[R-G] Indian Uprising Radio: Price of tar sands oil

[Anthony Fenton]

Thursday, August 21, 2008
Indian Uprising Radio: Price of tar sands oil
KFAI's Indian Uprising, August 24, 2008 from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. CDT #279
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2008/08/indian-uprising-radio-price-of-tar.html

Daryl Sager (Turtle Mountain Ojibwe), Energy Justice Program  
Associate, Fresh Energy, Inc. Fresh Energy of St. Paul, Minnesota is  
an organization leading the transition to a clean, efficient and fair  
energy system. Its goals are: Healthy Economies, Healthy People,  
Healthy Environment and Energy Independence. Fresh Energy focus areas  
are: Clean Electricity, Energy Efficiency, Transportation Policy,  
Global Warming Solutions and Energy Justice. www.fresh-energy.org

"Fresh Energy is the only nonprofit in Minnesota whose sole focus is a  
clean, just energy future for the Upper Midwest. Often, the  
economically disadvantaged are the most adversely affected by energy  
decisions. The Energy Justice program at Fresh Energy works to pass  
policies that help build the capacity of low-income individuals to  
have a strong voice in those decisions."

Tom Goldtooth (Dine’/Dakota), Director, Indigenous Environmental  
Network, Bemidji, Minnesota
IEN (nonprofit) is a network of grass-roots Indigenous Peoples  
empowering Indigenous Nations and communities towards sustainable  
livelihoods, demanding environmental justice and maintaining the  
Sacred Fire of cultural traditions. IEN is dependent on private  
foundations and individual donations but does not solicit for federal  
grants. www.ienearth.org

One immediate concern, says Goldtooth, is the proposed 36-inch  
diameter tar sand oil pipeline cutting through northern Minnesota  
running almost 1,000 miles, from Alberta, Canada, to Superior,  
Wisconsin, dubbed the Alberta Clipper.

"The Real Price of Tar Sands Oil - Enbridge, a Canadian company, seeks  
to build a pipeline to carry synthetic crude oil from Alberta, Canada,  
into southern Illinois. Of the many problems with this project, the  
greatest one stems from the energy approach driving its construction:  
bitumen extraction from Alberta's tar sands.

Tar sands oil is produced through a destructive process that has  
deplorable consequences. Extraction and processing of just one barrel  
of synthetic crude oil from bitumen requires up to five barrels of  
fresh water and 1,000 cubic feet of natural gas. The gasoline yield  
from that single barrel is only enough to fill a Chevrolet Avalanche's  
tank three-quarters full.

The environmental impact is severe. In 2007, greenhouse gas emissions  
from tar sands plants were roughly equivalent to the annual emissions  
of 27 million American passenger vehicles. High levels of carcinogens  
in fish, water and sediment have been found downstream from tar sands  
areas.

Meanwhile, annual production of tar sands oil from Alberta is expected  
to at least triple by 2015, fueled principally by U.S. demand.

While no one enjoys reliance on OPEC oil, the alternative of a pending  
environmental catastrophe is intolerable." – Brian P. Granahan, Staff  
Attorney, Environment Illinois Research and Education Center  
(washingtonpost.com, Jan. 2008).

* * * * Indian Uprising is a KFAI Public & Cultural Affairs program  
relevant to Native Indigenous people, broadcast each Sunday on 90.3 FM  
Minneapolis and 106.7 FM St. Paul. Volunteer producer & host is Chris  
Spotted Eagle. Note: Chris is taking a leave of absence for five  
months, starting September 1st.

For internet listening, visit www.kfai.org <http://www.kfai.org/> ,  
click Play under ON AIR NOW or for listening later via their archives,  
click PROGRAMS & SCHEDULE > Indian Uprising > STREAM. Programs are  
archived for two weeks.