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
"Exxon Mobil CEO takes aim at environmentalists" [MGP]
Exxon Mobil CEO takes aim at environmentalists
Claudia Cattaneo, Financial Post
Thursday, May 29, 2008
DALLAS -- Rex Tillerson, chairman and chief executive of Exxon Mobil Corp., the world's largest oil-and-gas company, came out swinging Wednesday against the environmental movement, arguing the science of climate change is far from settled and that his company views it as its "corporate social responsibility" to continue to supply the world with fossil fuels.
Corp. Press Release: "Deep Well Purchases 6 New Sections of Land in the Peace River Area"
Deep Well Purchases 6 New Sections of Land in the Peace River Area
EDMONTON, ALBERTA, May 28, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) ----Deep Well Oil & Gas, Inc. and its subsidiaries ("Deep Well") (PINK SHEETS: DWOG) are pleased to announce that they have purchased another 6 sections in the Peace River area.
US refiners, pipelines invest in Canadian tar sands
WoodMac: US refiners, pipelines invest in Canadian tar sands
By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, May 30 -- The projected growth of Alberta oil sands production, which has in place some 1.75 trillion bbl of resources, is triggering a wave of investments, said Wood Mackenzie Ltd., Edinburgh.
Alaska governor recommends TransCanada's pipeline bid on Alaska Highway Pipeline
Alaska governor recommends TransCanada's pipeline bid
ANNE SUTTON
The Associated Press
May 22, 2008 at 6:39 PM EDT
JUNEAU, Alaska — — Alaska Governor Sarah Palin on Thursday recommended that state lawmakers approve a proposal from TransCanada Corp. [TRP-T] to build a natural gas pipeline from Alaska's North Slope to a hub in Alberta.
Total postpones tar sands project by a year or more
Total postpones oil sands project by a year or more
Shaun Polczer, Calgary Herald
Published: Wednesday, May 28, 2008
CALGARY - Total is pushing the start-up date for its Joslyn integrated oilsands mine back at least a year.
Istead of coming onstream in 2012, the project will now start producing "before 2015" Total Canada president Mike Borrell said today.
Total is seeking to be Canada's next integrated oilsands producer with an open pit mine and upgrading complex near Fort McMurray.
In addition, it owns half of the Surmont thermal project in partnership with ConocoPhillips.
[Ontario] First Nations group campaigns against tar sands refinery project
First Nations group campaigns against refinery project
Posted By By Observer Staff
May 21, 2008
A women's group from Walpole Island First Nation will host a traditional aboriginal ceremony today in support of a panel study into the proposed Shell refinery project.
The ceremony will be held at Seager Park, near Courtright, at noon.
"Fort McMurray feels duck glare 'unfair'"
Fort McMurray feels duck glare 'unfair'
Carrie Tait, Financial Post // Saturday, May 17, 2008
CALGARY - Christopher Allen Van Moorsel was crushed by a giant dump truck at an oilsands operation April 26, an accident that received a smattering of attention in Alberta. The national press ignored it.
Three days later, roughly 500 ducks died when they landed on a toxic tailings pond at another oilsands operations. International media from as far away as Turkey covered the story --for days.
Iowa: Construction Nears For Keystone Pipeline
Construction Nears For Keystone Pipeline
The start of construction is getting closer for an oil pipeline that could be built just 50 miles from the Hyperion project.
Officials with the Keystone crude oil pipeline say landowners with easements will be told when construction will get underway.
Sarah Metcalf of Aberdeen says land agents will make sure everyone is on the same page before they break ground and will even escort folks if they want to view the construction.
The tentative start date for the more than $5 billion project is later this summer.
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Life, Liberty, Water
Life, Liberty, Water
by Maude Barlow
As climate change and worldwide shortages loom, will people fight over water or join together to protect it? A global water justice movement is demanding a change in international law to settle once and for all the question of who controls water.
"Northern Gateway Pipeline a Go"
Northern Gateway Pipeline a Go
Fri, 2008-05-23 17:42.
Local News
THE ENBRIDGE NORTHERN GATEWAY PIPELINE PROJECT IS A GO AHEAD ACCORDING TO THE PROJECT'S VP OF PUBLIC AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS STEVE GREENAWAY. THIS ALL DESPITE THE OPPOSITION THEY'VE FACED BY ABORIGINAL GROUPS AND CONCERNED ENVIRONMENTALISTS.
KITIMAT MAYOR RICK WOZNEY IS LOOKING AT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN TOWARDS THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS THE PROJECT COULD BRING TO A REGION THAT HAS SEEN A MAJOR DECLINE IN EMPLOYMENT AND POPULATION.
THIS WEEK GREENAWAY MET WITH KITIMAT MAYOR AND COUNCIL TO DISCUSS THE CURRENT
