Oil vs water
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 03 March 2015 10:00
- Written by editor
We just learned the Alberta government is going to release reckless new water rules tomorrow. The rules hand oil companies the right to take as much water as they want from the Athabasca River -- even when the river is in critical danger.
Tell the Alberta government to stop bowing to industry and fix the rules now.
Paov,
Tomorrow, the Alberta government is releasing new rules that decide how much water tar sands companies can take from the Athabasca River to extract water-intensive bitumen.
The policy reads like an industry wish list -- giving generous exemptions to tar sands companies to take as much water from the Athabasca River whenever they want it -- even when animals, plant life and the ecosystem are in danger.
This is reckless. These new rules are an environmental disaster waiting to happen -- especially after the Alberta government promised 'world-leading environmental protection'. A massive public outcry could force the government to go back to the negotiating table and stop giving handouts to tar sands companies.
The Alberta government claims it consulted First Nations and scientists when drafting this water policy -- but their perspectives are not reflected in these rules. This is another dangerous example of Alberta bowing to industry greed of companies like Suncor and Syncrude instead of listening to the genuine needs and concerns of communities. This is corporate takeover of our democracy.
Tar sands bitumen is the most water-intensive oil on the planet -- it takes three times more fresh water to produce bitumen than conventional oil. These laws literally impact the survival of a river system and countless species of animals and plant life. We can’t allow this government-industry collusion to stand.
The Alberta government has been told by First Nations, scientists and experts repeatedly of the need for a critical cut off level to protect one of the most important watersheds in the world. And now, their callousness is putting the Athabasca River in real danger.
This isn’t just about water. This is a bigger issue of corporate capture of our governments, and of corporate power run amok. Industry shouldn’t get handouts -- especially when there’s so much at stake.
Our community has been hard at work making sure government and industry are accountable to people over profits -- and together, we’ve helped protect wolves, whales and our national parks from industry. Last year, we collectively fought the Alberta government when it tried to let tar sands companies write children’s school curriculum. Now, let’s make sure it doesn’t give Big Oil free reign over the Athabasca River.
Thank you for all that you do,
Angus, Emma, Liz and the rest of the team at SumOfUs
*********
For more information:
Alberta's plan for Athabasca River 'pathetic,' not science-based: critics, CTV News, March 19 2014.
Alberta to rewrite oil sands tailings ponds regulations. Globe and Mail. December 10, 2014.
SumOfUs is a worldwide movement of people like you, working together to hold corporations accountable for their actions and forge a new, sustainable path for our global economy. Please help keep SumOfUs strong byr0
