no pipeline, no tankers, no problem

Canada's Oil Pipelines Will Not Build A Nation - They Are A Great Swindle  -  by Martin Lukacs

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/true-north/2013/aug/22/canada-oil...

"The exercise in flag-waving is intended to sell a single precept; that oil companies' interests should be confused with ours. Thus the frantic drive for an eastern ocean route is not about the needs of ordinary Canadians; it's an export plan to serve the needs of corporate bottom-lines.

If the benefits will be captured by the oil companies, the risks will be carrried by everyone else..."

The Most Expensive Onshore Oil Spill in U.S. History

The largest onshore oil spill in US history -- Enbridge's ruptured Line 6B that released nearly 3 million liters of tar sands diluted bitumen into a tributary of the Kalamazoo River in Michigan -- finally has an official price tag: $1,039,000,000 USD. That's according to newly disclosed figures released by Enbridge in a Revised Application to expand another one of its pipelines, the Alberta Clipper.

The total cost, which includes clean up and remediation, was topped off with an additional $3,699,200 fine levied by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). According to the docket, Enbridge violated several laws involving pipeline management, procedural manuals for operations and maintenance, public awareness, accident reporting and qualifications among others....

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/carol-linnitt/americas-worst-onshore-oil-sp...

Tahltan shut down Fortune Minerals drill site

DRILLING RIGS BLOCKADED SACRED HEADWATERS UPDATE!!!
The Tahltan have taken over Fortune Mineral’s drilling rig. When the drilling rig moved to this new location on the Iskut Band’s trapline and just behind Arthur Nole’s camp (a Tahltan Elder who is currently in the hospital), where a caribou was harvested by the Tahltan a week ago.
They walked to the drill rig as it was operating, told the drillers to shut it down. There was no confrontation, the drilling staff shut it down and got off work early. A helicopter has flown the drilling crew out.
Will keep you updated as we hear more. Updated Report:

Drill takeover…

The folks at Beauty camp have taken over a Fortune Minerals drill used for their environmental assessment. The drill is situated on Iskut Band’s trapline. The drill site had toxic chemicals all around it, and was right beside a fish bearing stream. They also had a diesel tank within two feet of the stream. There was no spill kit on hand.

Harper cabinet readies major B.C. pipelines push B.C. First Nations leaders to meet with key federal officials Sept. 23 in Vancouver

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is signalling he intends to make progress on proposals to connect Alberta's oilsands with ports in British Columbia and the lucrative Asian markets beyond.

The new initiative is in large part a response to a report from the prime minister's special pipelines representative in British Columbia. Douglas Eyford told Harper last month that negotiations with First Nations — especially on Enbridge's proposed Northern Gateway — are a mess.

Eyford's report to the prime minister, and his final report in November, will not be made public.

But sources tell CBC News Eyford urged the federal government take the lead role in dealing with Indian bands on both the Gateway project and the proposed expansion of Kinder Morgan's Trans-Mountain pipeline.

quote:

First Nations leaders in B.C. confirm they are to meet on Sept. 23 in Vancouver with a delegation of deputy ministers from Aboriginal Affairs, Natural Resources, Environment and other departments with direct oversight of the proposed projects.

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, said the request to meet came out of the blue on Thursday, with no agenda — and no indication of what Ottawa is prepared to offer.

"I have a sinking feeling that perhaps they're covering their backsides in terms of a consultation record,'' Phillip said in an interview from Vancouver. "And looking towards laying the groundwork that will be necessary when the decision is finally made by Prime Minister Harper and the cabinet, regardless of what the joint review panel comes forward with in terms of an approval or a rejection of these proposed projects.''

Federal bureaucrats aren't the only ones with orders to head to B.C.

MAPCanada's main pipeline network
Starting Monday, Harper has directed key ministers on the file to promote the projects in the province.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2013/09/12/pol-federal-cabinet-minis...

epaulo13 wrote:

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, said the request to meet came out of the blue on Thursday, with no agenda — and no indication of what Ottawa is prepared to offer.

"I have a sinking feeling that perhaps they're covering their backsides in terms of a consultation record,'' Phillip said in an interview from Vancouver. "And looking towards laying the groundwork that will be necessary when the decision is finally made by Prime Minister Harper and the cabinet, regardless of what the joint review panel comes forward with in terms of an approval or a rejection of these proposed projects.''

This leader nailed it. The fixed game we are in the middle of is very transparent.

Big Oil funds Truth & Reconciliation Conference in Vancouver

From September 18-21, 2013, the ‘Truth and Reconciliation Commission’ (TRC) is holding an event in British Columbia as part of its Canada-wide effort “to promote awareness and public education about the Residential School system and its impacts”. Simultaneously a fairly new organization named ‘Reconciliation Canada’ is organizing some events of its own to coincide with TRC’s event in BC. These events include a “Reconciliation Walk” and an “All Nations Canoe Gathering”.

It is not widely known or reported that the TRC’s BC Event is sponsored by none other than the American energy company Kinder Morgan. This curious little fact is quietly tucked away on their website for the event under “Acknowledgements”.

In addition to Kinder Morgan sponsoring the Truth and Reconciliation event, Reconciliation Canada (organizers behind Reconciliation Week) has a curious sponsor of its own: Canadian energy company TransCanada. They are listed as “Bronze Sponsors” on Reconciliation Canada’s website.....

http://intercontinentalcry.org/big-oil-funds-reconciliation-vancouver/

With Tar Sands Development, Growing Concern on Water Use

http://www.countercurrents.org/struzik150913.htm

"...Now there are mounting concerns about the huge volumes of water used by the oil industry and the impact on the Mackenzie River Basin.

' Nowhere in the world are we seeing this amount of groundwater being used for industrial development,' says William Donahue, a freshwater scientist..."

Judge rebukes Alberta for banning enviros from oil sands hearing

An Alberta judge has accused the Alberta government of bias and gross unfairness by actively banning environmental groups from participating in a public oil sands hearing.

The Alberta Court of Queen's bench decision also declared the ban illegal.

Last year, the Oil Sands Environmental Coalition (OSEC), which consists of the Pembina Institute, Alberta Wilderness Association and Fort McMurray Environmental Association, raised concerns about a new steam-assisted gravity drainage tar sands project on the MacKay River.

The project needed 1.7 million litres of groundwater a day and directly impacted the living rooms of woodland caribou, a threatened species in the region. 

But government did not allow OSEC to participate in a public hearing on the grounds that they were not "directly affected."

The Alberta Environment 2009 Briefing Note underscored the reason for banning environmental groups: they weren't cooperating with the state.....

http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/2013/10/02/Judge-Alberta-Pembina-Decisio...

Delivering the letter to SWN headquarters in Houston.

Contact SWN to tell them no fracking on stolen native land

FAX (281) 618-4814

Phone 1-877-796-6223

Please call South Western Energy to demand they stop fracking on Mi’kmaq land. If you have the resources available, please fax a copy of the below letter to SWN to ensure they are hearing the voices of the Mi’kmaq warrior society.

....................................................

OCTOBER 7, 2013

Steven L. Mueller
President & Chief Executive Officer SWN Energy
2350 North Sam Houston Pkwy East, Suite 125 Houston, TX 77032

Dear Mr. Steven L. Mueller:

Although SWN Resources project for the Province of New Brunswick is in its pre-operational stages; the Federal and Provincial Government has failed the Crown’s fiduciary duty to consult the grassroots people about your company’s interests in oil/gas testing/exploration, and development in Atlantic Canada prior to issuing SWN Resources any leases or permits

The L’nu/Mi’kmaq people do not only live, fish, hunt and thrive off our waters and land in Mi’kma’ki. Our main concern is the protection of our waters, and these purposed projects your company wants to do are too close to our water. Oil/gas exploration, testing and development is referred to as the source of the poisoning of the world’s water. We see this type of development as a threat to not only our spirituality, customs, way of life, but we also see them as another form of cultural genocide by the Government and SWN Resources.

The majority of our L’nu-Mi’kmaq people rely on the natural resources that our mother earth has provided for us, resources such as: medicines, plants, berries, fish, eels, animals, and birds to survive. 85% of our L’nu/Mi’kmaq population live in poverty and the only way to survive is off our natural resources is from our land and water; therefore any destruction done to our lands and waters is a threat to not only our way of life, but also as a threat to our overall survival.

It is our request that all projects, leases, and permits issued to SWN Resources by the Government comes to a halt until all Mi’kmaq-L’nu, and Wabanaki communities, as sovereign individuals are Meaningfully Consulted, and that we are able to come to an informed decision as collective individuals. The honor of the crown is at stake with the duty to meaningfully consult (Haida Nation and Taku River Cases/Delguukmew Decision) with all Mi’kmaq-L’nu and Wabanaki communities in the Atlantic Region with projects such oil/gas exploration/development and testing by SWN Resources; Destruction of Aquafiers; Hydraulic-Fracturing & Exploration/Drilling for Shale Gas/Oil Deposits in any inch of our sovereign Territory of Mi’kma’ki.
These projects are a sad reflection of the modern disdain for the environment, and will drastically reduce both the health of the local ecosystem and the quality of life in Atlantic Canada and surrounding areas. Destruction of our water is another form of genocide not only to our people but to the fragile environment and endangered species that call it their home. These attacks to our people’s water source infringe on the integrity of our cultural resources and heritage in our own region. Allowing further development violates our Treaty Rights to not only hunt, fish, and gather from; but our Treaty Right, Aboriginal Right, and Title Right to the land and water itself.

Our Aboriginal rights are unique because they are protected by the Canadian Constitution Section 35(1982), affirmed by the Donald Marshall Case and the United Nations Declaration of Indigenous Rights (2007, signed by Canada 2010). It is our demand that all activities come to a complete halt, and all permits and licenses be revoked. As we assert our rights as Sovereign Mi’kmaq-L’nu Nation, and assert our rights to unite in solidarity with other Nations, we vow that we will do whatever it takes to protect our water, the blood of the earth in our traditional territory.

We expect a response within 48 hours regarding your position in this matter.
Regards,

The Mi’kmaq Warrior Society

http://www.tarsandsblockade.org/letter-from-mikmaq/

Kahsatstenhsera: Indigenous Resistance to Tar Sands Pipelines

Kahsatstenhsera gah-sad-sdanh-se-ra is a Kanienkeha:ka (Mohawk) word that means Strength in Unity. This short documentary details contemporary Indigenous resistance to tar sands pipeline expansion, in particular the Line 9 and Energy East pipelines, which threaten the health of our territories in the northeast of Turtle Island. It includes the voices and perspectives of Wolastiqiyik, Mi'kmaq, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee land defenders.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXiWcL23sXo

Canadian spies met with energy firms, documents reveal

The Canadian government agency that allegedly hacked into the Brazilian mining and energy ministry has participated in secret meetings in Ottawa where Canadian security agencies briefed energy corporations, it has emerged.

Claims of spying on the ministry by Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSEC) come amid the Canadian government’s increasingly aggressive promotion of resource corporations at home and abroad, including unprecedented surveillance and intelligence sharing with companies.

At the most recent meeting in May 2013, which focused on “security of energy resources development”, meals were sponsored by Enbridge, a Canadian oil company trying to win approval for controversial tar sands pipelines....

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/oct/09/canadian-spies-met-en...

Remember Oka? That could be a picnic compared to what may happen in BC.

Enbridge Line 9 protesters removed by police from hearing

MONTREAL – Protesters disrupted the second day of National Energy Board hearings in Montreal on Enbridge Inc.’s controversial Line 9 pipeline reversal project, prompting a warning from NEB panel chair Lyne Mercier that the board has the power to remove all non-scheduled participants if the disturbances continued.

The NEB did not exercise that power in the end as security personnel were given the time to remove the protesters.

Young individuals stood up one at a time, interrupting a presentation by the Association industrielle de l’est de Montréal, which supports the plan. Speaking in English and in French, they recited prepared scripts telling a fictional story about “Mr. Enbridge.”....

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/fp/Enbridge+Line+protesters+remove...

Introducing: Confronting the Pipedream

Voices from the frontlines of resistance to pipelines

A Turtle Island (“North America”) wide grassroots radio project against pipelines.

Featuring:

* Interviews with Ellen Gabriel, Mel Bazil, Freda Huson, Amanda Lickers, The Texas Tar Sands Blockade, and more!

http://confrontingthepipedream.com/

eta:

Who we are:

Aaron Lakoff – CKUT Radio, Montreal QC, Mohawk Territory

Aaron Lakoff is a radio journalist, DJ and community organizer living in Montreal, trying to map the constellations between reggae, soul and a liberated world.

David Ball – Vancouver Co-op Radio; Rabble Podcast Network, Vancouver BC, Coast Salish Territories

David Ball is a multimedia journalist in Vancouver. A co-producer and host of the Media Mornings show at Vancouver Co-op Radio, I also report for Indian Country Today Media Network (US) and Windspeaker aboriginal newspaper (Canada).

Meredith DeFrancesco – WERU Radio, Bangor, Maine

Meredith DeFrancesco is the co-founder of the weekly grassroots environmental and social justice new journal “RadioActive” on WERU Community Radio, in Maine, which began in early 2001. Meredith has also produced for Free Speech Radio News, Pacifica Peace Watch , WINGS, Making Contact, and National Native News.

Shailagh Keaney – CFRU Radio, Guelph ON (Attiwendaronk/Neutral Territory)

Shailagh Keaney is a multimedia artist and community organizer living in Guelph, yearning to cultivate the deep soils where our sacred interconnectivity takes roo

Corroding Our Democracy   -  by Macdonald Stainsby

http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/10/14/corroding-our-democracy/

"Tzeporah Berman silences environmentalists, targets corporate deal in Tar Sands push.."

France’s Ban On Fracking Is ‘Absolute’

France’s ban on fracking was finally completed Friday, as its constitutional court upheld a 2011 law prohibiting the practice and canceling all exploration permits. The decision posted on the court’s website said the ban “conforms to the constitution” and is not “disproportionate,” effectively protecting it from any future legal challenge.

U.S. driller Schuepbach Energy brought its complaint to the court after two of its exploration permits were revoked due to the ban. Schuepbach attempted to argue that since no study had established fracking risks, there was no cause for the ban, and that since fracking isn’t banned for geothermal energy projects, it was unfair. The court didn’t find that convincing, citing the differences between geothermal and shale gas exploration.

Environment Minister Philippe Martin framed the decision as a victory in the larger effort to limit fossil fuels and carbon emissions. “Beyond the question of fracking, shale gas is a carbon emitter,” he said in a statement. “We must set our priorities on renewable energies.”...

White House Tells Harper to “Mind His Own Beeswax”, “Tap the Sap of His Own Maple Tree” 

“It was sort of entertainingly naive at first,” Carney said to the White House press corps. “But now, frankly, it’s gotten to the point that we just forward his phone calls to the White House Gift Shop.” 

Activists Take Over Kinder Morgan Pipeline Terminal

(see pics)

More than a dozen Greenpeace activists have locked themselves into Kinder Morgan’s Burnaby tar sands pipeline terminal. Organizers say the protest was timed to coincide with the federal throne speech in Ottawa.

Shrouded by early morning fog, activists climbed and locked themselves to the facility's Burrard Inlet dockside oil pumping mechanism while others painted “Stop the Tar Sands“ on one of two huge Kinder Morgan oil storage tanks and draped a banner off the other. Two more activists chained themselves to the main entrance of the facility east of Vancouver. Burnaby RCMP and the Harbour Patrol were present but made no initial moves to remove or arrest the activists.

Tsleil-Waututh (People of the Inlet) elder Amy George was on hand to support today`s action. She called for an end to tar sands devastation and vowed continued escalating opposition to Kinder Morgan`s pipeline expansion plans.

“We’re here to remind Prime Minister Harper and Premier Clark that British Columbians do not want tar sands pipelines and hundreds of super tankers threatening B.C.’s pristine coast,” said Greenpeace spokesperson Mike Hudema.

“With every extra tanker or kilometer of pipeline, we increase the risk of an accident that would be catastrophic to the coast and our communities,” said Hudema. “On the day of the throne speech, we’re telling Prime Minister Harper to say no to tar sands expansion and yes to a green energy future.”

http://vancouver.mediacoop.ca/photo/activists-take-over-kinder-morgan-pi...

Well armed police moved in this morning to clear out the indegenous led blockade of shale gas operations in NB

This is a just a taste of what's coming for BC.

The pipeline is going ahead, come hell or high waters..

It's damn the torpedeos, full speed ahead. 

BC arrested over 800 way back during the tree wars, and I'm sure they are ready to arrest a lot more than that this time, and beat their enviable record.

KenS wrote:

Well armed police moved in this morning to clear out the indegenous led blockade of shale gas operations in NB

Romanian villagers force Chevron to suspend fracking operation

US energy giant Chevron said Thursday it has suspended shale gas test drilling in northeastern Romania after three days of protests by villagers opposed to fracking.

“Chevron can today confirm it has suspended activities in Silistea, Pungesti commune, Vaslui county,” a press release read.

The move comes a day after Romanian police clashed with villagers who have occupied since Monday a field to prevent Chevron from drilling its first exploration well.

The protesters are afraid of the environmental and health impact of the highly controversial drilling method used to unlock shale gas, called hydraulic fracturing or ‘fracking’.

The technique consists of pumping water and chemicals at high pressure into deep rock formations to free oil and gas, with environmentalists warning the process may contaminate ground water and even cause small earthquakes.

Chevron has permits to explore for shale gas in three villages in this impoverished part of northeastern Romania as well as on Romania’s Black Sea coast.

“Our priority is to conduct … activities in a safe and environmentally responsible manner consistent with the permits under which we operate,” the group said Wednesday.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/10/17/romanian-villagers-force-chevron-t...

RCMP Attack On Mi'kmaq Is A Harsh Warning To British Columbians (audio & transcript)

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip talks to Radio-BED a day after the RCMP attack on the Mi’kmaq people in Elsipogtog on Thursday October 17th and what those opposed to the pipeline and pipeline expansion projects in British Columbia should expect. War.

http://radio-bed.com/post/64537630923/grand-chief-stewart-phillip-talks-...

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip: 
“Well, essentially, the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) immediately expressed our complete and unconditional solidarity with the Mi’kmaq people in Elsipogtog and we denounce the harsh brutal actions on the part of the RCMP and we made the observation that we are absolutely convinced that the Harper government through the RCMP are attempting to send a very clear signal to British Columbia that our continued opposition of the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline proposal, the Kinder Morgan expansion proposal and all other energy projects can expect to meet the same type of harsh, authoritarian crackdown. And I think quite frankly it was a shot across the bow and signals what we might expect. We believe that the Harper government will veto any recommendations made by the joint review panel to reject the applications on the part of Enbridge and Kinder Morgan with respect to the pipeline proposals. We believe the Harper government will simply declare these in the national interest and will approve them. The pipeline posse that has been traveling around the province comprised of senior ministers and deputy ministers and federal officials in our view is laying the groundwork, the political and legal groundwork to establish a very solid consultation record that they will rely on in the courts once they green light these projects. They know full well we will fight these projects in the courts and we will fight these projects on the land itself. What happened in New Brunswick yesterday is a message to us that we can expect the same harsh crackdown whereby the Harper government is utilizing the RCMP as a paramilitary force to protect American interests and off shore interests to sell out the natural resource wealth of this country.”....

Caleb Behn speaking on Fracking and Gas Development

Caleb Behn is a young, indigenous warrior fighting to save his people's land and culture. Deep in the exquisite wilderness of northeastern British Columbia, the ancestral home of Caleb's Dene people, the multi-billion-dollar oil and gas industry emits chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects, the killing of brain and blood cells, and environmental harm. Caleb himself was born with a birth defect and spent long, painful years under the surgeons' knives, face cut, lips sewn. He cannot show that emissions from the industry caused his condition; still, it made him tough, gave him a deep aversion to gambling with children's health, and helped drive him to action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgwNtjOOhyA

First Nations Warn Harper's Zeal For Resources Makes Elsipogtog Protest Part of a Wider Struggle  -  by Travis Lupick

http://www.straight.com/news/514501/first-nations-warn-harpers-zeal-reso...

"Confrontations are increasingly likely to turn violent BC aboriginal leader warns.."