This feature-length enviro-doc has been making some serious rounds in social media circles lately, as the debate heats up over the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline that will cut through one of Canada’s most treasured ecosystems. It seems as though the issue is not ‘if’ there will ever be an oil spill, but ‘when’ — and the massive environmental destruction that will ensue when it does happen. Enbridge’s plans are to construct twin petroleum product pipelines 1,170 kilometres between Brudenheim (located just north of the city of Edmonton) and Kitimat, B.C.
According to the website Pipe Up Against Enbridge, one pipeline would carry 525,000 barrels per day of Alberta tar sands crude oil westward to a new oil tanker port at Kitimat. The other would carry condensate – a lighter petroleum product used to dilute bitumen – eastward for use in transporting the tar sands crude oil. Enbridge’s stated reasoning behind its proposed pipeline is that it would facilitate access to new markets for Canadian tar sands oil. Currently, the majority of tar sands oil is shipped south to U.S. markets.
The pipeline would cross some 1,000 streams and rivers, including sensitive salmon spawning habitat in the upper Fraser, Skeena, and Kitimat watersheds. Five important salmon rivers that would be impacted are the Stuart River, Morice River, Copper River, Kitimat River and Salmon River.
We all have the choice to support and promote clean renewable sources of energy and wean ourselves off of our addiction to burning fossil fuels.
• Switch your energy supplier to a company that is making concerted efforts in clean, renewable electricity.
• Next time you buy a vehicle, insist on purchasing an electric vehicle.
• Make it known to your politicians that the Tar sands must stop.
• Get involved with a group that is helping to stop the oil sands and its infrastructure.
