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
Fort Berthold Reservation officials discuss oil exploration
Despite the tone of the article below, there is much opposition in the community to this development, opposition whose voices need to be heard.
--M
Reservation officials discuss oil exploration
Business News - Native Business News
New Town, North Dakota (AP) 5-08
The chairman of the Three Affiliated Tribes sees new opportunities in oil exploration but says it may come at a price.
"TransCanada closes in on Alaska"
A few quick notes on this:
TransCanada-- otherwise known as TCPL-- is a major sponsor of the 2010 Olympics destroying Vancouver and the lands of "BC". TransCanada is also a massive construction conduit for the expansion of the tar sands/tar pits up to 5 MILLION barrels a day (more than any other single country in the world minus Saudi Arabia for daily delivery). These plans are enunciated and spelled out in the SPP's round of talks from Houston, 2006.
TCPL is promoting the expansion of *both* northern pipelines for gas, and finally gave up the competition charade:
Federal climate change report warns of health problems
Federal climate change report warns of health problems
STEVE RENNIE
The Canadian Press
July 24, 2008 at 4:59 PM EDT
OTTAWA — A major report on climate change and health forecasts a higher risk of injuries, illnesses and stress-related disorders brought on by more frequent bouts of extreme weather.
A not-yet-released Health Canada report urges the federal government to brace Canadians for health problems arising from more droughts, violent storms, heat waves and cold snaps.
PNWER Summit Luxury Boat Tour Blocked by Activists
ATTENTION: ALL NEWS EDITORS
==> Pictures attached of 2nd Protest Against PNWER Summit
==> No Smooth Sailing for PNWER Elites: Marina Entrance Blocked by Activists
==> Activists cite lack of transparent process and public consultation in
PNWER decision making given wide scope of policy impacts from 2010 Olympics
to oil and gas mining
Wednesday July 23, 2008 Vancouver- A group of activists blocked access to
the Westin Bayshore marina today to protest the Pacific NorthWest Economic
Region (PNWER) summit. In doing so, they prevented delegates from boarding a
PNWER study on Energy "recommendations" for the Region
PNWER study on Energy "recommendations" for the Region
Nukes for the tar sands, massive new hydro projects in BC & AB, natural gas pipelines, new coal plants & more! And if we don't do this? Well, according to PNWER: blackouts, job losses and extreme price increases will occur! Be afraid, consume, and forget about everything else. This is to "help" stop climate change we are told. Coal, tar sands, these are now "solutions". Don't think about it, or else you will get a headache...
--M
*****
Russia and Venezuela to Coordinate on Energy
Russia and Venezuela Will Coordinate on Energy
By ANNE BARNARD // NYTimes
Published: July 23, 2008
MOSCOW — President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela and President Dmitri A. Medvedev of Russia declared Tuesday that their countries would more closely coordinate their actions on global oil and gas markets and that they would work together on foreign policy, a sphere in which both countries have sought to counter American influence.
Will Offshore Drilling Help?
July 23, 2008
Will Offshore Drilling Help?
by Tam Hunt, Community Environmental Council
With oil prices topping new records every week, the chorus for increasing offshore drilling is growing. Will it help?
Canadian energy policy "Made in USA"
Canadian energy policy "Made in USA"
The window may be closing on what's left of Canadian decision-making power over our own energy.
Dateline: Tuesday, July 22, 2008
by Linda McQuaig
When Americans want something that lies in another country, the consequences for that other country can be severe.
Even if they don't actually invade, they put a lot of pressure on lesser countries to behave as they want.
The future of the oil sands is one of the most important and contentious issues facing Canada.
Alter NRG plans to build $4.5-billion coal-to-liquids plant (Alberta)
Calgary upstart to turn coal into liquid fuel
Alter NRG plans to build $4.5-billion coal-to-liquids plant that would produce 40,000 barrels a day of fuel by 2014
NORVAL SCOTT
July 23, 2008
CALGARY -- For most energy companies, figuring how to best turn Alberta's vast oil sands into lucrative gasoline is challenging enough. But Alter NRG Corp. is looking to go one better.
Suncor gets go ahead to ramp up Firebag In-Situ plant production
Suncor gets go ahead to ramp up Firebag In-Situ plant production
CALGARY, Jul 23, 2008 (Canada NewsWire via COMTEX) ----Suncor Energy Inc. reports that, effective July 22, the Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) has removed production constraints imposed on Suncor's Firebag in-situ oil sands operations.
