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
TransCanada work goes underwater (Keystone)
TransCanada work goes underwater
Saturday, Oct 18, 2008 - 12:45:47 pm CDT
YANKTON, S.D. - Crews are expected to begin working this week to bury pipe for the TransCanada Keystone oil pipeline 60 feet below the bed of the Missouri River at Yankton.
The project of 4-6 weeks will involve nearly a half-mile of 30-inch pipe.
The TransCanada underground pipeline will run from Canada through the eastern Dakotas and Nebraska to refineries in Illinois and Oklahoma.
Some pipe is already in place in northeast South Dakota.
"Where I Come From Is Ground Zero"
OIL SANDS-PART 2: "Where I Come From Is Ground Zero"
By Chris Arsenault*
Michael Mercredi, a member of the Athabasca Chipewyan/Dene First Nation, says people in his small community are experiencing rare cancers because of the tar sands.
Credit:Chris Arsenault/IPS
FT. MCMURRAY, Oct 17 (IPS) - The wheels of the Caterpillar 797B, the world's largest truck, are always going round and round at Shell Canada's Albian Sands mine.
Winter Olympic supporters and opponents both claim success from Spirit Train
Winter Olympic supporters and opponents both claim success from Spirit Train
October 18, 2008
Canadian Press Ltd.
VANCOUVER — Organizers and opponents of the 2010 Winter Olympics have both declared victory after duelling campaigns to raise awareness about the Games over the course of a promotional train journey from Vancouver to Montreal.
The Canadian Pacific Spirit Train wrapped up its 10-city tour in Montreal on Saturday, with an estimated 35,000 people across the country having taken part in activities highlighting Olympic sport.
North Central Corridor Pipeline construction can't start: Lubicon Cree
Pipeline construction can't start: Lubicon Cree
Last Updated: Thursday, October 16, 2008
CBC News
A small First Nation in northern Alberta is calling on TransCanada Pipelines to consult with them before it starts building a pipeline through their traditional territory.
"TransCanada will not be allowed to proceed with construction by the Lubicon people until such time they recognize land rights that we do have," said Dwight Gladue, a councillor with the Lubicon Lake First Nation.
Pain Compliance as Indigenous Relations
October 14, 2008
Pain Compliance as Indigenous Relations
Inside the Barriere Lake Algonquins' blockade of highway 117
by Dru Oja Jay
The Dominion - http://www.dominionpaper.ca
A girl holds a sign during a blockade of highway 117 in northern Quebec by the Algonquins of Barriere Lake. Photo: Maya Rolbin-Ghanie
TAR SANDS-PART 1: Showdown at Ft. McMoney
OIL SANDS-PART 1: Showdown at Ft. McMoney
By Chris Arsenault*
Environmentalists say mining tar sands oil creates 3 to 5 times more
greenhouse gas emissions than conventional oil extraction.
FT. MCMURRY, Canada, Oct 16 (IPS) - The sun rises in a bright, red
line over flat land, small lakes, boreal forest and peat bogs as our
small double engine plane bumps through early morning turbulence
between Edmonton and Ft. McMurray, Canada.
With more than 173 billion barrels of oil recoverable with current
technology and more than 100 billion dollars in committed capital
Russian Gas Executives Visit Palin’s Turf
Russian Gas Executives Visit Palin’s Turf
By ANDREW E. KRAMER
Published: October 14, 2008
MOSCOW — A high-level delegation from the Russian energy company Gazprom met in Anchorage with state officials on Monday to talk about investing in Alaskan energy projects. The meeting came nearly three weeks after Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska talked in a television interview about her expertise in energy matters and took a hard line with Russia.
Canadian Government wins re-election. Positive for mining?
NATURAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT A PRIORITY
Canadian Government wins re-election. Positive for mining?
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Conservative Government easily won re-election Tuesday, which may prove a positive political development for the Canadian mining sector.
Author: Dorothy Kosich
Posted: Wednesday , 15 Oct 2008
RENO, NV -
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper led his Conservative Party to a victory Tuesday, but appeared to have failed to gain enough seats in Parliament to win a majority government.
Can Boeing bring a heavy-lift dirigible to the market?
Can Boeing bring a heavy-lift dirigible to the market?
October 13, 2008
With all-cargo versions of its B777 and 747-8 models already in the pipeline, Boeing is turning to a different type of cargo aircraft. In a joint venture with Canadian firm SkyHook International, the plane maker is developing a 300-foot-long dirigible that will be able to carry loads up to 40 tons over distances of up to 200 miles.
Weather Delays Keystone Pipeline
Weather Delays Pipeline
October 14, 2008
By Dawn Crawley
The Keystone Pipeline project is already underway in Day County but there's been a weather delay after recent heavy rain.
Keystone is working on clearing out the water but landowners are keeping a close eye on how long this delay will last and if it will affect their property.
Work on the Keystone Pipeline has halted for the day. The heavy rains have left conditions too saturated to work. Crews are busy pumping water and restoring conditions.
