We are going to talk a lot about the pipeline, tar sands and Avatar as we move forward in this course. Here is the latest on who is against BIG OIL and what they are doing to slow down its development of the Keystone Pipeline XL.
1) Why such the opposition against this pipeline? What are the actual negative effects it will have?
2) I think this is the best way to transport crude oil. What do you think?
3) What other groups not mentioned have a stake in all of this? Who will be their voice?
4) What other resources do we have that could be exploited like this? Why?
This is my blog post for the week:
ReplyDeleteI think the most obvious and publicly known concern with the pipeline is the environmental impacts oil brings. By approving the pipeline, canada is saying yes to polluting the environment rather than try and do something to protect it. Quite literally, approving the pipeline is in the same context as a drug addict saying that they will just quit tomorrow. in reality, oil needs to be stopped today rather than prolonging the problem.
For my politics class this semester, I wrote a position paper on the Keystone XL pipeline. It is true that a pipeline is the safest and most efficient way to transport oil. A pipeline is safer, cheaper and more environmentally friendly than any other way to transport oil. (http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/president-barack-obama-should-approve-keystone-xl-pipeline-b99198187z1-243530881.html). I would agree that the pipeline is the best way to move oil, but i also believe that we need to invest more money into cleaner forms of energy as well.
I think the people that have a hard time getting their voice heard about this topic is the general public. We hear how the governments and the companies and the major organizations (such as Greenpeace) feel about this topic, but stories are rarely heard about how the pipeline will affect the people around it. So i say the people who have the most at stake are the people themselves.
Ive heard it be said that the 'next world war' will be about water. Im not so sure about this topic but I think this is a resource that can also get exploited. If its not used properly than it can get wasted, and we need to keep an eye on things like this.
Sources:
http://business.financialpost.com/2013/05/13/what-happens-if-the-keystone-xl-pipeline-is-not-approved/?__lsa=c08a-3d8c
Great post!
DeleteI can definitely see water as the next resource that will be exploited. In fact, it already sort of is. Think about the outrageous prices for water at concerts and other events. Anything that can be controlled will be exploited one way or another.
I can definitely imagine water being exploited as well. That reminds me of the discussion we had in class the other day about how expensive water bottles are.
DeleteThis is my weekly post,
ReplyDeleteThe biggest issue people have against the pipeline is obviously the environmental impacts it might have. The other issue people have is that the pipeline will cut through valuable land in the states. The proposed pipeline will the Missouri, Platte, and Niobrara Rivers, the Ogallala aquifer, and many different habitats. It also cuts through public croplands and water supplies which is dangerous to people, as the pipeline could contaminate these.
Like Breandon, I also had to write a paper on the keystone pipeline in my politics class. It is the most efficient way to transport oil but there is no guarantee that there will not be great risks in building the pipeline. The risk of the pipeline contaminating water supplies. ruining land and have environmental impacts may be greater than the need for the pipeline.
In my opinion people don't have their voice heard about this issue because it really is up to the government and the oil industry is huge. When an industry has as much money as the oil industry does, the public does not get much say.
http://www.nwf.org/What-We-Do/Energy-and-Climate/Drilling-and-Mining/Tar-Sands/Keystone-XL-Pipeline.aspx
http://globalnews.ca/news/1119900/u-s-report-on-environment-impact-of-keystone-xl-pipeline-expected-today-report/
I agree with you Anneli. I feel many of the people do not have a say in what goes on in this matter.
DeleteThis is my week's post:
ReplyDeleteThe Keystone XL has obviously been one of the main issues this year and it really shouldn't surprise anyone. If you propose any idea that concerns oil, its extraction, or its shipment, and it isn't for the purposes of reducing carbon footprint, you will have opposition. This has been the case throughout the progress of the Keystone XL proposal. The article mentions that the decision will be made within weeks, which is probably the reason that the opposing parties are really making an effort to be heard now. One of the biggest issues in our society is our short attention spans. Lately, the media has, although never forgetting it all together, moved away from the pipeline and focused on other big stories. This has allowed many people to put the pipeline and its environmental issues in the back of their mind. Because of this, the opposition really has to shout to be heard before the decision is made.
That being said, it is hard to find an argument against the pipeline without looking wider. They have changed the proposed routes in order to avoid the native waters, as well as others, which was one of the largest issues in the first place. The real focus of these environmental groups is probably the oil sands themselves, and unfortunately they have to target the smaller projects that they have a chance of affecting. They seem to have become blinded by their feelings toward the industry, and seem not to consider the actual benefits that the pipeline holds. This is obviously just my opinion, but it seems like the pipeline is actually the safest way to transport crude oil both environmentally and economically.
One of the biggest parties being affected are the aboriginal communities in the area. I wrote an ISU on this topic for my politics class and learned that the entire Canadian oil industry seems to neglect the rights and wishes of our own Native people. To me, this is the worst part of the industry. It is one thing to be harming the environment, but to be harming the environment while simultaneously disrespecting a culture that has existed long before our own ancestors arrival just seems to be all kinds of wrong. The pollution of their land, water, and air is causing all sorts of problems in their communities, and their voices seem to often go unheard.
This is running long so I will attach a link about the Native concerns to wrap it up:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/oilsands-study-confirms-tailings-found-in-groundwater-river-1.2545089
(surprising that Federal scientists actually did a study instead of remaining ignorant, not so surprising that the Albertan government doesn't believe it confirms anything.)
This is my post for the week.
ReplyDeleteThere are many concerns about putting in the pipeline, and like many have mentioned, the environmental harm is one of the greatest issues. There is no doubt that there are many negatives and risks to installing this pipeline. During my hunt search for information, I stumbled across this article. it is about the humpback whales that have recently had their status go from threatened to species of special concern. This is being kept on the down low but I think we need to be more aware of the situation. Supposedly the government would be unable to put in the pipeline if it harms endangered species. it seems pretty suspicious that they suddenly changed the status now.
here is one of the links i found
http://www.desmog.ca/2014/04/23/critics-concerned-pipelines-tankers-reason-downgrading-threatened-status-humpback-whales