Pipeline approved to pump Tar sands oil form Canada. (Note to CARB: wake up folks!)

[JohnWxy]

http://motherjones.com/riff/2009/08/pumping-dirty-oil-canadas-tar-sands

"Today, the State Department announced that it has okayed a new oil pipeline between Canada and the United States.."

"What it doesn't mention is that the pipeline between Alberta and Wisconsin will be pumping oil from Canada's tar sands—some of the world's dirtiest petroleum. As Mother Jones' Josh Harkinson reported in a gripping first-hand dispatch from the "Tar Wars
Canada's oil boom is exacting a heavy toll on the rural areas surrounding the massive pits that comprise the largest industrial zone in the world. For every barrel of oil produced from the tar sands, another two of toxic waste are left behind. Indigenous Albertans worry that their water and wild game have been dangerously contaminated. And that's not all: Squeezing oil from tar sands emits 151 percent more greenhouse gases than the production of conventional oil (including 80 percent more CO2). "

[PDJane]

1. Uses three gallons of water

for every gallon of oil, too. The tar sands pits look post-apocalyptic, complete with dead birds. It's disgusting, and the toxic waste left behind is heartbreaking.

The oil is there, but the cost of getting it out is a poisoned environment.

[JohnWxy]

2. Nobody knows what the final cost will be to the environment and in dollars to clean it up.

One thing for sure, the oil companies are operating as they always do: get in (before anybody has a chance to consider all the consequences), make your money, get out (leaving the public (in this case the Canadian public) with the cost of clean-up. the trump card for pirate capitalism is to make your money. Then get it all out of the company and then if the public demands the company pay for the clean up: declare bankruptcy. The owners just fly away with their money, leaving the public with all the costs of clean-up.

The U.S. is of course the main perpetrator (providing the demand) in this rape of the Canadian West. This should be getting some attention but corporate media being corporate...well,, forget it. Here in the U.S. were much too worried about the ethanol apocolypse. Choking on a hypothetical gnat while swallowing an actual Camel.

Canadians are going to come to hate us.

[Braulio]

3. I don't think Exxon and Shell will be declaring bankrupcy

They'll clean up the mess, the place will look nice in 50 years. The extra heavy oil industry does create a lot of jobs, and it's better than burning coal.

[JohnWxy]

6. yeah, like they cleaned up the EXXON Valdez mess.

Still Digging Up Exxon Valdez Oil, 20 Years Later


Impact of Exxon Valdez still felt after 20 years

[amborin]

4. this is disgusting! it needs more exposure!

[pscot]

5. Pure, unmitigated evil

And I blame Canada.