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
Deh Cho First Nations firm on demands before it will allow Mackenzie pipeline to cross land
Deh Cho First Nations firm on demands before it will allow pipeline to cross land
Roxanna Thompson and Guy Quenneville
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, January 7, 2010
DEH CHO - The Dehcho First Nations has identified several areas of concern within the long-awaited report from the Joint Review Panel on the potential environmental and socio-economic impacts of the Mackenzie Gas Project.
The panel released the report on Dec. 30, more than four years late. The report's title "Foundation for a Sustainable Northern Future" reflects its positive review of the project.
"Final" Mackenzie pipeline hearings set for April
Mackenzie pipeline hearings set for April
Last Updated: Wednesday, January 6, 2010
CBC News
If approved, the 1,200-kilometre natural gas pipeline would be built through the N.W.T.'s Mackenzie Valley to link northern gas with existing networks in Alberta.If approved, the 1,200-kilometre natural gas pipeline would be built through the N.W.T.'s Mackenzie Valley to link northern gas with existing networks in Alberta.
The National Energy Board (NEB) will hold a final round of hearings in mid-April on the proposed Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline in the Northwest Territories.
Tar tankers: The mystery of the missing moratorium
Tar tankers: The mystery of the missing moratorium
By Blair Redlin
| January 6, 2010 // Rabble
Most British Columbians, and many Canadians, probably believe there is a moratorium preventing oil tankers from plying the waters off the fragile and beautiful B.C. north coast. After all, hasn't the federal government banned oil tankers from entering Dixon Entrance, the Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound since 1972?
TransCanada supersizes Keystone project
TransCanada supersizes Keystone project
Pipelines International — December 2009
TransCanada is seeking regulatory approvals in Canada and the United States to construct and operate a 3,200km expansion of its 3,456km Keystone Pipeline, which would make it one of the largest oil delivery systems in North America.
"Pipeline development in the land of the free"
Pipeline development in the land of the free
BJ Lowe, Clarion, Houston, USA and Lyndsie Mewett, Associate Editor
Pipelines International — December 2009
The United States of America boasts well established oil and natural gas pipeline systems, which are continuing to grow with the proposal and construction of more pipelines across the country. Pipelines International takes a look at some of the major projects in the pipeline.
Northeast region
Tar sands producers prefer B.C. carbon rules
Oil sands producers prefer B.C. carbon rules
Shawn McCarthy
Ottawa — Globe and Mail
Jan. 07, 2010
Canada's oil industry can live with U.S. states adopting low-carbon fuel standards, so long as they follow British Columbia's oil-sands-friendly model rather than the California approach.
As dozens of American states pursue climate-change regulations aimed at transportation fuels, the Alberta-based industry is focusing on the crucial details of the proposed rules, rather than aggressively opposing their adoption.
Wiebo Released Without Charge
Oilpatch activist released in pipeline bombings case
By Laura Drake and Richard Warnica,
Canwest News Service
January 9, 2010
GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta. — After hours of police interrogation, controversial oilpatch activist Wiebo Ludwig walked out of an Alberta police station facing no charges Saturday — a day after he was arrested in connection with a series of pipeline bombings.
Wiebo Ludwig arrested in pipeline bombings
Wiebo Ludwig arrested in pipeline bombings
By Ryan Cormier, Hanneke Brooymans and Paula Simons, edmontonjournal.com
January 8, 2010
EDMONTON — Convicted oilpatch bomber Wiebo Ludwig has been taken into custody by the RCMP in connection with the bombings of EnCana’s pipelines in Northern British Columbia, says a friend and his lawyer.
“We believe he’s been arrested,” said Richard Boonstra, a family friend who lives on the same property. “That’s all we know. We’re in the dark here.”
One of the most important articles Climate Campaigners will ever read...
The mainstream environmental movement no longer inspires nor leads society to an enlightened existence – it simply bows down to the status quo.
Who Really Deserves the Fossil Fool Award? TckTckTck or us?
Pale Greens Honor BC Climate Vandals
Pale Greens Honor BC Climate Vandals
December 29, 2009
For some, a tiny tax outweighs massive environmental destruction
by Roger Annis
At first glance, it seemed that the “Yes Men” had scored another comedic coup for Mother Earth. CBC Radio news reported on December 16 that on the previous day, British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell was feted and presented an environmental award by many of Canada’s well-heeled “environmental groups” during the United Nations climate summit in Copenhagen.
