This fascinating article from the Calgary Herald poses an interesting range of opinion. First the Obama administration is beginning to pressure the Harper Conservatives on the oilsands - even beginning to wonder whether a moratorium on new development might be in order. Apparently, this is prompting the Harper government to threaten to implement regulations for the oilsands unless the Alberta PCs implement something first.
For the Alberta PCs, this is a menacing threat - Stelmach will not tolerate Ottawa (remember Harper and most of his cabinet are actually from Alberta) interfering with their tarsand operations. Besides, they claim they are confident that Alberta is already providing world class oversight and monitoring on this amazing resource. And beyond that, the Harper Government (TM) is not doing enough to help Alberta with its world-class PR campaign - including lobbying offices in Washington DC and beyond - to sell the world on the tar sands development.
On top of all this, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers is complaining that the Stelmach PC government is already ruining their ability to make money in the province and unless this improves, they might leave and ruin Alberta's economy.
Let's take a reality check here....
The tar sands are out of control. Their ongoing development contributes more GreenHouseGas emissions than many industrialized countries and in terms of energy balance, they are a very poor choice as an energy source (yielding only 3 barrels of oil for every barrel of oil equivalent invested). In spite of passionate claims to the contrary - Alberta's monitoring and regulation programs have been proven to be woefully inadequate. From Harper's conservatives to Stelmach's PCs, there is far more tax payer money being spent in a PR campaign (for more information on this, just review the Bruce Carson scandal) promoting the unregulated exploitation of this resource than there is on monitoring, regulation or enforcement. Not only that, Alberta is giving royalty holidays on projects until their capital investment is paid off - so companies are operating essentially risk-free - and even when royalties are collected, they are based on bitumen prices which are about half of the world oil prices. American companies and American workers are benefiting from the upgrading jobs and world oil prices. The failure of the Alberta PC government to collect the fair share of profits for the people of Alberta is one of the biggest reasons that the Alberta government can't afford to pay for health care or infrastructure development. If you don't want to take my word for it, just compare the royalties collected by the Norwegian government to what Alberta collects.
Even PC founder and former Alberta Premiere Peter Lougheed is on record in calling for a moratorium on future developments.
Let's get real here. The Alberta government, under pressure from CAPP, and with help from the Harper Conservatives are stealing from the people of Alberta and from the Canadian people. All we are getting are a few good paying jobs and environmental destruction of the boreal forests at a rate that has never been duplicated in human history.
And if you think that multi-national oil companies are going to stick around to clean up their mess when the most profitable oil sand mining areas are depleted - why don't you take a quick look at the history of the Sydney tar ponds.
Harper Conservatives ‘hypocrites’ on oilsands: Alberta
Monday, May 23, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Peak Oil: A Chance to Change the World | Common Dreams
I might be accused of being a pessimist - or perhaps being overly critical - and this might be a fair accusation. Nevertheless, I find myself incredibly frustrated by the actions of some of my colleagues in the oil and gas industry. Exxon-Mobil is probably the easiest example to criticize. For one thing, they are the biggest and the best at what they do. Among my complaints, they have made the largest investments in funding pseudo science to refute global warming - much like the big tobacco lobby of a few decades ago. They have also used their money and influence to overturn Canada's environmental safeguards that would have slowed down their tar sand mining operations and even to attack Alberta's provincial government for requesting slightly higher royalty payments.
OK - in fairness, I guess corporations exist to maximize profits and these pseudo-persons, from a legal perspective, are not encumbered by conscience. From this perspective, Exxon is just doing its' job.
That being said, I find it sad to hear that their current CEO is being invited as an inspirational speaker at university commencements.
And this alternative commencement address - given a few minutes after Exxon's heart-warming words - offers some small beacons of hope for an alternative future ahead.
Peak Oil: A Chance to Change the World | Common Dreams
OK - in fairness, I guess corporations exist to maximize profits and these pseudo-persons, from a legal perspective, are not encumbered by conscience. From this perspective, Exxon is just doing its' job.
That being said, I find it sad to hear that their current CEO is being invited as an inspirational speaker at university commencements.
And this alternative commencement address - given a few minutes after Exxon's heart-warming words - offers some small beacons of hope for an alternative future ahead.
Peak Oil: A Chance to Change the World | Common Dreams
Monday, May 9, 2011
80% renewable energy possible by 2050: U.N. - World - CBC News
In a world facing the challenges of declining oil and gas reserves coupled with climate change, it will take massive investments in renewable energy and infrastructure to make significant changes. Fortunately, there are countries interested in creating an alternative and sustainable future.
Unfortunately, Canada is continuing to subsidize the oil and gas industry rather than take a leadership role in this critical move towards sustainability. This leaves us with the least energy efficient economy in the industrialized world at a time when energy prices are moving towards record levels.
Will we ever have the necessary motivation for political change?
80% renewable energy possible by 2050: U.N. - World - CBC News
Unfortunately, Canada is continuing to subsidize the oil and gas industry rather than take a leadership role in this critical move towards sustainability. This leaves us with the least energy efficient economy in the industrialized world at a time when energy prices are moving towards record levels.
Will we ever have the necessary motivation for political change?
80% renewable energy possible by 2050: U.N. - World - CBC News
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
The Canadian Economy will soon suffer from Harper's out-of-touch energy policies
Stephen Harper claims to be "business friendly" - his critics might even call him "corporation friendly". This is generally observed in terms of his government's plans to reduce corporate taxes while burdening consumers with unpopular HST programs and decreasing public services like health care because there isn't enough money to fund them. Harper justifies this by saying that these corporation friendly actions are needed to insure that companies will invest in Canada and create jobs which will grow the economy.
However, it is important to note that a Harper government isn't friendly to corporations that seek to develop important new economic sectors. Even when these companies would provide many quality jobs and even reduce our economic dependence on declining (and increasingly expensive) supplies of fossil fuel.
When it comes to carbon taxes or cap and trade systems to benefit the environment, the Harper conservatives claim these measures would ruin the economy and threaten countless jobs. Economic analysis shows that this economic slow-down is caused because the carbon management systems simulate high oil prices - and this causes the economy to shift away from fossil fuel usage. Fortunately, government raises money with these systems that is typically used to fund alternative energy systems, public transit etc. This new industry and transportation development creates new jobs that ultimately grow the economy. For a good example of this, just look at Denmark.
Harper's extreme loyalty and complete allegiance to the oil and gas industry leaves Canada completely vulnerable to high oil prices - which are inevitable as oil production slows on a global level. Lagging behind the rest of the world on renewable energy and environmental protection will ultimately handicap Canada's economy far more than any carbon management regulations.
Green energy sector not cheering Tory majority - The Globe and Mail
Their man has a majority; now oil patch wants elbow room - The Globe and Mail
However, it is important to note that a Harper government isn't friendly to corporations that seek to develop important new economic sectors. Even when these companies would provide many quality jobs and even reduce our economic dependence on declining (and increasingly expensive) supplies of fossil fuel.
When it comes to carbon taxes or cap and trade systems to benefit the environment, the Harper conservatives claim these measures would ruin the economy and threaten countless jobs. Economic analysis shows that this economic slow-down is caused because the carbon management systems simulate high oil prices - and this causes the economy to shift away from fossil fuel usage. Fortunately, government raises money with these systems that is typically used to fund alternative energy systems, public transit etc. This new industry and transportation development creates new jobs that ultimately grow the economy. For a good example of this, just look at Denmark.
Harper's extreme loyalty and complete allegiance to the oil and gas industry leaves Canada completely vulnerable to high oil prices - which are inevitable as oil production slows on a global level. Lagging behind the rest of the world on renewable energy and environmental protection will ultimately handicap Canada's economy far more than any carbon management regulations.
Green energy sector not cheering Tory majority - The Globe and Mail
Their man has a majority; now oil patch wants elbow room - The Globe and Mail
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Politics of a Failing Economy - and the Environment
Governments often claim that taking action against climate change would destroy the economy. This is because a carbon tax effectively raises the price of oil and gasoline and higher energy prices flow through the economy. In turn, this causes higher prices for everything else, which reduces demand and slows down the entire economy.
Interestingly, this is only half-true. In countries which have implemented carbon-reduction programs, like Denmark and Germany, their governments have implemented carbon taxes and then used the money from taxes to create jobs in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors. They stimulate the economy and also protect their economies from inevitable raises in oil prices (oil is after-all a non-renewable and depleting resource).
Canada has not done anything like this - instead the government has invested millions of tax-payer dollars to promote the oil and gas industry and create suspicion about climate change science.
This article gives some insight into how they have done this and the type of people who have been involved.
From the April 21, 2011 CBC article PMO warned ethics watchdog on Carson (which is linked below)
PMO warned ethics watchdog on Carson - Canada Votes 2011 - CBC News
Interestingly, this is only half-true. In countries which have implemented carbon-reduction programs, like Denmark and Germany, their governments have implemented carbon taxes and then used the money from taxes to create jobs in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors. They stimulate the economy and also protect their economies from inevitable raises in oil prices (oil is after-all a non-renewable and depleting resource).
Canada has not done anything like this - instead the government has invested millions of tax-payer dollars to promote the oil and gas industry and create suspicion about climate change science.
This article gives some insight into how they have done this and the type of people who have been involved.
From the April 21, 2011 CBC article PMO warned ethics watchdog on Carson (which is linked below)
"Giorno's letter outlined to Dawson [Canada's ethics commissioner) the steps the PMO had taken to address the potential conflict of interest with Carson and the grant request from the newly-created think tank, the Canada School of Energy and Environment.
Carson, who continued to work for Harper for a month after the email before returning to the institute, said the email was sent in error by his office there.
The Harper government subsequently approved a $25-million grant for Carbon Management Canada, another research institute chaired by Carson."
"Last month, the Prime Minister's Office called in the Mounties to investigate allegations Carson may have illegally lobbied the government in 2010 on behalf of a water-filter company employing his girlfriend, a 22-year-old former prostitute.
When that story broke, Harper and his senior staff all said they had no prior inkling there was anything amiss about Carson.
The relative hail of mail to the ethics commissioner about Carson adds another bizarre twist to the unfolding saga of the convicted fraudster who became one of Harper's most trusted advisers.""Carson promptly left to become head of the Canada School of Energy and Environment, but had barely unpacked his bags in Calgary when Harper called the 2008 election and insisted his trusted adviser return to travel on the campaign plane. As soon as the campaign was over, Carson returned to Calgary to resume his position at the institute.
But six weeks later, he was back in the PMO to advise Harper during the coalition crisis that threatened to topple the newly elected Conservative government."
"Carson returned to the Calgary institute, which was supposed to be a co-ordinating agency for clean energy research.
The agency was set up as a private corporation and funded entirely with a $15 million grant from the federal government.
Almost immediately, Carson rewrote the mandate of the agency from that of a research institute to a centre devoted to promoting the Alberta oilsands and helping the Harper government navigate the politically treacherous climate change issue.
Sources say Carson was also officially retained as an unpaid adviser to the federal Environment Ministry.
That's when the third letter about Carson landed on the desk of the federal ethics and conflict-of-interest commissioner."
So - next time you find yourself at the gas pump paying over $1.00/litre for gasoline - you have Stephen Harper and Carson to thank. Their far-sighted and publicly funded work has insured that you will pay nothing but higher prices for gasoline for the forseeable future - because they have done a tremendous job in stifling any efforts to move from an oil based economy .
And when the next economic collapse comes about - after oil prices have reached $150/barrell or so - you can thank them all over again.PMO warned ethics watchdog on Carson - Canada Votes 2011 - CBC News
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
The Science of Why We Don't Believe Science | Mother Jones
We live in a world with increasing complex problems and we are steadily losing the ability to reach consensus in moving towards solutions. A good friend once told me that all of our decisions are made with our emotions and our reasoning is only a way to justify it to ourselves.
Looks like he was right!
This excellent article not only provides an explanation to commonly observed interactions -especially relating to political issues- and more importantly it offers ways to deal with the breakdown of communication.
A couple of simple rules for speaking with someone of differing perspectives:
1. frame your points based on values that they understand instead of trying to argue about facts
2. Recognize and admit your own emotional responses/biases and try to minimize statements that will trigger an emotional response in the other person.
Overall, a fascinating article that should be required reading for every human....
The Science of Why We Don't Believe Science | Mother Jones
Looks like he was right!
This excellent article not only provides an explanation to commonly observed interactions -especially relating to political issues- and more importantly it offers ways to deal with the breakdown of communication.
A couple of simple rules for speaking with someone of differing perspectives:
1. frame your points based on values that they understand instead of trying to argue about facts
2. Recognize and admit your own emotional responses/biases and try to minimize statements that will trigger an emotional response in the other person.
Overall, a fascinating article that should be required reading for every human....
The Science of Why We Don't Believe Science | Mother Jones
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
The Politics of Truth
I must confess that Canada's democratic process deeply saddens me. With our British parliamentary system, appointed senate and appointed judiciary, Canada has less democracy than any other industrialized country. The leader of the party that obtains the most seats in the election automatically becomes prime minister and then exercises more power than any other head of state - outside of monarchies or dictatorships.
On top of that, we seem to have inherited a distinctly American method of governance and campaigning. The current conservative party runs attack ads against the leader of the opposition on a non-stop basis - in spite of the fact that our election campaigns are only 30 days long. In the last election, the Conservative government broke the laws set down by elections Canada on campaign spending and has been no consequence.
And even worse, we have only one leadership debate in the entire election cycle where the misleading statements, half-truths and outright lies told by the various leaders can be examined and compared. That debate, which was held last night, contained a spectacle of leaders delivering facts about various events; the conservative attempt - under Stephen Harper - to form a minority coalition government in 2004, spending plans in the conservative budget and discussion about the way the Harper government has ignored the limited checks and balances in Canada's democracy. In response to all of these criticisms, Stephen Harper outright denied and misled on one point after another.
Now it is true that all politicians attempt to spin the facts to avoid responsibility - and it is true that I haven't voted conservative - at least since Preston Manning left the Reform party leadership - but I honestly believe that Harper is going to unprecedented lengths of outright dishonesty in order to maintain political power. If you don't believe me, take a look at the fact check below.
Of course, he does have a disadvantage. Reality seems to have a liberal bias (and I don't mean the Liberal party).
Reality Check: Fail Archives - Canada Votes 2011 - CBC News
On top of that, we seem to have inherited a distinctly American method of governance and campaigning. The current conservative party runs attack ads against the leader of the opposition on a non-stop basis - in spite of the fact that our election campaigns are only 30 days long. In the last election, the Conservative government broke the laws set down by elections Canada on campaign spending and has been no consequence.
And even worse, we have only one leadership debate in the entire election cycle where the misleading statements, half-truths and outright lies told by the various leaders can be examined and compared. That debate, which was held last night, contained a spectacle of leaders delivering facts about various events; the conservative attempt - under Stephen Harper - to form a minority coalition government in 2004, spending plans in the conservative budget and discussion about the way the Harper government has ignored the limited checks and balances in Canada's democracy. In response to all of these criticisms, Stephen Harper outright denied and misled on one point after another.
Now it is true that all politicians attempt to spin the facts to avoid responsibility - and it is true that I haven't voted conservative - at least since Preston Manning left the Reform party leadership - but I honestly believe that Harper is going to unprecedented lengths of outright dishonesty in order to maintain political power. If you don't believe me, take a look at the fact check below.
Of course, he does have a disadvantage. Reality seems to have a liberal bias (and I don't mean the Liberal party).
Reality Check: Fail Archives - Canada Votes 2011 - CBC News
Sunday, April 10, 2011
To dream the possible dream - Real change could bring the prospects for hope
Most days I seem to be mired in doom and gloom as I see the predictable and completely avoidable rise of oil prices and the slightly more subtle hints that the second round of the 2008 economic collapse is lurking just around the corner. It saddens me terribly to witness how the Great Recession did nothing more than speed the consolidation of wealth into the hands of the privileged few at the expense of the dwindling middle class and the rest of the huddled masses. Tired of rhetoric about how organized labour is destroying the economy, the Green movement is a plot to steal your money, take your job and ruin the economy and how the government can't afford to pay for health care or any basic services, I can get pretty depressed.
Nevertheless, deep-down, I believe that there is another way. I truly believe that humankind can live on this planet with some semblance of compassion, justice, and peace - including our relationship with the natural world. That's why articles like this one excite me. It not only confirms my hope, but it provides details about another way to live and exist.
This is the first step in any real change. We must be able to see some vision of the road ahead - we can't move from our present course unless we have some hint of what the alternatives might look like.
It's only impossible if we think it is.
Or as Jesus said - "the Kingdom of Heaven is within you" and "Change your way of thinking - the Kingdom of Heaven is near" .
And If We Were to Change ... Everything | Truthout
Nevertheless, deep-down, I believe that there is another way. I truly believe that humankind can live on this planet with some semblance of compassion, justice, and peace - including our relationship with the natural world. That's why articles like this one excite me. It not only confirms my hope, but it provides details about another way to live and exist.
This is the first step in any real change. We must be able to see some vision of the road ahead - we can't move from our present course unless we have some hint of what the alternatives might look like.
It's only impossible if we think it is.
Or as Jesus said - "the Kingdom of Heaven is within you" and "Change your way of thinking - the Kingdom of Heaven is near" .
And If We Were to Change ... Everything | Truthout
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