The Keystone Tarsands Pipeline Will Have Minimal Environmental Impact... Really?

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A recently released State Department report claims the environmental impact of the Keystone pipeline would be "minimal." So... I guess we have no choice, but to build the tarsands pipeline. No need to address the environmental impact of tarsands extraction, we can ignore that Harper is moving ahead - and faster - on this while muzzling scientists who raise concerns about climate change. Harper's Tarsands Minister Joe Oliver was jumping up and down with this report, eager to use it to justify building the tarsands pipeline. Another concern, what if the pipeline leaks? This is something that has already happened. True the pipeline may be safer than transporting by train, but this neglects the bigger question, the need to seek alternative - greener - fuels, and the increasingly maddening pace of tarsands oil extraction. Also, there are reports of undue bias towards the oil industry in the State Department report.

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Harper Ignoring Warning Signs, About Dangers of Transportating Tarsands Oil

Lac Megantic explosion.

We have been hearing more about the dangers of transporting tar sands, pipeline explosion in Manitoba - TransCanada pipeline's "apology" is hardly enough - train derailments and, worse, explosions in the case of Lac Megantic. Despite all this, Harper is blind to reality, he wants to exploit and ship more tar sands crude oil, regardless of the health and safety consequences for Canadians.

Harper is muzzling scientists who dare present facts that contradict him, it's all about making the oil and gas industry bosses happy, not about the health and safety of the general public. However, the inconvenient truth is still getting out about the dangers of transporting tarsands. Of course those in the oil and gas industry claim that studies showing the dangers of tar sands are wrong, they care more about profits, which is what Harper cares more about too.

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Stephen Harper's gift to Canada

He is trying hard to make Canada prosperous.:)

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Neil Young Calls Out Stephen Harper on Tar Sands

Stephen Harper is an international embarrassment for his unconditional hawking of the tar sands, disregarding the rights of First Nations, and ignoring the negative environmental effects. On the latter, we already know that Harper is muzzling scientists, preferring to listen to corporate greed over facts and research. Neil Young is drawing new attention to the tar sands fiasco - and the overall fiasco of the Harper Conservative government - which is reckless about environmental conservation, the rights of First Nations, and Canada's increasingly tarnished reputation. The responses from the PMO by Harper's employee are amplifying all this.


Update: Prime Minister's office responds to Neil Young's protest against Tar Sands.


"Even the lifestyle of a rock star relies, to some degree, on the resources developed by thousands of hard-working Canadians every day," Jason MacDonald said in a statement. "Our government recognizes the importance of developing resources responsibly and sustainably and we will continue to ensure that Canada's environmental laws and regulations are rigorous." Read more here.

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Stephen Harper gives cold shoulder to Ban Ki-Moon on Climate Change (repost)

I did this picture in May 2010. There has been change for the worse. Now that Harper has majority he has become full time salesman for oil companies, Tar Sands, Crude-oil pipeline etc.

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Stephen Harper in His Christmas Uniform

Stephen Harper: A Scrooge for Canada but a Santa for China.

Gifts:

Tar Sands: A source of wealth for China but a source of more pollution for Canada.

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Chinese Takeover of Tarsands

NDP MP Nathan Cullen remarked via twitter that: "In Ottawa they call it 'taking out the trash' announce it on a Friday 5 pm. You judge. Chinese takeover ok for Harper."

In his own press conference - one of the few times Harper has talked to the press unrestricted, he seemed uncomfortable, trying to justify the deal - only this one time, only this much, he was saying. It sounds like a bad deal to me, a State Owned Company in China taking over tarsands operations in Canada.

What's worse, all the secrecy around this deal - there is much we don't know, that is not being disclosed. While online polls are not scientific, an online Power and Politics poll on CBC showed more than 80% against the deal, that is a huge margin.

Click here to read the story.

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'THE LITTLE CANADIAN TOWN THAT MIGHT DESTROY THE WORLD' The Huffington Post Canada

The above was the top headline in The Huffington Post Canada. That is how scary and hideous the Tar Sands project is. Our great leader Stephen Harper continues to promote it and it is his government's top priority.



"Whether to build the international pipeline, designed to convey the Tar-sands oil from the massive deposits in Western Canada to the Texas Gulf Coast for refining, has not only become an explosive issue in this year's presidential election, it has become central to the debate over the future habitability of planet earth."

Read the full story here.

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Has Harper Government declared war on environmental groups?

Ross McMillan of Tides Canada is interviewed by Evan Solomon.



Tides Canada is one of the organizations targeted by the Harper government. It looks Harper is determined that nothing stands between him and the Tar Sands oil.

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Tar Sands or Ethical Oil?

Ezra Levant has come up with another moronic idea; he thinks if the tar sands are presented in a positive way then the public will accept it more. I think he should get an award for these kinds of far-fetched idiotic claims.

Levant states that "I think I'm a persuasive person" so all he needs to do is woo people with his sweet words and charisma and they will forget the ecological disaster that is the tar sands. Through the magical words of Ezra Levant, people will forget about the emissions, the destruction of natural landscapes, and the contamination of water-supplies of nearby communities, including Aboriginal communities who've frequently been run over because of greed.

But no worries about any of that, because all you have to do is say that it is "ethical oil" and not "tar sands" and all our worries will go away.

Click here for the story.

And see a related video below:



Update:: See the comments Levant is getting on YouTube site here.

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Harper Majority and the Alberta Tar Sands:

Last night I, for the first time, saw a commercial promoting the tar sands in Alberta, claiming that Canada has an extraordinary source of wealth through them. This commercial was on MSNBC. Is this a sign of things to come under the Harper majority? Does this mean bye-bye environment?

The tar sands poison the drinking water of nearby Aboriginal communities, destroy natural environments, and create an excessive amount of greenhouse gases contributing to global warming and making Canada a climate change pariah on the global stage. Looks like it’s full-speed ahead and more on all this thanks to Harper’s majority.

The video below is not the actual commercial I saw, but it shows how the tar sands are being promoted.

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Tar Sands Mine in Utah

More Tar Sands. This time in Utah. Alberta-based Earth Energy Resources Inc will be involved.

“SALT LAKE CITY -- Beneath the lush, green hills of eastern Utah's Uinta Basin, where elk, bear and bison outnumber people, the soil is saturated with a sticky tar that may soon provide a new domestic source of petroleum for the United States.”

Sounds like another environmental disaster.

Read details here.

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Ignatieff: Tarsands More Than Just a PR Problem

Ignatieff is on the right track on this issue; he recognizes the environmental problems created by the tarsands; unlike Stephen Harper who couldn't care less about environmental consequences, who only thinks in terms of profits for oil industry executives.

Click here to read the story.

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Wealth of our nation?

This was on CBC last night. Unfortunately I could not embed it, but you can click here to watch it. It is a disturbing video. I believe both Stephen Harper and Michael Ignatieff have referred to the Tar Sands as the wealth of our nation. Some wealth!

Here is another, older, video of the Tar Sands:

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Michael Ignatieff: The Mirror Lies

Has Michael Ignatieff looked at himself in the mirror lately? Of course he will not believe what he sees that he looks exactly like Harper. He may pretend to not be Harper and convince the voting public that he is different but facts reveal a converse picture.

Let us look at the environment issue first. He is trying to outdo even Ed Stelmach and Ralph Klein. Like Richard Nixon who discovered the existence of China, Iggy has recently discovered Alberta. He tells us that Alberta's fossil fuels are the backbone of the Canadian economy including the Tar Sands projects which are an environmental nightmare. Even a former Premier of Alberta, Mr. Peter Logheed, thinks that it is a disgrace. Logheed recently flew over the Tar Sands and said it is a disaster and not a pretty picture what he saw. So Iggy is in tune with Ed Stelmach and maybe a step ahead of him in praising some of these environmental disasters as great assets. Even the energy hungry U.S has strongly indicated to Canada to clean up this mess or they will not buy such dirty oil. Good for you Iggy. What happened to the green shift of the Liberal Party? I suppose it has shifted.

As far as foreign policy is concerned, Iggy is to the right of Harper and wants to outdo George W. Bush. Pro-Iraq war and pro-Afghanistan war. Yes he has made another shift on Iraq and tried to reverse his stand, but who is going to forget his shifts on Alberta and the Green Shift.

Just like Harper, he is hot to trot against the forced sex by husband law in Afghanistan and maybe he will declare victory on that. I agree that such a law was reprehensible but it will not change anything in Afghanistan. You do not need a law for that, the local culture has enough support to carry on such action of forced sex whether there is a law or not. There is a need to change the value system. However in the same breath Iggy fully endorsed Israel's recent invasion of Gaza and his endorsement was stronger than that of Harper. The whole world condemned Israeli slaughter of women and children in Gaza including our European allies and even Barack Obama of the U.S did not give unconditional support to the Gaza slaughter and asked for the ceasefire before his inauguration. The U.S gave close to one billion dollars for the reconstruction of Gaza. Both Iggy and Harper are lonely on this in the world.

The Karzai law indeed is abhorrent but is the killing of innocent women and children any less abhorrent. Is it ok because Harper and Iggy consider Israel an ally therefore their actions are justified? Where are all those rightwing self-righteous do gooders and others? Why there is such hypocrisy when it comes to Gaza.

The similarities between Iggy and Harper are extensive and no make up on Iggy will hide it. Good luck Canada.

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World's Dirtiest Oil - Tarsands

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Alberta Tar Sands a Tourist Attraction?

Ed Stelmach has prepared a special swimming pool for you. You need no moisurizer if you decide to swim in it and you will get a natural tan... a shiny tan at that. Have fun, Ed's expecting you :)

Click here to read more.

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Harper's Deal or No Deal

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