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
2010 Olympic security costs could hit $1 billion, says minister
2010 Olympic security costs could hit $1 billion, says minister
CBC News, Oct. 10, 2008
The cost of security for the 2010 Winter Games could reach as high as $1 billion but B.C. will not be on the hook for the runaway costs,according to the provincial finance minister.
B.C. is protected from cost overruns because the province is only paying for security inside Games venues, Colin Hansen told CBC News on Friday morning.
Not In Anyone’s Backyard
Not In Anyone’s Backyard
Farmers in Alberta are part of the growing rural resistance standing up to development
by Scott Harris
The Dominion
For much of its century-long history, the Schultz family farmstead has been a centre of community for farmers near Tofield, a place where people have gathered to pass time and bond with one another.
"Refineries progress, but are years away from opening"
Refineries progress, but are years away from opening
By Dirk Lammers, AP Business Writer
Story Published: Oct 10, 2008
ELK POINT, S.D. (AP) – The United States hasn’t built an oil refinery on a new site in more than 30 years, but a pair of projects eyeing out-of-the way corners of South Dakota and Arizona are slowly working their way up to the big leagues.
Keystone Pipeline Installation Begins in Marshall County (South Dakota)
Pipeline Installation Begins in Marshall County
Friday, October 10, 2008 10:56 AM
(Source: American News (Aberdeen, S.D.))trackingBy Russ Keen, American News, Aberdeen, S.D.
Oct. 10--Some pipe is in the ground and covered with soil in northern Marshall County for the $5.2 billion TransCanada Keystone pipeline that will run through parts of Marshall and Day counties.
That was the word on Thursday from Jeff Raugh, project representative for Keystone. Pipe is in place from North Dakota/South Dakota border south almost to state Highway 10, he said.
Tar sands stocks hit 52-week low
Tar sands stocks hit 52-week lows on financing fears
Carrie Tait, Financial Post Published: Monday, October 06, 2008
CALGARY -- A slew of Canada's most respected oil and gas outfits slammed into 52-week lows during Monday's tumultuous trading session, highlighting fears that companies in the oil patch face a struggle to rustle up the cash necessary to plow ahead with expensive projects.
Labour groups critical of Harper’s tar sands comments
Labour groups critical of Harper’s oilsands comments
Friday, October 10, 2008
By CAROL CHRISTIAN
Today staff
Recent election promises by Conservative Leader Stephen Harper focusing on oilsands irritated two labour groups fighting for Canadian job, and energy, security.
Both the national Communications, Energy and Paperworkers (CEP) Union and the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) claim Harper continues to ignore Canadian national energy security, and the jobs pouring out of the country.
Editorial Tar Sands Panic? "Politicians vs. our last healthy industry"
Politicians vs. our last healthy industry
Mark Milke, For The Calgary Herald
Published: Friday, October 10, 2008
In a serendipitous release Wednesday, Statistics Canada published data on how much the oil and gas industry spends on extraction, i.e., getting oil and gas out of the ground so we can power our automobiles and heat our homes and offices, among other uses.
The numbers are staggering. In 2007, the industry spent $49.7 billion on capital expenditures. On the operating side, Canada's energy industry cut cheques worth $37.6 billion.
Ability of tar sands players to weather storm a question of timing
Ability of oilsands players to weather storm a question of timing: economist
The Canadian Press
October 10, 2008 - 12:44 a.m.
CALGARY - The ability of oilsands players to weather the recent economic tempest will in large part depend on timing, an economist says.
On Friday crude oil prices shrivelled to US$80 - break-even territory for many high-cost oilsands projects.
Derek Burleton of TD Economics says companies that started their projects a few years back will be in better shape, since their plans were based on crude prices not all that different from today's.
Next president could make huge tar sands deal with Canada
Next president could make huge oil sands deal with Canada
Posted: October 10, 2008, 11:13 AM by Jonathan Ratner
Energy
George Monbiot: "Shut down the Tar Sands"
George Monbiot stirs debate over fate of tar sands
By Matthew Burrows
George Monbiot wants the Alberta tar-sands industry shut down “as quickly as possible”.
The best-selling author, Guardian columnist, and environmentalist told the Georgia Straight he would like to see “large-scale direct actions” to make that happen.
