Oil Sands Truth: Shut Down the Tar Sands
Oil Sands Truth exists to disseminate information regarding the environmental, social and economic impacts of tar sands development projects being proposed and currently in progress. Oilsandstruth.org holds the view that nothing short of a full shut down of all related projects in all corners of North America can realistically tackle climate change and environmental devastation.

Oil Sands Truth

Tar Sands 101

The Tar Sands "Gigaproject" is the largest industrial project in human history and likely also the most destructive. The tar sands mining procedure releases at least three times the CO2 emissions as regular oil production and is slated to become the single largest industrial contributor in North America to Climate Change.

The tar sands are already slated to be the cause of up to the second fastest rate of deforestation on the planet behind the Amazon Rainforest Basin. Currently approved projects will see 3 million barrels of tar sands mock crude produced daily by 2018; for each barrel of oil up to as high as five barrels of water are used.

Human health in many communities has seriously taken a turn for the worse with many causes alleged to be from tar sands production. Tar sands production has led to many serious social issues throughout Alberta, from housing crises to the vast expansion of temporary foreign worker programs that racialize and exploit so-called non-citizens. Infrastructure from pipelines to refineries to super tanker oil traffic on the seas crosses the continent in all directions to allthree major oceans and the Gulf of Mexico.

The mock oil produced primarily is consumed in the United States and helps to subsidize continued wars of aggression against other oil producing nations such as Iraq, Venezuela and Iran.

To understand the tar sands in more depth, continue to our Tar Sands 101 reading list

Tar sands industry fights back

Oil sands industry fights back

Criticism piles up

By Yadullah Hussain, Financial Post November 15, 2013

As withering criticism of the oil sands continues unabated, the industry is fighting back, armed with its own set of facts and highlighting the strides made in tackling the environmental issues that have sullied its reputation.

Quebec premier defends [Energy East] pipeline

Quebec premier defends [Energy East] pipeline

CARLETON-SUR-MER, Que. - Quebec Premier Pauline Marois has defended a pipeline project that would see Western Canadian oil pumped across her province.

Marois says the controversial Enbridge Inc. proposal to reverse the flow of one of its pipelines could be a boon for Quebec — particularly since it would supply oil refineries in Montreal.

Speaking to reporters Thursday, she said the Alberta crude would be cheaper than oil purchased from abroad.

Oil-by-rail shift squeezing plans for new pipelines — including Keystone

Oil-by-rail shift squeezing plans for new pipelines — including Keystone

Jeff Lewis | 13/08/30
Financial Post

CALGARY • The tug-of-war between railroads and pipelines in North American oilfields is only just getting started.

In recent months, the popularity of moving crude on tracks has sapped commercial support for new pipelines from oil fields in West Texas to North Dakota’s Bakken. Now it’s raising questions about the importance of Keystone XL, TransCanada Corp.’s controversial project designed to connect Alberta’s booming oil sands to refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Keystone XL: Two conflicting truths (Macleans blog)

Keystone XL: Two conflicting truths
by Erica Alini on Thursday, August 29, 2013

Joshua Roberts/Reuters

Where oil meets water: The final stop for the Energy East pipeline

Where oil meets water: The final stop for the Energy East pipeline
SHAWN McCARTHY - GLOBAL ENERGY REPORTER

SAINT JOHN, N.B. — The Globe and Mail

Published Saturday, Aug. 31 2013

On a point of land jutting into the open waters of the fabled Bay of Fundy, Canada’s long-sought ambition to become a global oil exporter is coming into focus.

Here at Mispec Point, Irving Oil Ltd. and TransCanada Corp. plan to build a $300-million, deep-water marine terminal that would give Western Canadian crude producers their highly coveted direct access to world markets.

New pipeline plan can’t obscure Keystone XL failure

New pipeline plan can’t obscure Keystone XL failure: Tim Harper

The politicization of the Keystone XL pipeline proposal threatens damage to Canada-U.S. relations, even before the decision.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has raised the issue of the Keystone XL pipeline with U.S. President Barack Obama at every turn, to apparently little effect, writes Tim Harper.
By: Tim Harper
National Affairs, Published on Thu Aug 01 2013

TransCanada to build oil pipeline to Atlantic Coast

TransCanada to build oil pipeline to Atlantic Coast

By Rob Gillies / The Associated Press
August 1, 2013
Portland Press Herald

TORONTO — Pipeline company TransCanada said Thursday it will go ahead with a $12 billion plan to ship 1.1 million barrels of oil per day from Western Canada to the country's Atlantic coast that would replace foreign oil in Eastern Canada and allow for Canadian crude to be exported to Asia and Europe.

Enbridge to build $1.3 billion tar sands pipeline extension

Enbridge to build $1.3 billion oil sands pipeline extension

By Jordan Howell
Jul 28, 2013

Canadian pipeline company Enbridge announced plans to build a US $1.3 billion southern extension to its Northern Alberta Woodland oil pipeline to connect the company’s Cheecham Terminal to its Edmonton Terminal and nearby refineries.
The extension will serve Imperial Oil's Kearl oil sands project located in the Athabasca Oil Sands region about 70 kilometers north of Fort McMurray and is planned to be in service by the third quarter of 2015.

Say NO to TransCanada's "Energy East" TarSands Pipeline

UPDATE August 1st 2013: TransCanada has announced they intend on moving forward with their Energy East Pipeline and have unfortunately even added to its capacity, making it now a 1.1 million barrel per day project.

Be sure to bring your concerns and your friends to the public engagement meetings TransCanada is hosting.

A Black Mound of Canadian Oil Waste Is Rising Over Detroit

A Black Mound of Canadian Oil Waste Is Rising Over Detroit

WINDSOR, Ontario — Assumption Park gives residents of this city lovely views of the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit skyline. Lately they’ve been treated to another sight: a three-story pile of petroleum coke covering an entire city block on the other side of the Detroit River.

The New York Times

By IAN AUSTEN
Published: May 17, 2013

Detroit’s ever-growing black mountain is the unloved, unwanted and long overlooked byproduct of Canada’s oil sands boom.

Syndicate content
Oilsandstruth.org is not associated with any other web site or organization. Please contact us regarding the use of any materials on this site.

Tar Sands Photo Albums by Project

Discussion Points on a Moratorium

User login

Syndicate

Syndicate content