Bloody Oil : Launch of new Tar Sands campaign

The UK Tar Sands Network has just finished a tour highlighting an issue that has still to come to mainstream attention, but it needs to.

Peak oil leads to more extraction from unconventional places. Such a source is the tar sands : A mix of sand, clay, water and dense bitumen. Extraction is difficult, destructive and absurdly intensive in energy and water input. The largest project, in Alberta, Canada, is the biggest engineering project in history. Period. On it's own it's projected to emit enough CO2 to raise global concentration by 50ppm. The eco-devastation covers an area the size of England and Wales. It's horrifying to see.

The Manchester event at The Dancehouse was well attended and featured a preview of H2Oil, an upcoming film, and indigenous Canadian speakers from the community most affected.

The excellent film included details of the massive increase in cancers, poisoned food and water (each barrel of oil requires a 6:1 water input) and the tale of a doctor whose career was threatened for highlighting health issues.

On the other side was the usual rogues gallery: Suited corpo-wonks and doublespeak politicians who refused to acknowledge the obvious effects of their profiteering.

The courage and charisma of the speakers who followed the film was really inspiring.
Similar talks were given at the Blackheath Climate Camp, there is something very special about these people and their plight.

Beyond awareness raising the network is looking at ways of targeting the companies involved and shaming the Canadian government, who always want to be seen in a good light in Europe.

There are the usual suspects like Shell and BP, along with banks including mostly state owned RBS. Superdrug share a parent company with the guilty parties and could be a target for boycotting.

Campaigners also want to highlight the misdeeds of the Canadian Government, always keen to be seen in a good light in Europe.

To find out more just search for "tar sands", perhaps along with “Greenpeace” and “People & Planet”, There is also a good Wikipedia entry.

(this piece was originally written for The Mule newspaper and website - great alternative news for the Greater Manchester area)