Last week, an estimated 500 migrating mallard ducks died after pitching in one of the toxic tailings ponds belonging to Syncrude Canada Ltd. in northern Alberta. That is a fraction of the birds that die each year and only the tip of iceberg on the deadly side-effects of the oil industry.“Clearly, there's a heightened awareness in general around the oil sands and the way developments are carried out and the impact they have on the environment,” said Total S.A's (Canada) president Michael Borrell.
“When the expectations of society change, companies have to change and adapt accordingly,” said Pius Rolheiser, an Imperial spokesman said. “Companies that don't change and adapt will be in trouble.”
That should be a great mantra to go by, given the urgency over climate change and GHG's. The public is demanding that companies start behaving in a socially conscious and environmentally responsible manner otherwise...fear our wrath! Right? Well, there is that tiny little issue of money...the billions and billions of dollars to be made from the oil sands.
Development of the Alberta's boreal forest is paving the way for mines and toxic tailings ponds. That said, rapid growth is contributing to a whole host of other problems: high housing costs, severely lagging infrastructure and inflation.
Alberta is plentiful in oil and as a result there are plenty of industry-related jobs to go around...much of the young in Newfoundland and the East Coast have cleared out to go where the money is.
Global demand for oil is at an all-time high due to increased need (or is that want?). Developing nations China and India are both driving forces, but North America sure isn't helping with insatiable needs for consumer goods and growth all over the place.
Environmental Defence terms the oil sands project in Alberta the most destructive project on earth. That is a strong statement, but not one without merit...
Globe and Mail article here
Dead ducks
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