Opposition Mounts As First Tar Sands Mine in US Gets a Green Light

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Martin writes: "Last week, a new front opened in the struggle against tar sands mining in the U.S. If you didn't know that tar sands mining is in the works on this side of the border in the first place, you're not alone."

Activists in Utah crafted this sign with bitumen found in pools on the ground at an abandoned tar sands mine. (photo: Before It Starts/Flickr)

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+14 # cordleycoit 2012-09-09 09:47

Tar Sands show us what is wrong with the Obama Admistration. As long as there is legalized corruption we will have projects like this foisted off on us by our masters, the People Who Own the Earth They are brutish and not very cleaver except in the making and hoarding of money. The Republican Party is the home of these reptilians but the also own the Democrats lock stock and barrel.Their summer vacations are over fall came to Martha's Vineyard and one could hear the rats leaving for the City.Time to engage them on their home pavement.

+9 # grouchy 2012-09-09 10:21

1. Just what will they be pumping down that pipeline?

2. List ALL the ingredients.

3. Once all this stuff gets to the Gulf and the oil is EXTRACTED, what is left over? List this as per SPECIFICS.

4. What then becomes of this stuff? SPECIFY IN DETAIL--AND WHERE IT THEN GOES! SPECIFY WHERE! SPECIFY IF IT'S DESTINATION KNOWS IT'S COMING! WHAT WILL THEY DO WITH IT?

0 # mdhome 2012-09-09 14:42

Why dont they process it at the mine and save a lot of trouble? Easier to ship/pipe gas and oil without all the sand and ??

-8 # drmctchr 2012-09-09 10:51

I am in favor of extreme caution in developing the tar sands. However, rejecting the tar sands needs to be accompanied by concomitant plans for how our planet will develop energy ... for the next 100 years ... and for the next 1000 years ... and beyond.

+6 # mdhome 2012-09-09 14:46

If we dont start preparing for the end of oil by developing renewable energy (wind, solar), we will hit a brick wall harder than anyone can imagine....SPLA T

+4 # KittatinyHawk 2012-09-09 14:58

We could be living off water power, wind, solar and probably more if patents weren't bought up in lieu of people losing everything.
What is to develop? Canada didn't do for how long? Canadians have been siding with us to not allow it due to what it has done to their lives and lives of wildlife not to mention the dwindling clean water in USA

+4 # brianf 2012-09-09 15:49

The sun will keep shining far longer than the next 1000 years. The wind will keep blowing, the water will keep flowing, the tides will keep moving, the waves will keep crashing, and the middle of the earth will keep being hot. All these are ways of producing energy, and we already know how to get more than enough energy from them.

Our plans should be to take advantage of what is for all practical purposes the limitless and eternal clean energy available to us. It's beyond stupid to put any more money and energy into extracting energy from sources that we know will run out, that pollute the air and water and land, that sicken millions and kill thousands, and that are causing global warming, the most serious threat mankind has ever faced.

0 # brianf 2012-09-10 06:35

In fact, a study just came out on 9/9 saying that wind power alone can provide more than 20 times today's global power demands, and if we used high-altitude winds that would increase to 100 time global power demands:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120909150446.htm

0 # ER444 2012-09-10 10:20

This is insane. The fact is if we burn all the already known fossile fuels we will create enough CO2 to cause irreparable damage to our world. Searching for more is suicide. We need to stop BURNING things !! The alternatives are all well known. We just need to step up the pace of development and at the same time we will create good clean jobs. This must be a priority. Unfortunately, as much as I like Mr. Obama, his support for tar sands and fracking is a huge mistake and not the answer to our energy needs. Both, by the way, pollute our clean water supply in a big order. The wars of the future will be fought over water.

+9 # X Dane 2012-09-09 11:49

It is frightening, that the people in charge are so SHORTSIGHTED... .For SOME production of oil, they are willing to destroy the environment and cause damage that we CAN'T EVEN FORESEE, because we don't really KNOW all the poisonous chemicals we are unleashing into the land, ground water, rivers,....and as grouchy stated.... eventually into the oceans.

The insanity of sitting on a branch and cutting it off, is EXACTLY what is happening. You feel like tearing your hair out. THAT THIS IS REALLY GOING ON.

Apart from destroying parts of an incredibly beautiful state like Utah.
DO WE REALLY WANT TO ADD MORE CANCER CAUSING ELEMENTS INTO OUR ENVIRONMENT, FOR SOME MORE GASOLINE????
Instead of working on solutions that will preserve our PLANET

+2 # KittatinyHawk 2012-09-09 15:08

Perhaps we can ask the Churches how they can allow the destruction of God's Earth.
I guess they just like the Money, to Hell with God.

It is a shame these groups didnot get Wildlife Commission, Bureau of Parks, Hydro plans of the area. I would have gone up in planes and taken pictures over the seasons.
I have perennial streams they run on water from ice melt, rain, springs. When we have lot of rain, snow my stream lasts til May then comes back around Nov.
But the water is always present under layers of rock. You can follow the creek to lower areas and see trickle down. Creatures use this area and follow it. Birds live along it. When there is no water, I try to provide.
It doesn't take a scientist to prove it either. The facts are recorded in County and Townships. My stream is known as it feeds a larger stream which feeds a larger River. When I go online you can see geographical data on such.
Think these people better file counter to Judge. Find out Judge's Church vs where these others are from. It is like any club, one hand washes the other usually for some perks.

For three groups not to have proof at this hearing is very bad. We fought things here but always got the free info, then brought in other persons who have to write an letter to speak at hearing.

+2 # KittatinyHawk 2012-09-09 15:16

Now everyone here, esp RSN and their Contacts should be questioning Sierra Club, and other Organizations, why they are not helping to stop this massacre.

Wildlands Conservancy, Bird Groups, Hiker Clubs, Audubon, Contact the groups involved and help than get petitions started. Change.Org there are other sites to help.

If there is a ban on this, it is not surprising these sleazes come in thru back doors, Always have.

Again question Churches, how Man can destroy Earth and its Inhabitants. It is time someone put these Churches/Temple s against the Wall...and Utah got Walls of beautiful Rock formations

Please get everyone on RSN to look into this and help these groups. It all they need is couple dollars, some signatures ...this is your Planet too. Doing nothing makes you no different than those who are killing.

RSN turn this story over to other like Mother EArth, Earth Island, etc. Let's help others....what goes around could come around, RSN gets publicity, therefore more readers and contributions.

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