Alberta Tar Sands: Tar Sands Kill! - ecoSanity.org

[boorme]

Wow

[Masterfilm15]

JOIN THE FACEBOOK GROUP

"STOP THE OIL INDUSTRY "

IT'S TIME PEOPLE WAKE UP TO THIS REALITY WE CALL THE SYSTEM

[mrryencoke]

Well technically, this oil has been seeping into the waterways for thousands of years! Leaking into the streams and rivers. Natives used to use this pitch to seal their canoes. By extracting it they are actually cleaning the environment. LOL

Id like to see these enviro hippies put down there cameras, go to a backwoods drill site and try and block those drillers from going to work!

[sixinafour]

I guess that after the gulf oil spill,Alberta

oil ain't that dirty ANYMORE ...YOU

DAMN FOOLS !!!!!

[sixinafour]

DRT 2 OIL

ALBERTA ROCKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pbreedu]

Environmentalists are stupid. They want us to go back to the stone age. Me I like me dodge Caravan and ford Focus. Renewable energy is a farce it can't power my wheels,.

[GITMONATIONNORTH]

9,257 views since 2007...hope the time you spent editing the video was worth your 15 seconds of effort at the speech... 

[xEnder686x]

HAH!

I posted a comment that made more sense than this video. and what did they do? they deleted it.

Stop bitching about being censored if your going to censor your viewers. I thought this was a democracy where my opinion should be heard? Your worse than them.

[johnplayersstandard]

WE NEED IT TO KEEP THE WORLD TURNING PEOPLE. iN THE MODERN WORLD WE NEED OIL TO KEEP THE WORLD WORKING AND RUNNING THIS IS LIFE.

[ihatewinter85]

First off, I hate that human beings are ruining the planet. With that said, I find it funny that everyone is pointing fingers at each other instead of just accepting responsibility for their part of the problem. America consumes around 1/4 of the worlds oil and people want to get all rilled up over Alberta? Alberta is cutting down the Boreal forest? And America isn't cutting down the rainforest everyday? I'm not saying that Alberta doesn't pollute, but this video is misinformation.

[meecowhy83]

we are just shitting in our own nest people. i prefer forest than the shitty sand.

[TheSlimViper]

An economy can be based on anything. It could be based on human blood. 500 years down the road people could look at that and go "um, maybe that's not a good idea, we'll end up making ourselves virtually extinct if we keep this up" and change it. Of course changing it would cause a ton of occupation loss and economical recalibration.

Does that make it any less necessary or urgent? Fuck no.

There's no treehugging faggotry here, its just common sense. Clinging to old shit helps no one.

[sasktank]

--fact-----carbon is NOT a pollutant-----------and the sand is cleaner after the oil is removed

[MajNorberg]

waste product still goes into air after we refine oil and put it into vehicles....really stupid

[YHChickita]

Greenpeace needs to set up an office in Alberta to stay on top of the government who are in the pockets of these oil companies.

[ewtubewashed]

tar sands is killing humans

get it?

climate change is happening.

you are ignorant to deny that.

[nikamungus]

some ducks died. Get over it kids.

[edmondo234]

actually some people died ...... those tar sands are causing polution for northren alberta and major enviorment problems ...... my dad spoke out against this years ago ......it kills people so before u even make a remark like that again learn your informantion

[Spazman173]

This video feels like it was made by a middle school student. Attacking the man because you personally don't find what he's saying at a conference interesting?

The thing with population vs emissions isn't shocking like you seem to think. They're an energy producer. No shit they're going to have higher emissions.

Also, what the hell is your deal with the word billion?

[Spazman173]

Also, you really think yelling cliche slogans during a conference is going to further your stupid little cause? It actually marginalizes your cause by making you look crazy.

The oil sands create jobs, provide economic security, and take power away from countries like Saudi Arabia who have a terrible human rights record. Like it or not, we need oil, so it may as well come from a stable, democratic nation like Canada.

[YHChickita]

No we need clean oil and clean fuel. It amazes me how these oil companies really are not understanding the changing public sentiment. Instead of seeing it as an opportunity to adapt, they fight it. I for one, along with many others will NEVER work for the oil industry. I will work for an industry that respects MY environment.

[Spazman173]

What do you even mean with the bit about people in impoverished nations? The oil sands have nothing to do with them. That just proves that you're an 'environmentalist' who just wants to support 'causes' and doesn't actually know anything about them.

[kobedawson]

give life  a chance before ultimate sacrifice of those without!

[gabriel405]

It's related to impoverish nations, in the sense that the goverment instead of striving to produce clean energy, they insist on burning and producing oil, which produces more global warming, and in turn produces more enviromental disasters like stronger hurricanes, that impoverished countries can't afford to pay.

[gabriel405]

Things like this make me think that the man can have control of his fate, but if there's an end of the world, it wouldn't be surprising for me.

[christo930]

The price of energy needs to reflect what it is worth. 1 100 watt bulb represents a fit person exerting themselves to the max on a bike. I am not saying to rake people over the coals, but make waste a very bad idea with higher prices. So many people who "needed" and suv sold it when he gas went up and did without one or car pooled, cut unneeded trips or took PT. Notice that Europeans don't waste as much because it's so much more money.

[christo930]

These tar sands were the worst find in the history of the world. The unprecedented destruction of the north for a 5 to 1 EROEI is sickening. There will be VAST DEAD POISON lakes when the tar sands project is over. Millions of acres of forest and habitat destroyed for very little gain. The world WILL regret ever finding them. Pristine lakes replaced with toxic sludge, forests replaced with a black desert (great for absorbing heat). There are already high cancer rates there...

[disndat11]

Wake up Canada. America will suck your resources dry and will leave you with nothing. Do something about it.

Greetings from Iran

[christo930]

No you have that all wrong. We will give you worthless dollars for your precious resources and environment destruction so middle aged women can drive suv's and minivans from the suburbs 40 miles into the city to their office. The rest of the world will work hard and save so Americans can shop at the mall and buy shit they don't really want or need. Who needs a new cellphone every fucking year? New clothes every few months, a TV in every room, heating or cooling your house when you are at work...

[sasktank]

as canadians we may aswell sell the oil or the world will want to try and take it

[nagrom456]

It's insane the way corporate controlled mass media tries to scare us into "greening" our lifestyles when American oil companies create an envrironmental disaster in Alberta. These corporations have Stephen Harper in their pocket; Canadian resources for Canadians now!

The tar sands are not a secure energy source for Canada but only for the US due to NAFTA. Corporatism will exploit Canada and so will Dtephen Harper.

[attorp]

Is there any doubt in anyone's mind that once the oil companies have sucked every last dollar out of the tar sands, they will leave the Canadian public with the biggest toxic mess on the planet? Think about it. Contamination from a leaking oil tank on a standard city lot can cost hundreds of thousands to clean up. Just imagine the cost for hundreds of square kilometres...even if possible, the cleanup costs would far outweigh all profits realized over the whole life of the project.

[BuiltEnvironment]

@attorp All oil sand developments are reclaimed. And since the oil is contained in sand or dirt, it is not possible for a spill to occure. A BP type disaster is not possible with the oil sands.

By the way, no tar is extracted from the oil sands. Tar is a by product of coal fired plants.

[sarcee1960]

@BuiltEnvironment Only .02% of all disturbed land from tar sands development has been certified as reclaimed by the Alta Government. By the way, tar is what is in the surface deposits of the tar sands. It's stiff and gooey and in some places you can pick it up and use it to roof your house. It's tar, you fucking moron. The processing plants have to turn it from tar into oil so that it can flow through the pipelines.

[stud090]

@sarcee1960 yer the fukin moron!!!! loojk up the amount of land that has been harvested in comparison to projected harvestastion. You will find that 2% isnt that bad, not that good but not that bad. Secondly it's oil not tar dummy. Tar is a man made product, if u want to roof your house with bitumen feel free!!!

[sarcee1960]

@stud090 It's .02% dumb ass. And that amount is absolutely pathetic, considering they've been moonscaping for decades. If tar is a man made product, why is it found in the Labrea Tar Pits in Los Angeles? (Yes, tar is technically different from bitumen, but not much). Bitumen can be used to roof houses. I even have some bitumen in my computer case.

[stud090]

@sarcee1960 .02% would be the same as 2% wouldnt it genius? .02=2% .2%=20%. Why is there tar in some pit in LA? Ya got me y? And thank you for acknowledgeing that tar isnt bitumen, and no nobody roofs there house wit bitumen! But i suppose if u cant do simple math logic is prolly very difficult for u!

[sarcee1960]

@stud090 Congratulations, you've proven that you failed basic math, geography and chemistry all in one post! First, try multiplying say, the number 100 by .02%, then 100 by .2%, then 100 by 2%. You will get a different total for each. Amazing, huh? Next, Google the Labrea Tar Pits. Finally, bitumen roofs have been around since the late 1970s. My uncle used to mix the roofing tar. It's a modified bitumen, with other compounds. But thanks for proving that anti-environmentalists are idiots.

[stud090]

@sarcee1960 bahahaha really???your right about 1 thing u get a diff. number, multiply 100 by .02 u get 2 as in 2% then 100 by .2 u get 20 as in 20% then 100 by 2 u get200!!! Maybe u meant .02 of 1%, but although u gave me the best laugh ive had in forever im not goin to fight wit u about something yer calculator can easily tell u! I didnt claim u couldnt shouldnt or cant roof yer house wit bitumen i said feel free too! Finally im not anti-enviro just a guy making a living in the oilfield!

[sarcee1960]

@stud090 Not sure what you're laughing at, except maybe you have problems tracking a conversation. Only .02% of all disturbed land has been officially certified by the government as reclaimed. That's what I said. Apparently you are having a different conversation with the voices in your head. And yes, you said bitumen wasn't used to roof houses. Too late to backtrack now. Seems like you've been sipping from the toxic tailing ponds. Dumb fuck.

[stud090]

@sarcee1960hahahaha now theres the language i would expect from someone who cant write .02 as a percent! Enough of you!  go get a diploma then get a job in the oilfield and make 170,000/yr. Surely, when working with numbers that big u may pick up on a little math here and there!

[sarcee1960]

@stud090 My math's fine. It's yours that is the problem. As you seem to think that .02%, .2% and 2% all represent the same amount of a given land area, you may want to go back and finish high school. BTW I already work for an oil company. But thanks anyway, have fun with the voices in your head.

[woofybigj]

I still don't see how this has any conection to impoverished nations. 10% of the pop puts out 40% of the emissions? How about Alberta and Albertans providing well over half the GDP of Canada. How about spin-off jobs and industries to other regions of Canada. The flagrant use of a stand alone stats to paint Alberta as the Canadian pariah and cause of all misfortune is idiotic, which is why enviro-wackjobs need to yell and make fools of themselves at civilized functions.

[christo930]

What is an enviro-wackjob? Is it someone who cares about the world we live in, or are you referring to people who object to all progress?

Myself, I am far from an environmentalist, but I don't think he EROEI coupled with the environmental DESTRUCTION in Alberta is worth 1mbd of very low grade oil. The capital and energy would be far more profitably (in every sense) invested in:

1) Alternative energy

2) Improved recovery of existing wells

3) Developing oil in the ocean

Tar sands are a dead end

[woofybigj]

Is that enviromental destruction you refer to the "florida sized" chunk of boreal that will be lost, funny that wackos never tell you that is only the "size" of the deposit, most is too deep and not available through surface mining. Alteranative energy? Like what? The wackos don't like unsightly windmills now. and everyone is against dams. Ohh drill for oil in the Ocean, the wackos on the left coast have had a moratorium prohibiting that for over 30 years. WE are an oil economy, like it or not.

[christo930]

Algae and switch grass, though I really prefer algae. Corn ethanol is the worst use of fossil fuels short of launching barrels of oil into space.

The amount of water being wasted up there is insane and is leaving gigantic dead lakes of slurry. Is the 1mbd of low grade oil worth it, especially when you have to use all that natural gas? The energy return on investment is 5 to 1. Traditional wells are 100 to 1, Deep water is 30 to 1. Both of these numbers drop as the well depletes and need inputs.

[christo930]

But are still much better than 5 to 1. I'm not sure if that includes reinvestments or not, probably not. It also makes the resource look much bigger than it is, since so much energy goes into developing the reserve. They love to quote tb reserves, but NEVER tell you that after inputs that reserve drops way way down, involves massive amounts of natural gas and water and destroys the local environment and can not be produced very fast. The BEST production number I've seen is 8mbd thats optimistic.

[woofybigj]

The industry is contantly evolving re: colder recovery temps, carbon capture and storage to be used in those declining conventional wells you mentioned. Less water consumption, indeed each barrel of water put through the system is used many many times over. Has that been calculated into your figures? The enviros never have credible soltions to our energy needs. Without the oilsands you will pay an even higher cost getting it from despotic regiems and religious fanatics around the world.

[woofybigj]

The enviros like to produce "facts", but do they take into account the social upheaval of the middle east, is the energy and material to keep an armed U.S. presence in theater for generations to come ever taken into account? Instead of political grandstanding why doesn't Greenpeace and the rest come to the table (as they have been asked many times in the past but refuse to do) and help make the industry better? No they are focused on demonization to ensure they have a reason to exist

[woofybigj]

I have read the same National Geographic article on biofuels and the only one that comes close to compartive energy output is the sugarcane fuel produced in Brazil and look what that has done to the Amazon, switch grass and algae are pipe dreams, corn is a subsidised mess and can't survive on its own merit. I don't even work in the oilsands, but the demonization of the industry by environmental lobbies and brainwashing of the public seems only to ensure the lobbies pockets are filled

[christo930]

I didn't get any info from NG, I don't read it. Algae is starting to be used commercially, especially at generating plants where co2 is available a plenty. The algae is then burned to produce more electricity (some goes to animal feed).

Higher prices is what is needed in the oil industry because it causes people to conserve + think about use + leaves capital for reinvestment. Tar sands produce extra heavy oil that needs to be upgraded. If we were getting 20mbd out of it, I might think otherwise.

[christo930]

We will not grow our way out of this problem. Sugar cane has caused MASSIVE deforestation, wont work in the USA because

climate

lack of ultra cheap labor

I am for reinvestment in abandoned wells with reserves as high as 60% made available by higher prices and off shore drilling.

I am against project with low eroei ratios like tar sands and shale. They might one day make a good source of oil for other reasons, but not energy (plastics, medicine...)10 to 1 should be the lowest acceptable in FF.

[poisonapple16]

You know it's enviro-tards like that cause high fuel prices. There will always be impoverished nations. Do you honestly believe if we stop using oil the impoverished will suddenly be nourished? Boy the things you can do with your arts degree...

[bass1231234]

its called supply and demand.

[poisonapple16]

I'm so glad we agree...

[mookixox]

Actually mr apple...its stronger competition from oil hungry nations like china and india combined with the fact that oil companies are capping oil production to keep prices high...put down the meth pipe and get informed*

[707danawrkmn707]

whether i agree with that protester or not, sometimes it is best to keep that to yourself and just do your own part

[DrakeGon]

the world is driven by money. money is fueled by oil and other natural resources. if there was no money there would be no drive to do anything in life. oil is a big part of society just like paper and plastic. 500 ducks died at once. if it was 2 ducks a day in that same pond you'd never hear anything about it. this duck thing has been goin on for almost a month. what about the people dying everyday at war? you hear about it one day, that is it. where are our priorities?

[slacker3153]

"the people of the most impoverished nations are suffering and dying because of environmentally negligent ventures like the Alberta tar sands"

I don't see how they're suffering and dying from negligence. High energy prices equal high food prices. The poorest people in the world suffer when they can't buy food, not from pollution.

[DrakeGon]

oil is a dirty business, the world reaps from the products. evryone put on a pair of big boy pants and grow the fuck up. how many animals get killed by flying into buildings, jet turbines, windturbines, etc? Are you gonna protest buildings, driving, and environmentally friendly energy? Why don't people's deaths get as much coverage? People are all obcessed with labelling big companies as killers but they're no different at a much smaller scale. the world didn't get like this from one company.

[jason74ftchip]

Yes "oil" is nasty and you better put on those pants... Environmentaly friendly ? oil ?

What planet are you from? "planetcarbonminoxcide ?"

I have a "hard on" for ALL those oil plants AROUND my home ! I am concernd about the people ,animals and the environment... the water is bad,UNDERSTAND ? and the government is lying about it .... thats why I wanna kick ass......... so stop licking ass and start kicking ass .... I'd bet you understood that hey?........

[DrakeGon]

you have me confused. you wanna lick what?

[zeppelin3345]

I miss the ducks :(

[forbuyfor4]

Well then I guess at least we know your opinion is not biased in any way.

[DrakeGon]

500 ducks? how many die getting sucked through the turbines on jets? I don't hear anyone protesting airlines due to being harmful to the duck population. the oilsands are just something for people to blame on the worlds problems. the world will still have problems long after the oilsands are gone and all you critics will be still using oilbased products and driving vehicles that run on gas that have rubber tires. bitch and moan and while you're at it go get a job.

[jason74ftchip]

not a good way to start " 500 ducks" but "airlines" ? you commented on the other tar sands ducks ! you seem confused !anyway I just wanna kick ass because there poisoning the town I'am from "ft chipewyan" can you spot the lying sclmach in this video ? are you on his side ? I'am not sure whats going through your mind but, I am sure you live around there ! so stop and think ! ........

[DrakeGon]

Alberta's oilsands have been operating for 30 years or more. This is the first time this has ever happened. This is also the first time that there was this much snow fall this late in the season. This is something apperently no one expected and wasn't prepared for but it is definite that it will be prevented from happening again. Syncrude is one of the more eco friendly oilsite. Maybe you all should research the other ones before you judge this one.did you even know there were more? Bigger!

[sooluen]

Syncrude being "eco friendly?" Boy, that's an oxymoron. Doesn't matter who gets judged. It's a matter of people taking responsibility for harming and polluting the air we breathe.

[forbuyfor4]

First time in 30 years??? first time they got caught because someone tipped them off. By the way it happened again with several water fowl after the 500 duck incident. Imagine four barrels of water for each barrel of oil and 5 times more greenhouse gas than regular oil. Looks like the US's next conquest in it's history of exploitation is none other than Canada itself. I hope some how someone will find a way to put the brakes on this or Alberta's lakes and rivers and forest are doomed.

[dbennett4]

"Imagine four barrels of water for each barrel of oil"

Do you think that water ceases to exist or something???

[forbuyfor4]

No, unfortunately it does not cease to exist. It instead ends up as part of a gigantic lake of toxic water and chemicals. It will then remain there, that way forever. Well not forever, just until a severe storm of some type breaches the containment. It will then be one of the worst environmental disasters in history.

[dbennett4]

Clearly you haven't ever been on a site.

[katakanadian]

I have personally seen the tar sands and the tailings ponds. They are complete disasters. No new approvals until we clean up the present mess.

Maybe you should volunteer to have a tailings pond put in your back yard. Hook up your plumbing to all that water which has not ceased to exist and see how long your Brita filter lasts. Maybe you would say you don't care because you drink bottled water but how long could you ignore the problem if you weren't allowed to throw the bottle 'away'?

[woofybigj]

Imagine a well used, over-wrought and over-simplified "fact" like: blah..blah. barrels of water for every barrel of oil.

I see it is up to(4)four now....I wish the environmentalists could at least get this simple "fact" straight and use the same one, I have seen anywhere from 1.5 to now(4)barrels water versus oil.

So water is used, how much leaves as steam, or is evaporated from the tailings ponds to rejoin the water cycle. Think that might reduce the weight of your "fact"?

[gilliangirl1]

The Alberta Tar Sands are responsible for the death of 500 migrating ducks this morning. 500 ducks are dead because of the Alberta Tar Sands. The Tar Sands are NOT eco-friendly and don't let them tell you otherwise. 500 dead ducks. 500 dead ducks.

[alan4sure]

500 dead ducks is dick all in the big picture. 30,000 birds die from hydro wwindmills every year---an alternative. You must be really pissed about that. Or is that somehow different gilliangirl? Hunters shoot them. Do you care? Clue in. Go text your friends on your petroleum product based cellphone.

[gilliangirl1]

Maybe YOU should clue in! I don't own a cellphone, and yes, I do care that birds are killed in hydromills. And yes, I DO hate hunters. Find a more humane hobby. Last but not least, there are millions of people who think the way I do so get used to it.

[bennyboots]

The reason that oil sands plants are coming online now is because Alberta has depleted the convention gas and oil wells. 40 years ago the thought of extracting oil from the tar sands was ridiculous because of the cost of the process. (It takes 4 barrels of hot water to produce 1 barrel of oil from the sands) Only now, because the oil and gas wells are drying up, have the tarsands become an option.

[776281]

Don't forget the natural gas used to heat the water.

When the tar sands run low you can always start burning the mountains of sulphur

[fucktubereligion]

If you have ever been to Fort Mac you'll be able to see that everything Ed just told us is a complete lie.

[johnplayersstandard]

@fucktubereligion Uhmmm dude they are doing new construction to decrease emissions they are JUST INCREASEING PRODUCTION SO THE POLUTION WILL REMAIN THE SAME.

[jason74ftchip]

did I hear "

[jason74ftchip]

Lets just get rid of this guy ! don't foget to taser him out the door.

[univer34]

Right on, get rid of the stubid farmer. Vote for change, vote for Kevin Taft.

[fuhmeregan]

Very obviously (unless you're stupid?), extracting crude oil from tar sand is a highly polluting process, compared to pumping it up from under the earth's surface. So? Gas burned from this oil makes that car 10 times as polluting, Prius or not. Per capita canadians pollute the world FAR MORE than non tarsands citizens do. Kyoto? Big joke. Canada is a fuck-up, here. Simple.

[sparchewsky]

Go hug some trees

[Zikimen]

it's not that simple

[mark7s78]

If we think it is bad now, what will happen in 22 years when it's five fold what it is now? Right now the province is $6 BILLION in debt with it's trasportation system because it can not keep up to the increased demand. The destruction from the Tar Sands are in every direction.

[sooluen]

Evil corporations stifling freedom of speech. Shocking how police are paid to protect the murderous rampage of corporations than the environment. Is it really worth the economic gain when lives are at stake? Accolades to the protester. More people should speak up.