Syncrude made a mistake that tragically resulted in the death of up to 500 ducks. Since this happened, a lot of people have been painting the entire oilsands industry as evil. I'm here to tell you that we are all in this together. The oil companies honestly do their best to minimize environmental impact, keep people safe, and contribute to the community. Oil companies are filling a vital role in OUR society. We all live a lifestyle that requires large amounts of energy and oil companies supply that energy. Wind and solar energy combined could not meet the current energy demands of society, even if used extensively. On that note, have any tipsters called Greenpeace to let them know about the dead birds under the wind turbines?
The best way to further reduce the environmental impact from the oilsands is to radically change our way of life. I encourage you to try life without support from the oilsands. To start with, oilsands oil is pipelined all over Canada and the northern United States (southern states and western Pacific coming soon). The first step in an oilsands boycott is to stop using fuels produced at these refineries. In Alberta, that means you can't use any gasoline, diesel, or jet fuel. No car rides, no buses, no flights. If you are okay with bird-killing wind turbines, you can still ride the C-train in Calgary. But keep in mind the train cars themselves may have been made using energy from the oilsands.
Okay, so it's back to the bicycle. Please remember to use vegetable oil to lubricate your chain. Oh, and the bearings are all packed with petroleum based oil that may have a smidgen of oilsands in them. If your bicycle was manufactured after about 1980, it's possible that oilsands energy was used to build the frame and any components made in North America. Don't worry about the parts made in China - we haven't shipped oilsands product there yet. Those parts are probably made from dirty coal energy. If you think Alberta's environmental laws leave something to be desired, I suggest you check out what's going on in China.
Boycotters get off easy on electricity. In Alberta most of the electricity is generated from coal, with some from natural gas. Some electricity is generated from oilsands fuels, but most of that is used by the oilsands. So you can have electricity, provided that your appliances, light bulbs, wiring etc were not manufactured in North America after 1980. Once again, there's a good chance some oilsands energy was used to make these things. It occurs to me that you have to be very careful thinking you are safe with goods from other continents. Those Nike running shoes don't just walk to your house on their own. Where are the ships, trucks, and trains fueled up?
I think we've established that in the new oilsands free lifestyle you can't go anywhere unless you walk there in your made in China shoes that you brought home in your handmade wooden rowboat. What about food? Food is pretty important. You can only eat food that is grown within walking distance (or biking distance for those of you with made in China, vegetable oil lubricated bikes). The food must be grown and harvested by hand, without the aid of machinery. Did you know that a byproduct of oilsands upgrading is sulphur? Over the last few years, sulphur prices have been high enough that it is worth selling the oilsands sulphur instead of storing it. Why is this in the food paragraph? Sulphur is used to make fertilizers, which are used to grow food and crops used for ethanol, biodiesel, and all kinds of tasty alcoholic beverages. If you want to be a puritan in the adoption of the oilsands free lifestyle, you'll have to stop eating and drinking, unless you are sure that no fuel, machines, or fertilizer were used in the production of your food and drink.
I think I've covered the basics of how to adopt an oilsands free lifestyle. Remember, we are all in this together and it will take teamwork to pull off a complete boycott. Please let me know if there is anything I haven't covered (remember that your computer was shipped within North America using oilsands fuels so walk over and tell me instead of emailing). Also, put the word out on the grapevine if you know of anyone in North America that can actually survive the oilsands free lifestyle.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
A Badly Planned Earth Hour Sheds More Light
March 29, 2008 I had plans for the evening. I was supposed to be on a course but the course was cancelled and I didn't manage to come up with substitute plans. I found myself marking Earth Hour at home alone.
Earth Hour is a global event initiated by the World Wildlife Foundation. People around the world are asked to turn off all lights and electrical appliances for one hour between 8 and 9pm. Their intention is to bring awareness to the issue of climate change and our ability to take action.
The advantage of living in Calgary is that it isn't actually dark outside at 8pm. In fact, sunset is just after 8 with twilight ending at 8:40pm. I began Earth Hour by eating dinner and reading the newspaper in the fading light. I then attended to some Earthy household chores like pruning plants. After this was finished, I was at a loss for things to do. Understand that batteries and candles also consume energy and generate emissions indirectly and directly so I had resolved not to use them. The light filtering in from the street lamps was not enough to do anything useful by. Reading, watching TV, playing on the computer were not possible. My room mate arrived home and I explained Earth Hour to her. She went upstairs in the dark to make a phone call. I was left to sit and think in the dark.
I thought about Carol in Nepal with rotating blackouts. I wondered what life would be like here if we lived with blackouts every evening. I propose that life would be better. With power we entertain ourselves and the need for other people is reduced. Spending an hour without power would have been a lot more fun in the company of other people. There would have been games to play, stories to tell, and friendship to share. Faced with endless powerless evenings people would either build community or choose to go mad in the dark. Power brings us news from around the world over the internet and gives us the commmon experience of movies. We believe this creates a global community. Darkness will strengthen the local community. Perhaps we need to find a better balance.
Earth Day is Tuesday, April 22nd I wonder if we can last the day without power, without gasoline, without computers and actually talk to each other.
Earth Hour is a global event initiated by the World Wildlife Foundation. People around the world are asked to turn off all lights and electrical appliances for one hour between 8 and 9pm. Their intention is to bring awareness to the issue of climate change and our ability to take action.
The advantage of living in Calgary is that it isn't actually dark outside at 8pm. In fact, sunset is just after 8 with twilight ending at 8:40pm. I began Earth Hour by eating dinner and reading the newspaper in the fading light. I then attended to some Earthy household chores like pruning plants. After this was finished, I was at a loss for things to do. Understand that batteries and candles also consume energy and generate emissions indirectly and directly so I had resolved not to use them. The light filtering in from the street lamps was not enough to do anything useful by. Reading, watching TV, playing on the computer were not possible. My room mate arrived home and I explained Earth Hour to her. She went upstairs in the dark to make a phone call. I was left to sit and think in the dark.
I thought about Carol in Nepal with rotating blackouts. I wondered what life would be like here if we lived with blackouts every evening. I propose that life would be better. With power we entertain ourselves and the need for other people is reduced. Spending an hour without power would have been a lot more fun in the company of other people. There would have been games to play, stories to tell, and friendship to share. Faced with endless powerless evenings people would either build community or choose to go mad in the dark. Power brings us news from around the world over the internet and gives us the commmon experience of movies. We believe this creates a global community. Darkness will strengthen the local community. Perhaps we need to find a better balance.
Earth Day is Tuesday, April 22nd I wonder if we can last the day without power, without gasoline, without computers and actually talk to each other.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Dragon Boats
Honestly, all I know about this issue is what I read in the CBC article (see below). If the article reports correctly, then I'll side with the City on this one. I do like the Dragon Boat races - they draw a crowd and it's fun to sail with all that cheering in the background. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want to ride a dragon in an ice cold river without a lifejacket. If the organizers can't deal with very basic safety concerns, they deserve to lose their licence. I'm also not in favour of cutting down hundreds of trees for a temporary viewing area. This could lead to erosion problems and seems totally unnecessary. There are plenty of places to watch the races from. As for the motorboat request, I think the Dragon Boat folks are just wimpy. Sailing schools across the country are in awe of the fact that Glenmore Sailing School has managed to teach sailing to hundreds of people each year without giving the instructors motor boats. Yes, that's right, one instructor, 5-10 boats with students and the instructor sails around and teaches. I say if GSS can do it, then the Dragon Boat guys should have no difficulty running things without motor boats. I mean they are on a fixed race course in a very small area. How hard can it be?
City safety concerns dock dragon boat races
Last Updated: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 | 5:59 PM MT
CBC News
The city has revoked the permit for the annual Calgary Dragon Boat Festival, throwing the annual event into uncertainty.
Citing safety and environmental concerns, the city's recreation department pulled the permit for the Alberta Dragon Boat Race Foundation that has organized the races on the Glenmore reservoir since 1992.
The Alberta Dragon Boat Race Foundation has organized the races on the Glenmore reservoir since 1992.
(CBC)
"Things like not having enough life jackets for the participants that were in the race. Things like ambulance services not being able to get access to the reservoir if there was an accident," said Karen Young, a manager in the recreation department, Wednesday.
"We had unmanned lost-children's tents and first-aid tents, and we had some security issues with the beer gardens."
Young said the foundation also pushed for increased motorboat use on the water, as well as for the removal of 200 trees for a temporary viewing area.
The city has been trying to work out the issues with the foundation for the last two years, she said.
The city has given the foundation 60 days to remove its equipment and dragon boats from the reservoir.
(CBC)
Shawn Samol, head of the dragon boat foundation, accused the city of caving in to pressure from other groups.
"There's push-backs, maybe by other user groups saying that well, we don't think there's enough room for our endeavours and therefore we maybe don't want dragon boating around there," he said.
The cancellation of the permit means the foundation can no longer use the reservoir for racing or practising. Samol said he received news of the city's decision earlier this month and was given 60 days to remove about a dozen boats from the reservoir.
Teams raise money for charity
The event draws 50,000 spectators and 3,000 competitors every year, according to the foundation's website.
Several dragon boats in the annual event raise money for charity, including the Children's Wish Foundation, which received $40,000 from racers in 2007.
"In addition to the funds that were raised in 2007, these teams have been engaged with us for a number of years and we have seen significant windfall of revenue as a result of that support," said the charity's chapter director Jason Evanson.
The city said other community groups could take over running the dragon boat races, while Samol said he's working on finding a different venue.
City safety concerns dock dragon boat races
Last Updated: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 | 5:59 PM MT
CBC News
The city has revoked the permit for the annual Calgary Dragon Boat Festival, throwing the annual event into uncertainty.
Citing safety and environmental concerns, the city's recreation department pulled the permit for the Alberta Dragon Boat Race Foundation that has organized the races on the Glenmore reservoir since 1992.
The Alberta Dragon Boat Race Foundation has organized the races on the Glenmore reservoir since 1992.
(CBC)
"Things like not having enough life jackets for the participants that were in the race. Things like ambulance services not being able to get access to the reservoir if there was an accident," said Karen Young, a manager in the recreation department, Wednesday.
"We had unmanned lost-children's tents and first-aid tents, and we had some security issues with the beer gardens."
Young said the foundation also pushed for increased motorboat use on the water, as well as for the removal of 200 trees for a temporary viewing area.
The city has been trying to work out the issues with the foundation for the last two years, she said.
The city has given the foundation 60 days to remove its equipment and dragon boats from the reservoir.
(CBC)
Shawn Samol, head of the dragon boat foundation, accused the city of caving in to pressure from other groups.
"There's push-backs, maybe by other user groups saying that well, we don't think there's enough room for our endeavours and therefore we maybe don't want dragon boating around there," he said.
The cancellation of the permit means the foundation can no longer use the reservoir for racing or practising. Samol said he received news of the city's decision earlier this month and was given 60 days to remove about a dozen boats from the reservoir.
Teams raise money for charity
The event draws 50,000 spectators and 3,000 competitors every year, according to the foundation's website.
Several dragon boats in the annual event raise money for charity, including the Children's Wish Foundation, which received $40,000 from racers in 2007.
"In addition to the funds that were raised in 2007, these teams have been engaged with us for a number of years and we have seen significant windfall of revenue as a result of that support," said the charity's chapter director Jason Evanson.
The city said other community groups could take over running the dragon boat races, while Samol said he's working on finding a different venue.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
The Price of Sugar
Last night I saw a film called "The Price of Sugar". I have to say that I was disappointed with it. I was hoping for something that would touch on the social, environmental, and health "price" of sugar. Something that would really motivate me to desert sugar. Instead, this film focussed solely on the social cost of sugar cane harvesting in the Dominican Republic. That's very specific.
So specific, in fact, that up here in the Canadian boonies we have no direct impact on sugar production in the Dominican Republic. It is just those crazy Americans who buy sugar from the Dominican Republic. In Western Canada, Rogers Sugar refines 90% of our sugar desires. Rogers has two plants: Vancouver and Taber. Here in Alberta, the Taber plant uses sugar beets as the source of raw sugar 50% of the year. The rest of the time they import raw sugar from asia as Vancouver does. Wow, that's 50% locally produced! Of course, the film doesn't tell you any of this. My source: www.rogerssugar.com .
The film focussed in on one man: Christopher Hartley. He is working hard to improve conditions for sugar cane harvesters in the Dominican Republic. In fact, this priest came from a very priviledged family and is devoting his life to this cause. For me, this is the main source of motivation in this film. If one man is willing to devote his life, surely the rest of us can take some small action for a more sustainable way of life.
With regard to sugar, that action is simple: reduce sugar consumption. The main impact of this will be health, with some impact on the environment that is difficult to quantify. I would be interested to find out more about the production of raw sugar in the countries we do import it from. What is the environmental impact of creating great fields of sugar cane or sugar beets?
If you do want to see the film, Movies That Matter is doing an encore presentation on Thursday, January 24th at 7:00 PM in Murray Fraser Hall Room 160 on the U of C campus.
So specific, in fact, that up here in the Canadian boonies we have no direct impact on sugar production in the Dominican Republic. It is just those crazy Americans who buy sugar from the Dominican Republic. In Western Canada, Rogers Sugar refines 90% of our sugar desires. Rogers has two plants: Vancouver and Taber. Here in Alberta, the Taber plant uses sugar beets as the source of raw sugar 50% of the year. The rest of the time they import raw sugar from asia as Vancouver does. Wow, that's 50% locally produced! Of course, the film doesn't tell you any of this. My source: www.rogerssugar.com .
The film focussed in on one man: Christopher Hartley. He is working hard to improve conditions for sugar cane harvesters in the Dominican Republic. In fact, this priest came from a very priviledged family and is devoting his life to this cause. For me, this is the main source of motivation in this film. If one man is willing to devote his life, surely the rest of us can take some small action for a more sustainable way of life.
With regard to sugar, that action is simple: reduce sugar consumption. The main impact of this will be health, with some impact on the environment that is difficult to quantify. I would be interested to find out more about the production of raw sugar in the countries we do import it from. What is the environmental impact of creating great fields of sugar cane or sugar beets?
If you do want to see the film, Movies That Matter is doing an encore presentation on Thursday, January 24th at 7:00 PM in Murray Fraser Hall Room 160 on the U of C campus.
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