing a "genocide" from oilsands development, says a member of the First Nation.
