Oil Sands Truth: Shut Down the Tar Sands

Health

The Health implications in terms of these projects are vast, and not just the deadly explosions and industrial accidents that happen in production-—from reported increases in rare forms of cancer downstream from tar sands production to the pollution of fresh water leading to poisoned diets (fish, moose and plant toxicity)—-direct links are hard to establish but impossible to either rule out or ignore, especially where tarsand operations constitute overwhelmingly the greatest change to the environment in most corners of the continent effected directly by tarsand infrastructure.

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Duck Deaths Confirm First Nations' Fears

Fort Chipewyan, May 2, 2008 -- Only one day after the 500 ducks were found dead in the tailings pond at Syncrude Canada in the Alberta tar sands, a local Mikisew Cree hunter killed a duck that was totally covered in oil. Community leaders have no doubt that the duck was a victim of the toxic tailings ponds near Fort McMurray, 300 kilometres south of Fort Chipewyan. The oil-drenched duck will be released to the Canadian Wildlife Service for further investigation.

Dead ducks tar Canada's image, PM says

Dead ducks tar Canada's image, PM says
JOHN COTTER
The Canadian Press
May 2, 2008

EDMONTON -- Alberta is under heavy pressure to strengthen its environmental
standards as the fallout from the death of 500 ducks in a toxic wastewater pond
gets stickier than the province's oil sands.
Images and stories of the dying waterfowl have been appearing on news outlets and
blogs around the world, prompting Prime Minister Stephen Harper to suggest that
the dead ducks have tarred Alberta's and Canada's international image.

Bolivian president proposes radical measures to save planet

Bolivian president proposes radical measures to save planet
Canwest News Service
Published: Tuesday, April 22, 2008

"Foreign workers should ask boss for language help in order to file complaints: minister"

I swear I'm not making this up. It's real. Got a problem employer in the Temporary Foreign Worker program where they can send you home tomorrow? Having trouble with English? The Alberta Government wants you to ask your boss to help translate a complaint against him/her. Isn't that wonderful? Problem solved, now go back to bed you idiots!

I really, really wish I *were* making this up.

-- M

Foreign workers should ask boss for language help: minister
April 22, 2008 // Edmonton Sun

Downstream from tarsands, Fort Smith worries over water

Downstream from tarsands, Fort Smith worries over water
Monday, April 21, 2008
CBC News

Concerned residents in Fort Smith, N.W.T., met Saturday to talk about the water they drink, and how tarsands development south of the town may be affecting its quality.

"We don't know the answers. We don't know what's in our water," resident Keith Hartery said at Saturday night's public meeting in Fort Smith, located on the N.W.T.-Alberta border.

The Political Economics of Greenwashing

April 22, 2008
The Political Economics of Greenwashing
Green as a Blackjack Table
By STAN COX

Hard times are looming. And in their desperation to keep the American economy afloat, government and business will be tossing overboard any proposals for real environmental protection. No time for such romantic foolishness when there are investments to be protected. Get those tax refunds back into retailers' registers, quick!

BP Sent Talking Points to Governor (Whiting Refinery Expansion, Indiana)

Report: BP Sent Talking Points to Governor
InsideINdianaBusiness.com Report

The Office of Governor Mitch Daniels is denying any intervention on behalf of BP Whiting's request for an air permit after the Gary Post-Tribune reports that the company maintained contact with state officials. The Post-Tribune obtained materials include talking points, advance copies of newspaper ads and company responses to media inquiries.

The Post-Tribune also reports that BP met with state officials prior to a public hearing on the air permit.

Rain doesn't halt BP protest (Whiting Indiana)

Rain doesn't halt BP protest
By Erik Potter
(Chicago) Post-Tribune
April 21, 2008

Mother Earth was feeling a little crabby on Saturday's Earth Day activities in Whiting.

Rain pounded the area all day, but subsided long enough for the group of area residents and environmentalists to hold an outdoors rally at Whiting's Whihala County Park.

The group was protesting the $3.8 billion expansion of the BP's Whiting Refinery facility, which will allow it to process crude oil extracted from Canadian tar sand.

Whiting Indiana hosts Earth Day event

Whiting hosts Earth Day event
BY DEBORAH LAVERTY
Sunday, April 20, 2008

WHITING | A San Francisco-based environmentalist on Saturday encouraged a group gathered at an Earth Day event to get involved to make a difference.

"Industry is unaccountable. ... On the other side we're seeing people stand up to them when they get organized and get educated. You're invincible," said Ruth Breech, of Global Community Monitor.

Lubicon Submission on North Central Corridor (April 14, 2008)

STATEMENT OF THE LUBICON LAKE INDIAN NATION AT THE PREHEARING MEETING OF THE ALBERTA UTILITIES COMMISSION ON APPLICATION 1551990 OF NOVA GAS TRANSMISSION LTD, A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF THE TRANSCANADA CORPORATION, TO BUILD A 42-INCH DIAMETER GAS PIPELINE CALLED THE NORTH CENTRAL CORRIDOR PIPELINE ACROSS UNCEDED LUBICON LAND WITHOUT LUBICON CONSENT

April 14, 2008

Introduction