Tar Sands Enviromental Mistake

Being an environmentalist, I am so ticked off with the government and every person on the committee formed to look into the ravishes caused by the exploitation of the northern tar sands. The committee was made up of four government members and representatives from the other parties.

All - without exception - neglected their duty to seek the truth and offer some solutions to the greatest environmental tragedy of our country's history.The vast reserves of oil in this area of Canada are very attractive to the USA who are our biggest customer for the extracted oil.

In extracting this oil we are using the clean gas which is abundant to cook the sand and make the fossil fuel we so dearly love. This process also uses vast amounts of fresh , clean water and releases a toxic soupy mixture which pollutes the down stream watershed. This pollution poisoned the bodies of the aboriginal people who live in this area. Children, men, and women have an unusual high level number of peculiar cancers mostly related to internal organs such as the spleen.

Dr. O'Conner was called to this hearing and when he testified as to his findings he was absolutely torn apart by the committee. He worked as a general practitioner in the area in question for years. In a attempt to keep him quiet about his findings he was labeled and still is as a person who acted against the best interests of our country. The committee members said he did not have the required qualifications to make these judgements etc.

In the final analysis it smells like a cover up to appease the oil interests. Our land is being raped by foreign and Canadian interests to take this natural asset and get the oil - with no thought for the land.

We are told that every available precaution is being taken and that is true. The sad truth is that it is not enough. Better technical methods will be available but they cost. This is not in the interest of the oil moguls. I am angry because the people who are elected to protect our country from such exploitation are part of it. If this resource was to be found in Southern Ontario there would be more care for the land and the people who live there. As an example, there has to be a 550 meter barrier from houses to erect a wind power station.

Enough ranting for a day but watch and see what happens in the future when aboriginal families suffer even more from our greed.