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
Tar sands stocks take beating as Connacher shelves expansion
Oil sands stocks take beating as Connacher shelves expansion
Carrie Tait, Financial Post Published: Monday, October 06, 2008
CALGARY -- Oil sands stocks were being clobbered Monday, an indication the market continues to doubt whether these companies will be able to secure financing to plow ahead with expensive projects.
Connacher Oil and Gas Ltd. admitted Monday it has shelved plans to expand capacity at its heavy oil refinery in Great Falls, Mont. It had wanted to jump from processing 9,500 barrels of oil a day to 35,000 barrels.
Dr Helen Caldicott: Truth is stranger than fission
Dr Helen Caldicott: Truth is stranger than fission
Helen Caldicott warns about the still-present nuclear danger
SCOTT HARRIS / scott@vueweekly.com
For more than 35 years, Dr Helen Caldicott has been an outspoken critic of the follies of the nuclear age, dedicating her life to shining a spotlight on the risks posed to human health and the environment by both nuclear weapons and the widespread use of nuclear power.
"Tar Sands Still Good Investment Long Term"
Canadian Oil Sands Looks Attractive Despite Near Term Risk
by: Kurt Wulff
October 06, 2008
We are committed to the belief that Canadian Oil Sands Trust (COSWF.PK) is an attractive long-term investment despite suspending our buy recommendations for near-term financial market price risk.
Dos, don'ts on energy
Dos, don'ts on energy
Another bill Congress hasn't passed
NewsDay
October 1, 2008
The bailout strikeout is not the only congressional swing-and-a-miss these days. Congress also has failed to agree on a comprehensive energy bill that could steer our economic and environmental future in the right direction.
Advisory: Barriere Lake Algonquins peacefully blockade highway 117
Advisory: Barriere Lake Algonquins peacefully blockade highway 117:
Community loses patience with broken agreements and federal interference in leadership selection
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, October 6, 2008
*Barriere Lake Algonquins peacefully blockade highway 117 in Northern
Quebec: Community loses patience with broken agreements and federal
interference in leadership selection
*Kitiganik/Rapid Lake, Algonquin Territory / - At 6:00am today, Barriere
Lake community members of all ages peacefully blockaded highway 117 outside
Keystone Pipeline plan concerns Highland officials
Pipeline plan concerns Highland officials
By Terry Hillig
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
10/06/2008
HIGHLAND — Officials are wary of a plan to build a crude oil pipeline beneath Silver Lake, which is Highland's public water supply, but City Manager Mark Latham believes an agreement can be reached with the pipeline developer that will protect the city and its residents.
Keystone Pipeline spokesman Jim Prescott says there is little to be worried about. He says the chance of a leak that would contaminate the lake is remote.
Protesting First Nations, Enbridge, may have a deal
Protesting First Nations, Enbridge, may have a deal
Friday » October 3 » 2008
The Star Phoenix
SASKATOON - An official for Enbridge Pipelines Inc. is confident that First Nations protests against the company will end later today after the sides reached a tentative agreement.
Foreign workers lured with lies
Foreign workers lured with lies
Wed, October 1, 2008
They or their families may be charged onerous fees back home, then told they have a debt to pay off here
By TAMARA CHERRY, SUN MEDIA
TORONTO -- The stereotype is a young woman forced to work in a brothel, strip club or massage parlour.
But reality cuts across all walks of life.
Nannies. Construction workers. Seasonal farmers.
Oil Shale: Viable Domestic Energy, Or ‘Dirtiest Fuel on the Planet’
Oil Shale: Viable Domestic Energy, Or ‘Dirtiest Fuel on the Planet’
By Jad Mouawad
September 30, 2008, 10:40 am
A ban on the development of oil shale — rock from which oil is melted and extracted for energy use — is about to expire.
After months of bitter wrangling, a quarter-century ban on offshore drilling along most of the nation’s coastline will expire at midnight tonight.
Six Ways Harper Is Wrecking the Economy
Six Ways Harper Is Wrecking the Economy
Myth of the good manager.
Need evidence? Look south.
By Murray Dobbin
Published: October 2, 2008
The Tyee
It's perhaps understandable that Stephen Harper is far ahead of his rivals when it comes to poll questions about who is the best at competent "economic management." Like George Bush in the U.S., Harper has deliberately framed himself as the "strict father" figure -- in charge, hard-edged, a firm guiding hand when things are increasingly uncertain.
Dion just seems inept, unable to capitalize on the Liberals' mythic record of the 1990s.
