USA Today AdCanada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper wants the oil that is extracted from its tar sands, the process of which is said to be more polluting than regular oil drilling, to be exempted from proposed climate protection rules. Harper apparently will be lobbying Obama on this issue while Obama is in Canada on Thursday.
This from ForestEthics, trying to catch Obama's ear as well:
Environmental group ForestEthics, the Mikisew Cree and the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nations indigenous communities have placed a full-page advertisement in USA Today highlighting the environmental damage wrought by oil from Canada’s Tar Sands.Here's a good summation problem.
The advertisement comes two days before President Obama's first official trip abroad, where he is widely expected to discuss climate and energy issues with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The Government of Canada, whose flawed climate policy has been designed to allow Tar Sands expansion, has proposed a joint US-Canada climate pact to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but is likely to seek special treatment for Canada’s fastest-growing source of emissions: the Tar Sands.
“As if conventional oil doesn’t cause enough problems around the world, the Tar Sands are a Frankenstein of local and global environmental hazards,” said Todd Paglia, executive director of ForestEthics. “They have no part to play in the plan for a clean energy future.”
Facts about Canada’s Tar Sands:
· Local communities downstream of the Tar Sands are experiencing rare forms of cancer;
· The production of Tar Sands oil generates three times the greenhouse gas emissions per barrel than conventional oil;
· Toxic ponds--so big they can be seen from space--are bleeding dangerous chemicals into the water;
· President Obama has pledged to spend $15 billion per year to catalyze investment in new jobs in the clean energy sector. The Tar Sands undercut these investments;
· the Canadian province of Alberta is spending $25 million to convince Americans that the Tar Sands are a solution to our energy needs.
Tar Sands oil is excessively dirty and toxic because it is not produced in the manner of conventional oil. Instead, the oil is squeezed out of the sandy dirt that lies below forested land, requiring vast amounts of fresh water and energy. If the development of the Tar Sands continues as planned, the scar on the earth could measure the size of Florida.
ForestEthics is urging Canada and the United States to act quickly to invest in a clean energy economy. While this transition is occurring, the Government of Canada needs to clean up the Tar Sands and ensure that Aboriginal rights are upheld.
