Oil Sands Truth: Shut Down the Tar Sands

Health

The Health implications in terms of these projects are vast, and not just the deadly explosions and industrial accidents that happen in production-—from reported increases in rare forms of cancer downstream from tar sands production to the pollution of fresh water leading to poisoned diets (fish, moose and plant toxicity)—-direct links are hard to establish but impossible to either rule out or ignore, especially where tarsand operations constitute overwhelmingly the greatest change to the environment in most corners of the continent effected directly by tarsand infrastructure.

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Mining Tar Sands Produces Much More Air Pollution Than We Thought

Mining Tar Sands Produces Much More Air Pollution Than We Thought
Research shows that emissions of a class of air pollutants are two to three orders of magnitude higher than previously calculated

By Joseph Stromberg
February 3, 2014es

Environmental health risks of Alberta oil sands likely underestimated: study

John Cotter

EDMONTON — The Canadian Press
Feb. 03 2014

A new study suggests the environmental health risks of oilsands operations in Alberta’s Athabasca region have probably been underestimated.

Researchers say emissions of potentially hazardous air pollution that were used in environmental reviews done before approving some projects did not include evaporation from tailings ponds or other sources, such as dust from mining sites.

Keystone-Resisting Landowners See Cash Offers Skyrocket

Keystone-Resisting Landowners See Cash Offers Skyrocket
Jan 26, 2014
Huff Post (Canada)

PAGE, Neb. - Cash offers have been skyrocketing, as much as seven-fold, for holdout Nebraska landowners who are willing to sign quickly to allow the Keystone XL pipeline onto their property.

The landowners say they've received written offers from pipeline builder TransCanada Corp. in the last few weeks offering exponentially more money than initially promised, on the condition that they sign soon.

Canada tar sands set to benefit from EU 2030 climate plan

Last updated on 24 January 2014, 10:11 am

By John McGarrity

Oil from Canada’s carbon-intensive tar sands – one of the world’s single biggest sources of greenhouse gas pollution – could be used in the petrol tanks of European motorists from 2020 after the European Commission proposed to scrap curbs on imports of highly emissions-intensive fuels.

Worker found dead at Suncor tar sands facility

Worker found dead at Suncor oilsands facility
Man had been missing for several hours before body found

CBC News Posted: Jan 19, 2014

A worker at the Suncor Energy oilsands facility near Fort McMurray, Alta., has died, the company reported Sunday.

In a press release, Suncor said the male employee had gone missing early Sunday. Emergency personnel with the company were called in around 7 a.m. to look for the worker. The worker was found dead on the scene a few hours later.

Suncor informed RCMP and Alberta Occupational Health and Safety.

Canada's carbon emissions projected to soar by 2030

Tar sands expected to help drive 38% increase in emissions, Harper government admits in submission to the UN

Stephen Leahy

theguardian.com, Tuesday 14 January 2014

The tailings pond at the Syncrude mine north of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. Tar sands could become a 'stranded asset', campaigners say The tailings pond at the Syncrude mine north of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. Tar sands could become a 'stranded asset', campaigners say Photograph: Ashley Cooper pics/Alamy

Toxic rocks and declining health: 3.5 years after Enbridge's tar sands pipeline disaster

Toxic rocks and declining health: 3.5 years after Enbridge's tar sands pipeline disaster
By
Sonia Grant
| January 14, 2014

As communities in Ontario and Quebec await the National Energy Board’s (NEB) decision on the Line 9 reversal, new details about the devastating impacts of Enbridge’s now infamous 2010 Kalamazoo River spill in Michigan raise a series of unanswered questions about the health impacts of exposure to spilled diluted bitumen (dilbit), and about Enbridge’s ability to manage potential pipeline incidents.

The Kalamazoo River’s toxic rocks

Neil Young renews push on treaty rights, tar sands development

Neil Young renews push on treaty rights, oil-sands development

BRAD WHEELER

The Globe and Mail

Published Monday, Jan. 13 2014

On the day following his Honor the Treaties concert at Massey Hall, where he had lambasted the Canadian government’s handling of Alberta’s oil-sands development, Neil Young continued his campaign against the environmental policies of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s administration.

Climate change rattles mental health of Inuit in Labrador

Climate change rattles mental health of Inuit in Labrador
'Grief, mourning, anger, frustration' over environmental changes

CBC News Posted: Jan 10, 2014

Researchers studying the mental health and well-being of Inuit populations in coastal Labrador say rising temperatures are having damaging psychological effects on people in traditional communities.

'Many people said they also felt very depressed about not being able to get out there on the land'- Ashlee Cunsolo Willox, researcher for Inuit Mental Health Adaptation to Climate Change project