Oil spill threatens Lubicon and Pipeline Safety Questioned By First Nations

APTN News

Members of the Lubicon Cree First Nations suffering the effects of massive oil pipeline break - approx 30,000 gals of crude oil leak from a pipeline in their traditional territories.

The break in the Rainbow pipeline (owned and operated by Plains All American Pipeline occurred about 100 kilometres northeast of Peace River. School closed as noxious fumes both inside and outside the school were making the children sick and were threatening the health of community members.

This pipeline break within Lubicon territory was carrying more conventional crude however, as Clayton Thomas-Muller highlights there are differences between what would be considered a more conventional or regular crude oil and tar sands oil. Oil from the tar sands is a much dirtier and more corrosive oil that is shown to compromise pipeline integrity at a much faster rate. Proposed new pipelines will be carrying tar sands oil that will run across thousands of miles of territory, near precious waterways and rivers where salmon come to spawn, farm lands and vital aquifers. Tar sands oil will also be forced through the pipeline at a higher pressure and will require more heat to keep it flowing, since it is also a thicker and less refined crude.

With the increase of the oil spills from pipelines in both Canada and the U.S., opponents of more pipelines carrying dirty tar sands oil, under increased pressure and heat, along these proposed routes, are fighting to stop the inevitable destruction from more oil spills.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• tar sands
• oil spills
• Alberta tar sands
• Clayton Thomas-Muller

[kimhunter2]

Even without any spill, the First Nations downstream of the tarsands have their water, air, land wildlife, fish and people contaminated. Our gov. answer to these "collateral damages" is to drag them through court for 20 years. When Amnesty needs to defend Canadians, there is something terribly wrong with the values of our public servants.

The proposed "Northern Gateway" pipe dream has clause that Enbridge would not be held accountable for death or illness caused by their practices. GRR

[GeneSoskyhWTE]

well done video.

Oil spills should not be a way of life. Energy surrounds us, it's not to be bought and found in the burning of a failed epoch. Keep up the good energy.

peace and love

[puppetgreen]

This is horrible news- I hope more people know about this

[LuckyLeftyLuciano]

This is terrible.