Social Impacts. Overnight injections of migrant workers will not build healthy communities and can have severely adverse impacts on existing communities, especially those of indigenous nations on their traditional lands. Such development brings vices and long term displacement too often. Drugs, alcohol and associated violence spreads. Hunting becomes difficult when the land is threatened, leading to a further loss of culture and tradition. In towns like Fort McMurray there is no planning for the future, but merely consumption in the present. However transient the individuals may be, the populations will not leave, as “development” takes on a logic all its own. All levels of run away development are subordinate to that development, not social need.
Pipeline construction can't start: Lubicon Cree
Last Updated: Thursday, October 16, 2008
CBC News
A small First Nation in northern Alberta is calling on TransCanada Pipelines to consult with them before it starts building a pipeline through their traditional territory.
"TransCanada will not be allowed to proceed with construction by the Lubicon people until such time they recognize land rights that we do have," said Dwight Gladue, a councillor with the Lubicon Lake First Nation.
October 14, 2008
Pain Compliance as Indigenous Relations
Inside the Barriere Lake Algonquins' blockade of highway 117
by Dru Oja Jay
The Dominion - http://www.dominionpaper.ca
A girl holds a sign during a blockade of highway 117 in northern Quebec by the Algonquins of Barriere Lake. Photo: Maya Rolbin-Ghanie
OIL SANDS-PART 1: Showdown at Ft. McMoney
By Chris Arsenault*
Environmentalists say mining tar sands oil creates 3 to 5 times more
greenhouse gas emissions than conventional oil extraction.
FT. MCMURRY, Canada, Oct 16 (IPS) - The sun rises in a bright, red
line over flat land, small lakes, boreal forest and peat bogs as our
small double engine plane bumps through early morning turbulence
between Edmonton and Ft. McMurray, Canada.
With more than 173 billion barrels of oil recoverable with current
technology and more than 100 billion dollars in committed capital
Can Boeing bring a heavy-lift dirigible to the market?
October 13, 2008
With all-cargo versions of its B777 and 747-8 models already in the pipeline, Boeing is turning to a different type of cargo aircraft. In a joint venture with Canadian firm SkyHook International, the plane maker is developing a 300-foot-long dirigible that will be able to carry loads up to 40 tons over distances of up to 200 miles.
High-speed rail may help Midwest with energy crunch
by Chris Gray
Oct 09, 2008
World oil supplies are depleting and gas prices are volatile. The federal highway program — fueled by gas taxes — is running out of money.
Air travel, also tied to fuel costs, is becoming less affordable.
The cities of the Midwest are getting farther apart, practically speaking, if not literally.
Rick Harnish, the executive director of the Chicago-based Midwest High Speed Rail Association, believes there is a way out.
Depressed Canadian oil giants ripe for takeover
Market Caps Down
Carrie Tait, Financial Post Published: Wednesday, October 15, 2008
CALGARY - Canadian oil and gas companies are ripe for becoming merger bait -and we're not talking about the small and medium-sized shops. The biggies -- Suncor Energy Inc. (SU/TSX), En- Cana Corp. (ECA/TSX), Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. (CNQ/TSX), Talisman Energy Inc. (TLM/TSX) and Nexen Inc. (NXY/TSX) -- could all be targets for the world's super biggies.
The Stock Market up. Now which way mining?
By Jack A. Caldwell
Mining columnist
14 October 2008 @ 09:53 am EST
The good news today is that the stock market is up. That is relief to be relished. We hope the trend continues, without pulling up the price of oil.
BP announces oil discovery in Gulf of Mexico
Tue Oct 14, 2008 12:15pm EDT
HOUSTON, Oct 14 (Reuters) - BP America Inc (BP.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) (BP.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) on Tuesday announced that a well drilled in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico has found hydrocarbon-bearing sands.
The well, which BP calls Freedom and partner Noble Energy (NBL.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) has called Gunflint, was drilled in 6,100 feet (1,860 meters) of water to a depth of 29,280 feet (8,927 meters).
2 new oil refinery plans in the pipeline
Dirk Lammers, Associated Press
(10-12) 04:00 PDT Elk Point, S.D. --
The United States hasn't built an oil refinery on a new site in more than 30 years, but a pair of projects eyeing out-of-the way corners of South Dakota and Arizona are slowly working their way up to the big leagues.
Bailout boosts refinery
Hyperion stands to get big tax break
Thom Gabrukiewicz • tgabrukiew@argusleader.com • October 10, 2008
Hyperion Resources could benefit in its quest to finance and build an oil refinery near Elk Point with a 50 percent tax write-off - an extension of an existing credit that was inserted into Congress' historic, $700 billion bailout of Wall Street.
