Butterflies and Rainbows - No New Tar Sands Approvals

Paula Kirman sings "Butterflies and Rainbows", a song about the effects of the tar sands in Alberta, at Taking the Boom to the Streets - a protest for no new approvals. Coinciding with the Council of Canadians 2008 AGM in Edmonton. November 1, 2008.

Butterflies and Rainbows

When I was little I sang about rainbows,
Butterflies so lovely, and a sky so blue.
But today I cant see the rainbows,
Butterflies are gone, sky has changed colour too.

But Ive been told that Im very lucky
To live in a place with so much money to spend;
Many people who are chasing rainbows
Think were the pot of gold at the end.

Then they learn looks can be deceiving
When they discover theres nowhere to live;
Cost of housing and everything shoots up,
Until they have got nothing to give.

Not far away up north theres the Tar Sands;
People are dying, so is a way of life.
Exploitations price is too high
Costing the land and its people strife.

All in the name of shipping our oil
Down south to lubricate a war machine
That invades other countries and murders;
Even now our hands are not clean.

How I long for the days of rainbows,
And for the butterflies to soar again;
Someone must tell these huge corporations
Violation of Earth has to end.

Then one day we can live in freedom,
From the bust that follows the boom.
When were told that weve got a good thing
We should answer by asking, For whom?

When were told that weve got a good thing
We should answer by asking, For whom?


© 2007 Paula Eve Kirman

Category:

Music

Tags:

• tar
• sands
• butterflies
• rainbows
• council
• canadians
• approvals
• protest
• rally

[mpolo13]

Say no to everything involving oil. I'm sure u already do. Park ur car.Stop using my fuel!Remove ur furnace too, after all you shouldn't be using it,it burns a carbon based fuel What are u doing using the internet? The electricity powering ur puter was generated burning coal? You dirty polluter, coal is filthy too, turn off ur puter, turn off ur lights, live in a cave! The oilsands need as much cleaning as possible, but think about what ur asking before you open ur big mouth!

[flutefan]

This song is not about stopping to use all forms of fossil fuels, but about the environmental and human rights implications of the uncontrolled development of the tar sands. With all of the cancers developing in Aboriginal communities along the Athabasca, something is obviously very wrong.

[mpolo13]

Whats missing here is realistic constructive approaches to reducing the pollution. Perhaps suggesting a realistic way to solve each specific problem, backed with proven research would get you some real credibility.

[hawkeyicockburn]

me thinks you might spent toooo much time reading CANWEST newspapers...( Capitalist Fear Mongering publications that replace Grocery store Tabloids...) That okay! you might want to look more into solar, wind , thermal, alternatives for energy, Try to look on the bright side!

[mpolo13]

You have found the solution to population control. If we eliminate all the oil and gas production the environment will clean up very quickly. Of course thats because most of the worlds population will die too. Glad u put a lot of thought into exactly what our future would be like without energy.

[hawkeyicockburn]

Wonderful Paula, Thank you and everyone who says no to the tar sands! Thanks for using your art freely for the important issues that concern every one's future. one by one we will make a difference, we have to!!

[ProtestSpp]

Amen sister! Sing it out loud!