[Pigdog]

While the federal and provincial Conservative governments look the other way — all in the name of prosperity — their immediate neighbors in Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan are suffering from environmental trauma, and all of Canada suffers from the indignity of being — on a per capita basis —one of the world's worst greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters.

For years, Alberta has polluted with nary a care for other provinces - mostly because we didn't know any better. Now we do. So what do the people of Alberta owe us? What do the oil companies in Alberta — reaping billions in profits — owe us?

Perhaps some facts will aid your deliberations. The Tar Sands are located in Northern Alberta, comprising three major deposits that make Canada an international energy superpower, not so far removed from Saudi Arabia. The three oil sands projects combined cover an area larger than England, and hold proven oil reserves amounting to 175,000,000,000 barrels. Many pundits talk about US dependence on foreign oil, and most look to Saudi Arabia and Iraq, but the simple truth is that Canada supplies more black gold to the United States than any other country.

The Problem

Ah, but here's the rub. It's not the bubblin' crude of Beverly Hillbillies fame. It's heavy, thick oil. The earth doesn't relinquish her bounty easily, and this oil needs serious processing before it becomes usable. It's a dirty, dirty business. In fact, Alberta oil holds three or four times the greenhouse gases found in other crude.

But that doesn't matter, because Tar Sands oil is highly profitable, especially with prices bouncing around $100 per barrel. The oil companies have invested more than $100 billion in the various oil sands projects, and the scale is expected to grow dramatically - by five fold - because the world, and the US in particular, needs more oil, and our federal government is pushing development.

Amazingly, the Conservative government gives tax breaks to companies active in the Tar Sands. Our money goes to pillage the environment.

Of course, pillage is a loaded word, but it applies, and I have no qualms about using it. Several of Canada's First Nations live downstream from the oil sands, and still live off the land. One study suggested that moose meat from this region has 453 times the acceptable level of arsenic. Of course, the Alberta government calls that figure preposterous, and claims that arsenic levels are just 33 times as high as they should be. As if that fact should be comforting.

The Environmental Defense Fund points to a surge in cancer rates among some communities in Northern Alberta, and calls the Tar Sands projects a toxic moonscape.

It's hard to argue with their data, or their conclusions:

By 2020, the two most active companies in the area will have created tailing ponds of toxic sludge that cover more than one billion cubic meters. Birds that land on these ponds will die in minutes.

Benzene, one of the most lethal human carcinogens, is released by Alberta's Tar Sands into the atmosphere at a rate of 100 tonnes per year; it could be as high as 800 tonnes per year by 2015, if planned expansions occur. How much of that makes it to Saskatchewan? To Quebec? To Nova Scotia. We used to have a vibrant salmon fishery in Nova Scotia but the salmon population was killed by acid rain that generated by pollution in the America industrial belt near Ohio. So I suspect some Tar Sands pollution makes it into the east, and that BC and Saskatchewan are getting battered.

According to the Environmental Defence Fund, "in 2005, existing facilities in the area produced 19,000 tonnes of nitrogen oxide and 20,100 tonnes of sulphur dioxide. In October 2007, the province proposed airshed targets of 25,000 tonnes of nitrogen oxide and 28,000 tonnes of sulphur dioxide per year, a growth in emissions for an already polluted area. And if experience is any guide, companies may be able to incur a financial penalty to exceed these limits."

But Canadians shouldn't be the only people raising an eyebrow to what is happening in Alberta. BP is expanding it's facility in Indiana so it can process more heavy Canadian oil. The state legislatures have already given them a pollution waiver to send more toxins into Lake Michigan. In fact, tar sands oil is already being processed in Colorado, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

Remember this heavy oil is heavy with greenhouse gases.

http://www.one-blue-marble.com/alberta-tar-sands2.html

[One eyed Kiwi]

Question. I need to understand this. If this deposit was not processed, what happens to it. Would it still give off these gases? If so, and nobody owns it, who is responsible? I feel I should be asking something more but I don't know enough about it to know what sort of question to ask.

[Pigdog]

Question. I need to understand this. If this deposit was not processed, what happens to it. Would it still give off these gases? If so, and nobody owns it, who is responsible? I feel I should be asking something more but I don't know enough about it to know what sort of question to ask.

Hell, in every nook and cranny, all around the world, green house gasses (ghg) are being spued into the atmosphere! Every time someone cuts the grass, the clippings will give off ghg! Every leaf that falls from the trees will generate ghg! Every tree that dies gives off ghg! Every bacteria emits ghg! Every fish that takes a crap in the ocean emits ghg! Every algae emits ghg! Every bug emits ghg! Apparently, according to government funded scientists, non of this has anything to do with climate change though! It's Only when humans emit ghg is there a problem, even though in the scheme of things, it's merely mouse farts in comparison!
Likely because it's hard to control or collect taxes and fees from anyone other than humans, huh?
And once there are more idiots who believe those tyrants than not, vote for that bullshit, we all will be put under those tyrant's thumb!
After all the government misery (taxation, fees, strict controls) finally happens due to the idiots who buy into that nonsense, the climate will not change! Just everyone's life!
Ever wonder why the naysayers keep hounding about how bad things will become if we aren't controlled or taxed but never offer any proof of what benefits could be expected? They keep saying there will be droughts, famine, misery, etc., if we are not taxed and controlled, but won't show which droughts, famine, misery, etc., will be avoided? Seems like if they can positively say humans are causing things to go to shit because of humans doing x or y, they could show some proof of what will happen if humans are taxed and controlled!
What's amusing is if a preacher got up and said you will go to hell if you sin, the climate change believers would laugh! But isn't it just about the same as to what those Al Gore types preaching climate change are doing and those same folks are eating that stuff up?
The major difference is the preacher can only ask folks to not sin or to voluntarily give money, those who will be in control of climate change will have the authority to both physically and financially punish anyone who does not pay and obey! Imagine if churches operated like that?
Perhaps this climate change IS a new religion but without god, and they ain't playing!
They take their "Green" beliefs seriously!
So much for separating Church and State, huh?

[Camera45]

I think more CO2 is given off, when it's processed, than when it remains in the ground. Having said that, Canada likes American money. Maybe that's why our Prime Minister is so hesitant to sign onto any proposals re--Climate Change, CO2 emissions, etc., etc.

[Pigdog]

I think more CO2 is given off, when it's processed, than when it remains in the ground. Having said that, Canada likes American money. Maybe that's why our Prime Minister is so hesitant to sign onto any proposals re--Climate Change, CO2 emissions, etc., etc.

Maybe your president is smart and knows that co2 scam is just that, a scam, huh?

[Camera45]

Maybe he thinks it's a bit of a 'scam' but he seems to believe in the concept or idea of Global Warming. The government is already making preparations, both military and political, for an ice-free Northwest passage.

[Pigdog]

Maybe he thinks it's a bit of a 'scam' but he seems to believe in the concept or idea of Global Warming. The government is already making preparations, both military and political, for an ice-free Northwest passage.

I don't think anyone disbelieves there is Global Warming. The earth's climate has always been dynamic.
Being extorted over it by the government is bullshit!
There's nothing man can do to change the climate!

[Camera45]

I don't think anyone disbelieves there is Global Warming. The earth's climate has always been dynamic.
Being extorted over it by the government is bullshit!
There's nothing man can do to change the climate!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol6bz.gif) ----"There's nothing man can do to change the climate!" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cryingwlaughter.gif) That's the funniest one yet.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/kidding.gif) You're not serious, are you?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/gimme_break.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nuts.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/moron.png)

[Pigdog]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol6bz.gif) ----"There's nothing man can do to change the climate!" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cryingwlaughter.gif) That's the funniest one yet.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/kidding.gif) You're not serious, are you?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/gimme_break.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nuts.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/moron.png)

Apparently you believe man can control the climate!
Ummm?
If that is so, why is it still so damn cold up in Canada in the winter?
You'd think the Canadians would have toned down the temperature a bit by now, huh?

[Camera45]

It's cold (IMG:style_emoticons/default/27.gif) because that's what our travel agencies want. They're in cahoots with the airline industry so that they can make lots & lots of money (IMG:style_emoticons/default/001493859.gif) by sending Canadian suckers down south during the winter months! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilley vacation1.gif)

[Pigdog]

It's cold (IMG:style_emoticons/default/27.gif) because that's what our travel agencies want. They're in cahoots with the airline industry so that they can make lots & lots of money (IMG:style_emoticons/default/001493859.gif) by sending Canadian suckers down south during the winter months! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilley vacation1.gif)

Guess that is what can happen when you become slaves to your government, huh?

[Louisiana Man]

I wonder where Al Gore is making money on this one?