Economics drive tar sands operations. Record highs in oil prices, though still fluctuating, will make tar sand oil ‘economical’ (read: profitable) well into the future. Government subsidies to this environmentally disastrous process remain in place from a time when the federal government was sponsoring research into the possibility of recovering this oil. Stock prices of tar sands developers grow the more conventional oil is scarce.
PSC denies request to delay hearing on pipeline for farmers
Janell Cole, Forum Communications Co.
Published Saturday, September 01, 2007
http://www.in-forum.com/News/articles/176882
BISMARCK – The Public Service Commission has denied a request by Keystone pipeline opponents to delay next week’s hearing on its proposed route.
The commission voted Friday during an emergency meeting to go ahead with Wednesday’s hearing, which Commissioner Kevin Cramer expects to continue into Thursday.
My Kingdom for a Horseless Carriage
The Biofuels Trap
http://counterpunch.org/mittenthal08312007.html
By ROBIN MITTENTHAL
We must move our nation beyond fossil fuels. But let's not be suckered by the promoters of biofuel alternatives like corn ethanol and soy biodiesel.
Large companies that stand to reap billions in subsidies and tax breaks from these energy "sources" are selling them as the way to a healthy planet and energy independence for the United States. For two reasons, don't believe it.
Updating the book on global warming
by George Monbiot
Here is a portion of George Monbiot's speech at the Camp for Climate
Change in London August 18 2007 {1}. He has been studying and writing
about global warming for over twenty years and is the Author of Heat
(South End Press, 2007) which is about climate change and what needs to
be done about it. He explains that because of recent scientific
discoveries the book needs an extreme update.
Indymedia.org.uk (August 31 2007)
I'm going to start with some bad news, and the bad news is this. Two
The Boom, Union Busting, and Temporary Foreign Workers
Plans to Import Workers a "Lose-Lose Proposition"
Alberta is in the middle of a boom. There is no question about that. Due to the pace of economic activity, the labour market is tight. Employers are having to work harder to find workers for their projects.
Most employers are taking necessary steps to recruit and retain desired workers - improving working conditions, increasing wages and offering good benefits. Some employers, however, are taking more drastic steps.
Axis of Arctic Oil
Germany And Norway Form Partnership, While Russia Plans Oil Exploration
http://www.thedailygreen.com/2007/08/31/new-allies-in-arctic-oil-scrambl...
Dan Shapley/ News Editor Blog
They all say it’s not a land grab. Really, it isn’t. It’s an oil grab.
United States, China Clash over Peak Oil May Endanger World Peace
By Ann Weaver Hart
Published Aug 30, 2007
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/363360/united_states_china_clas...
Peak Oil may have put the United States on a collision course with China as the two nations compete for African oil reserves. "Peak Oil" refers to the fact that worldwide, per capita petroleum production peaked in 1979. Owing to population growth, even though more actual barrels of oil per day are extracted, the amount of oil pumped per person continues to drop.
Marathon plans to expand Detroit refinery
$1-billion project would create more than 900 new jobs
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070827/BUSINESS06/7082...
August 27, 2007
By ALEJANDRO BODIPO-MEMBA
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
Officials at Marathon Petroleum Co.’s refinery in Detroit plan to announce a $1-billion expansion proposal that would boost oil production 15,000 barrels a day by 2010 and add more than 900 jobs to the local economy.
Factoring Sustainability Into Alberta's Tar Sands Project
http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/007166.html
Mindy Lubber
August 24, 2007 11:26 AM
There's much talk these days of capitalism and sustainability being increasingly interrelated -- that environmental and social impacts need to be included along with quarterly sales projections in corporate strategies and the financial bottom line. But why is this still more a concept than a reality, especially when it comes to a sustainability crisis like global warming?
Global oil reserves up only 1% last year
Canada's Oilsands Sole Booster, Study Says
Claudia Cattaneo, Financial Post
Published: Thursday, August 30, 2007
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/financialpost/story.html?id=7bd3bdc5-...
CALGARY -- Record global oil and gas profits of US$243-billion and record spending of US$401-billion have resulted in a marginal 1% increase in world oil reserves last year -- all of it coming from a 1.9-billion-barrel addition from Canada's oilsands, according to a new study.
Keystone Pipeline hearings set
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stcharles/story/CB3250...
08/30/2007
Public hearings on a draft environmental impact statement for the proposed Keystone Pipeline are planned in St. Charles and Collinsville next week.
