Environment

Activists Block Oil Sands Mine In Alberta

by Annina Bergman | September 15, 2009 at 02:53 pm

455 views | 28 Recommendations | 9 comments

Greenpeace activists have shut down a 155,000 barrel a day operation in Shell's Albian Sands mine just north of Fort McMurray, which is located in northern Alberta, Canada. The 25 activists from Canada, the U.S. and France are trying to attract attention to the environmental impact of mining the oil sands, and send a message to the governments of Canada and the United States just a day before the leaders of the two countries, Stephen Harper and Barack Obama, are scheduled to meet.

The Greenpeace activists entered the mine on the morning of September 16th, chained together pick-up trucks to shut down work, then chained themselves to the trucks. Shell, which owns 60% of the mine, shut down operations.

Canada's oil sands, also known as tar sands, produce 173 billion barrels of oil each year - the largest oil source outside the Middle East. The oil sands supply the United States with 20% of their crude oil. They comprise of crude bitumen, a form of petroleum, which needs to be heated to flow. Bitumen contains toxic substances, such as arsenic and mercury. Canada has been widely criticized by environmental organizations over its oil sands policies, as the mining has major impact on the enviroment - such as deforestation, water use, and release of greenhouse gases.

Greenpeace is streaming live video of the operation.

They blockaded a giant three-storey dump truck and hydraulic shovel by chaining together pick-up trucks. Two teams then scaled the truck and shovel and chained themselves to them, while another team placed giant banners on the tarry ground reading, “Tar Sands: Climate Crime.”

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

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marianmo

at 19:14 on September 15th, 2009

it is also interesting to note that most of the oil from the oil sands gors directly to the united states and the companies that run the oil sands are americans...maybe the pipelines to the states should be turned off and see what the results will be......more focus should be on halliburton sunoco and other us oil giants to encourage them to do more...wonder what greenpeace would use to fuel their protest sips if yje oil was turnedoff...just a thought

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 18:34 on September 15th, 2009

While the oilsands have been a big polluter in the past, I think it is also noteworthy that technology is advancing and many improvements have been made to make them more environmentally friendly.

The attention that has been given to the Tar Sands by Al Gore, President Obama and others has not gone unnoticed. It would behoove Greenpeace to update themselves on progress that has been made to address environmental issues concerning the tar sands.

Albertans have an interest in preserving the environment and the days of oil companies getting away with everything have long passed.

When manufacturing was going into the tank, the Americans placed tariffs on our softwood lumber, when BSE closed the US border to Canadian cattle, the oil sands was the economic engine in Canada.

George S. Cooper (not verified)

at 00:08 on September 16th, 2009

I think green peace should stick to things which really matter! Like putting a stop to Japan. Norway etc who live in the past and are determined to hunt and destroy these beautiful harmless giants, THE WHALE! we do not need the tiny amount of oil they contain! As to their meat? it does not compare to good beef cattle! AND! as to exteminating the sharks (who have been here since life began) to take their fins and dump the rest to make soup for a tiny portion of the worlds population? I think we must also question another rediculous scooping up Kril, The life blood of some whales and other antartic dwellers! The point is we can waste and spoil by digging coal, oil, etc. nature will take care of this! but to exterminate any form of life to feed a minority of humans is wrong!

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 06:48 on September 16th, 2009

They may very well have intelligent people. marianmo had it right. What do they use to fuel their ships and how did they get up to Fort McMurray? Spin is always great. Let's not forget that 70% of that oil goes to the US via a large network of pipelines.

Bitumen by the way is now being shipped via pipelines to upgraders near Edmonton where it is processed. A lot of the hype is just not true.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 06:55 on September 16th, 2009

Calgary... Two independent studies have found direct emissions from producing, transporting and refining oil sands crude are in the same range as those of the other crudes refined in the United States.

The Life-Cycle Analysis of North American and Imported Crude Oils is based on two independent studies that comprise the first robust comparison of domestic, imported and oil sands crude processes in U.S. refineries. The research, conducted over the past year by U.S.-based consulting companies Jacobs Consultancy and TIAX LLC, was funded by the Alberta Energy Research Institute (AERI).