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.
The tar sands pipeline and Obama’s carbon commitments
August 11, 2009
by Sheila McNulty
The Obama Administration has made a big show about its desire to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
But actions speak louder than words.
Environmentalists want to see the Administration underline its commitment to reduce carbon by rejecting a permit for a pipeline carrying fuel for Canada’s carbon-intensive oil sands into the US.
Canada's dirty oil may disrupt Obama's clean energy plans
August 10
John Guerrerio
Trading our dependence upon 'bloody oil' for 'dirty oil' does not solve the problem.
Catastrophic shortfalls threaten economic recovery, says world's top
energy economist
by Steve Connor, Science Editor
The Independent (August 03 2009)
The world is heading for a catastrophic energy crunch that could cripple a
global economic recovery because most of the major oil fields in the world
have passed their peak production, a leading energy economist has warned.
Higher oil prices brought on by a rapid increase in demand and a
stagnation, or even decline, in supply could blow any recovery off course,
B.C. launches major stimulus program for oil and gas
By Shaun Polczer, Calgary Herald
August 6, 2009
CALGARY - The British Columbia government this morning announced a major stimulus program to kick-start its oil and gas industry, including a package of royalty incentives and legislative changes.
In a statement, the government said the program is designed to produce "immediate economic benefits" for the province.
Canadians want oil sands production cut
Survey respondents also want to see provinces – not just Ottawa – at coming climate-change talks in Copenhagen
Brian Laghi
Globe and Mail
Aug. 03, 2009
Provincial premiers will meet in Regina this week amid new poll results that show a majority of Canadians think oil sands production should be cut as Canada grapples with reducing greenhouse gases.
Global Peak Oil In 10 Years - IEA Sounds Alarm
by Energy Matters bookmark or share this page follow us on twitter
Global peak oil rapidly approaching
In an interview with the UK's The Independent, Dr Fatih Birol, the chief economist at the International Energy Agency (IEA), sounded an alarm that global oil production is likely to peak in around 10 years; far earlier than most governments had foreseen. The International Energy Agency is an intergovernmental organisation which acts as energy policy advisor to 28 member countries, including Australia.
ACFN member climbs flagpole to protest oilsands
Activists call on wife of RBC CEO to help protect communities
By SHAWN BELL, SRJ Reporter 05.AUG.09
An Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation member climbed a 50-foot flagpole in downtown Toronto on July 29 to protest the Royal Bank of Canada’s (RBC) involvement in financing the oilsands.
Eriel Deranger was one of two Rainforest Action Network (RAN) protesters who hung a 30-foot high banner in front of RBC’s Canadian headquarters, calling on the wife of RBC’s CEO to encourage her husband to withdraw financing for new oilsands projects.
Tar Sands Protesters Hang Banner at RBC’s Toronto Headquarters
By Sean B. Pasternak and Doug Alexander
July 28 (Bloomberg) -- Protesters hung a 15-foot-long banner at the Toronto headquarters of Royal Bank of Canada, asking the wife of Chief Executive Officer Gordon Nixon to help end the bank’s involvement in funding tar sands projects.
Clean energy, not photo-op, should be premiers' priority
Provincial agreement on pollution standards would clear the way for action by Ottawa
Aug 05, 2009
Rick Smith
Executive Director of Environmental Defence
When Canada's premiers gather each year, they usually are so concerned with polite, and boring, diplomacy that the only thing that makes the news is the picture of the provincial leaders all wearing the same themed clothing. Cowboy hats for everyone!
Nuclear Power Causes Cancer: What Industry Doesn't Want You To Know
Samuel Epstein,
Cancer prevention expert, prof. emeritus at U. of IL School of Public Health, Chicago
August 4, 2009
Huffington Post
