Indigenous nations have protected the earth on their territories for thousands of years. With the government of Canada ignoring their sovereignty, nations not only see massive theft of resources that could help alleviate social problems, but their exacerbation through their further alienation from their own lands, often accompanying being overrun by development and southern workers, while having no self-determination during this process. In the south of Canada industrial farming displaced many nations with often genocidal results. In the north, a modern equivalent of that fate is only just beginning, wrought on by industrial oil and gas drilling schemes (among many industrial plans) that are condemning entire societies, languages and cultures to a precarious future, becoming minorities in their lands for the first time.
Snippets from the Business pages:
1 Enbridge Promises to build Gateway Pipeline without PetroChina & build Alberta Clipper
2 Largest Companies trying to get in on Expansion of Tar Sands
3 CP to further Expand in Tar Sands
4 Husky adding more Refineries
5 Imperial Oil buys huge exploration permit in Arctic /Beaufort Sea
These stories paint a collective picture of development of mock "oil" out of control.
Ottawa, Dene Tha' reach deal on Mackenzie gas pipeline
Last Updated: Monday, July 23, 2007 | 2:46 PM CT
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2007/07/23/mackenzie-pipeline.html
The federal government and the Dene Tha' First Nation in northwestern Alberta said Monday that they have signed an agreement resolving concerns related to the proposed Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline.
Groups keep pressing for long-term review of Mackenzie pipeline project
Last Updated: Tuesday, July 17, 2007 | 9:44 AM CT
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2007/07/17/nwt-pipeline.html
Environmental groups say they will still press for an independent review of the proposed Mackenzie natural gas project, even after their request was turned down last week.
Imperial, ExxonMobil to explore Beaufort Sea for oil, gas
Last Updated: Thursday, July 19, 2007 | 5:48 PM CT
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2007/07/19/nwt-imperial.html
Imperial Oil Ltd. and sister company ExxonMobil Canada have acquired an exploration licence from the federal government to look for oil and gas in a parcel of the Beaufort Sea, the two companies announced Thursday.
Canada, China: A Pipeline to Oil Sands Expertise
July 16, 2007 19 03 GMT
http://www.stratfor.com/products/premium/read_article.php?id=292359
Summary
PetroChina announced July 12 that it is quitting a pipeline project that would transport oil derived from Alberta's oil sands to British Columbia. China never intended to build the pipeline, since what it really sought was the know-how Canadian oil sand producers have acquired over the years.
Analysis
A great article and summation, though I believe that author Swanson is a tad too optimistic to suggest that the project looks dead. The plans for moving heavy bitumen [et al] to other markets-- with the US most likely demanding to be the first ones considered-- must happen in phases, because the recoverability/daily oil-producing capacity cannot be tripled overnight.
When Royal Dutch Shell recently bought out Shell Canada, the world's most notorious oil corporation became directly involved in many of the world's most deadly plans for the environment, social rights and indigenous self-determination. In northern British Columbia, RD Shell has inherited an exploration permit to look in the sacred headwaters of the Nass, Skeena and the Stikine rivers for Coalbed Methane, perhaps the single worst water damaging form of gas extraction that has been linked to stillbirths in animals and humans nearby.
Enbridge still online with Gateway project
Jul 12, 2007 06:31 PM
http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/235384
Dina O'Meara
Canadian press
CALGARY–Enbridge Inc. was taken by surprise Thursday by comments PetroChina, its major partner in an ambitious Alberta to British Columbia pipeline, was pulling out of the $3-billion project.
"We have not discussed CNPC's comments with them," spokesperson Glenn Herchak told The Canadian Press. "So it would not be appropriate to comment."
The Richest First Nation in Canada
by Macdonald Stainsby / July 10th, 2007
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/07/the-richest-first-nation-in-canada/
The primarily indigenous and mostly Cree (also ‘Chipewyan Dene’) community of Fort MacKay — just north of the internationally famous tar sand “boom” city of Fort McMurray — is said to be the “richest First Nation in Canada.” The question should be asked: How well does this reach the entire community, and does the economic benefit outweigh the cost?
Military experts say worldwide water scarcity could lead to future conflict
Sat Jul 7, 2:20 PM
By Michael Oliveira
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/070707/national/great_lakes_water_wars
(CP) - Some of the world's most powerful nations are getting increasingly desperate
for fresh water and observers are concerned that a day will come when countries will
fight for the dwindling resource.
Countries in the Middle East and Africa have long dealt with water shortages but now
the likes of China, India and the United States are grappling with the problem.
