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.
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 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.”
(In December 2008, Paglia published a vivid photo diary of his trip to the Tar Sands in the online environmental magazine Grist.)
Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan made the following statement with regards to the Tar Sands developments: “Both the federal and provincial governments have failed our aboriginal community for the sake of money, for the sake of corporate interests, and for the sake of increasing energy exports to the United States. We are seeing disheartening toxicity levels in our animal life and have now received confirmation of unacceptable cancer rates to people in our community. As a people who have been here for thousands of years, we are sad that no one will listen and that government sits back and issues denials and publicity campaigns without substance.”
The groups said in a release that local communities downstream of the tar sands are experiencing rare forms of cancer. They also hope to draw attention to the fact that oil from tar sands generates roughly three times the greenhouse gas emissions per barrel than conventional oil.
The group said toxic ponds–so big they can be seen from space–are bleeding dangerous chemicals into the water and that 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, the groups said.
ForestEthics is urging Canada and the United States to act quickly to invest in a clean energy economy, clean up the tar sands and ensure that Aboriginal rights are upheld.
Last week, ForestEthics placed cheeky ‘Personal’ Ads in newspapers across North America addressed to President Obama, requesting his leadership on climate issues, and a policy position reflecting skepticism of the tar sands.
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