World Is Watching Tar Sands Pipeline Debate

By Mark Taliano

Most people who get arrested aren’t exactly thrilled.  But that isn’t the case in Washington D.C.  As Amy Goodman, producer and host of the public radio program ‘Democracy Now’ notes, “They’re carrying on the proud tradition of civil disobedience.”  And so they’re smiling.

Recent demonstrations on Canada's Tar Sands outside White House

These protestors are forming a “Keystone” of objections to the proposal to pipe crude from Alberta to drought stricken Texas, a land where currently one of seven people uses food stamps, where the governor denies climate–related scientific facts, and where hollow assurances of pipeline safety are embraced.
Gary Doer, Canada’s Ambassador to the U.S, has been promoting pipeline safety, but then, B.P also promoted safety before the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.  More recently, Alberta’s worst spill in three decades resulted in 2,400 acres of wetland being covered with crude oil. Doer hasn’t been promoting that.

Some pipeline promoters argue that Canada is a secure source of oil with a stable government, so the U.S should embrace our oil. What isn’t mentioned (which is often more relevant), is that oil is a significant contributor to world and governmental instability. The hapless country of Iraq wouldn’t be such a tragic mess if its main exports were pickles and beans.

Tar Sands advertisements, currently greasing mainstream media, aren’t above glib sound bites either, but these ads should be followed by Ralph Nader’s assertion that the U.S Constitution reads “We the People…” not , “We the Corporations”.

So the bottom line is cost. Oil profits and petro dollars won’t lead to long term stability, long term wealth, or strong democracies in Canada or the world.  Nor will they mitigate catastrophic climate changes. The best gains, at a smaller cost, will be through alternate energies, and transitions away from fossil fuels.  Most of Europe understands this.

When the protests shift to Ottawa, starting September 26, there will be plenty more happy faces, and cuffed hands.  It’s past time for us to free ourselves from oil dependency.  The world is watching.

Mark Taliano is a Niagara resident and frequent contributor to Niagara At Large.

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