Pollution Mighty Athabasca River

[Burbert]

Report out today that the Athabasca River is polluted with a toxic soup of chemicals downstream from Fort McMurray. Province of Alberta denies, the pollution has anything to do with oil sands production. they blame it on loons, crapping in the water flowing towards Ft Chip, and say a bit of pollution is a good thing. Ralph K has been hired as a consultant to deal with the problem since he apparently knows a lot about loons, cause of his experience in AB as a politico. What next?

[Burbert]

This is so typical, NOBODY GIVE A F&*K cause they don't live downstream. Pulp mills, towns, villages, and hamlets are all dumping crap into the river, which runs North. Then Ft Mc dumps in it and nobody, I repeat nobody gives a S&*T. Fat chance that anyone will care about global warming in Comedia till it bites them on the ass!!

[cakadu]

We do care - at least I do and I know of a whole lot more folks who do as well. There is a conference on in Edmonton this weekend about this very thing and there are some great speakers at it. I will try and post the link to it later today.

We (and I mean the collective we) are making a mess of everything up there and because of all the money rolling out of that area, it is hard to stop and think about all of the damage that is being done and much of it irrevocable.

Heard one of the big companies on the radio the other day - one who threatened to pull billions of dollars in exploration funding - saying that they recycle 90% of the water. Big deal as the water is not potable anymore and there is still the issue of all those tailing ponds.

One theory about why you may not get much support on these boards is if you offer it, one gets slammed as being anti-entrepreneurial, envious, childish, adolescent etc. etc.

The fact of the matter is we are sending this province to h*** in a handbasket and unless you support all of this so-called development, you are painted in a very unfavorable light.

I say let all of these people that want to have this stuff go and live up around the Fort Mac area, drink the water, live near the tailing ponds, deal with the substance abuse problems and other social ills and so forth and then see if they still hold the same opinions. Most of the people advocating unchecked growth don't live anywhere near the action, nor do they have to deal with the after effects.

Yes, Alberta has wonderful roads, we spend billions on health care and education, yet we can also proudly lay claim to having the highest rates of domestica abuse and divorce in Canada, we have more homeless and children going to bed without enough to eat, single moms working two or more jobs just to try and make ends meet, you better not need that specialist any time soon because you will wait months to get in to see that person, our infrastructure is in no way keeping pace with the growth and in fact we are loosing ground in that area big time, we have the highest drop out rate from HIGH SCHOOL, but NONE of that matters because we are exploting our natural resources. Oh and we have a government that is pushing legislation through that will seriously affect our rights as landowners.

So, off of my rant for now, but I get tired of everyone pointing out the Alberta advantage without looking at BOTH sides of the issue.

[cakadu]

Burbert - here is the information as promised. I'm not sure about the registration details, but it sounds like an interesting weekend. Wish I could go.

2007 AEN Cross Caucus Meetings
Start: 30 Nov 2007 - 13:00
End: 2 Dec 2007 - 16:00
Description:
EUB, Bill 46, Elections, Groundwater, Government Policy
This year's Alberta Environmental Network Cross Caucus Meeting has a line-up of great discussions, presentations and trainings. Please plan to be with us from November 30th to December 2nd, at the Strathcona Centre Community League in Edmonton.

Conference Program & Registration Details


For more information: conference@aenweb.ca

Conference Highlights
November 30th - Groundwater, aquifers and watersheds
Dr. Gilles Wendling, groundwater expert will be hosting an afternoon workshop for AEN members and landowner groups concerned with groundwater contamination due to industrial activities on the landscape. Starting with basic principles of hydrogeology, Dr. Wendling describes where groundwater is present in the subsurface and how it moves. For the situation in Alberta, Dr. Wendling will provide information on the effects of the oil&gas and tar sands activities on water (i.e; where is water used, how much water is required, etc.). Dr. Wendling presents in the final part of the presentation the concept of sustainability applied to groundwater and aquifers.

November 30th - The Alberta DISadvantage – health, water and treaty rights amidst Alberta's energy boom
Panel & Community Discussion featuring:

Dr. Gilles Wendling - Groundwater, aquifers and watersheds
Dr. Kevin Timoney - Environmental Health and the Peace-Athabasca Delta
Vivienne Beisel - Alliance Building and First Nations Treaty Rights
This panel is open to the public.

December 1st - Government Inside Out
Alberta Government expert Paul McLaughlin will provide an overview of Alberta government decision-making. With an eye on how policy works its way through government decision-making, this workshop will be key for all AEN members who have ever scratched their heads wondering just how this system works!

December 1st - AEN Plenary on the EUB and the Environmental Movement
Spying, Bill 46, rubber stamping oil sands approvals, cumulative effects management? Most of us in the AEN have had some interaction with the EUB, after a year of new bills, new board members, scandals of spying on AEN member groups, we felt it was time for our community to share and talk about our involvement with the EUB and where we go from here.

December 1st - launch of the new AEN Parks Caucus!
Plus caucus meetings for all AEN caucuses and working groups including: the Clean Air/Energy Caucus, the Water Caucus, the Agriculture Caucus, the Electricity Working Group, the Nuclear Working Group, and the Toxics and Waste Avoidance Caucus.

AEN provides support to its member organizations for travel and accommodation to attend our meetings/events.


Location(s)
Strathcona Centre Community League
10139 87 Avenue
Edmonton, AB
See map: Google Maps
By AEN at 21 Nov 2007 - 09:54 | Conferences, Lectures & Workshops

[Burbert]

cak, Thank you for the information and insight. Yes you are right about being painted UnAlbertan, Pinko, Stinko, Bommie, Commie for saying anything bad about the oily guys in our Province. ***Here is a thought that is totally UnAlbertan, lets reduce the speed limit to 90K from 100 K, lets save lives, since the highway has become almost self regulating, and heaven forbid, lets save lots, & lots of fuel. Lets make the speed reduction nation wide*** The only objection that I know of is Ralph K, who said that undertakers need to work tooo!! Boo, boo, boo, what a tool..