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 boost CNRL earnings
Oilsands boost CNRL earnings
President calls Calgary firm's results 'stunning'
By Shaun Polczer, Calgary Herald August 6, 2010
Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. on Thursday credited its growing oilsands production for significantly higher second quarter financial and operating results that handily beat analyst expectations.
Poll on Anti-Tar Sands Ads
Anti-oilsands advertisements
Calgary Herald
August 9, 2010 2:06 AM
-Before watching the Rethink Alberta video, 54 per cent of Britons and 49 per cent of Americans said they would "definitely" or "probably" consider visiting Alberta.
-After watching the video, only 24 per cent of Britons and 26 per cent of Americans would "definitely" or "probably" consider visiting Alberta.
Keystone XL Pipeline would ship oil and jobs south
Pipeline would ship oil and jobs south
Published On Sun Aug 08 2010
Dave Coles President of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union
An unlikely coalition of Calgary oil workers, Nebraska farmers, Michigan mothers, Greenpeace shock troops and a powerful U.S. congressman have a chance to achieve what many thought impossible — bring a Canada-U.S. oil pipeline project to a screeching halt.
The pipeline they are trying to stop is a 9,600-kilometre monster designed to ferry black bitumen from the Canadian tarsands due south to planned refineries on the Gulf of Mexico.
Groups challenge plans for Utah tar sands mine
Groups challenge plans for Utah tar sands mine
By Steven Oberbeck
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated Jul 27, 2010 11:12PM
A small Canadian company, in need of millions for its ambitious plans, also is facing stiff opposition from two Utah environmental groups that are trying to thwart its efforts to build one of the first commercial tar sand mines in the country.
Earth Energy Resources, based in Calgary, Alberta, received approval a year ago from the staff of the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining to begin working a 62-acre deposit on the Uintah County-Grand County line.
Alberta Hides Dirty Truth as US Demands Tar Sands Facts
Alberta Hides Dirty Truth as US Demands Tar Sands Facts
Potential buyers of tar sands oil want to know its true carbon footprint, but industry won't come clean.
By Andrew Nikiforuk,
July 29, 2010
TheTyee.ca
Tar sands are 82 per cent more polluting than average crude, estimates US government, but Canada doesn't keep track.
Pipeline leak deals blow to Tar Sands
Pipeline leak deals blow to Canada’s oil sands industry
By Bernard Simon in Toronto
Financial Times
Published: July 29 2010
Canada’s oil sands industry was trying to defuse a fresh public relations headache on Thursday after a ruptured pipeline spilled about 4m litres of Alberta crude into waterways in southern Michigan.
Lisa Jackson, head of the US Environmental Protection Agency, said that “this is a serious spill that has the potential to damage a vital waterway and threatens public health”.
New Suncor 'coming together'
New Suncor 'coming together'
$480M profit trounces forecasts one year after merger
By Shaun Polczer, Calgary Herald; Postmedia News
July 30, 2010
The new Suncor is starting to jell a year after its blockbuster merger with Petro-Canada, its chief executive said Thursday after the company marked a return to second-quarter profitability.
"I really feel like the team is coming together," CEO Rick George told analysts.
Enbridge Pipeline break hits U.S., Canada refineries
Enbridge Pipeline break hits U.S., Canada refineries
Mon Jul 26, 2010
HOUSTON, July 26 (Reuters) - An oil pipeline break in Michigan on Monday shut part of a system carrying Canadian crude oil to the U.S. Midwest and southern Canada, Enbridge Energy Partners (EEP.N) said.
No one was hurt, but about 19,500 barrels of oil was released into a creek that then carried the oil into the Kalamazoo River, an Enbridge news release said. Crews with skimming equipment were responding.
Enbridge hoped to have the line repaired and restarted by Wednesday, a spokesman said.
An ill wind in oil country
An ill wind in oil country
A heavy smell of tar hangs over this hamlet, and when people and animals got sick, some residents began to make a stink of their own
Josh Wingrove
From Saturday's Globe and Mail
Jul. 24, 2010
Richard Langer never wanted attention. If the 72-year-old had his way, he would have stayed quietly on his ranch forever. It's where he was born, where he has raised a family and made his living.
Proposed rules for tar sands water-removal inadequate: First Nations
Proposed rules for oilsands water-removal inadequate: First Nations
Wants Athabasca protected during low flow
By Hanneke Brooymans,
edmontonjournal.com
July 23, 2010
EDMONTON — First Nations in northeastern Alberta have problems with a proposed management system for the Athabasca River that would allow oilsands operators to withdraw water during critical times of low flows.
The recommended water-withdrawal rules were released earlier this year and have since been reviewed l by the Athabasca Chipewyan and Mikisew Cree First Nations.
