Library Late Fees in Alberta Are 16 Times Bigger than Environmental Fines at the Alberta Tar Sands
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07. 3.08
The Alberta Tar Sands are called by some the most destructive project on earth, and their toxic tailing ponds kill birds and are poisoning downstream native communities. It has the worst air quality in the country, and companies regularly run afoul of exceedance limits, but in 2006 all of the oil companies were fined only $ 249,000. Library patrons in Calgary and Edmonton, on the other hand, were fined $4 million for overdue books.
"The Tar Sands is the largest fossil fuel project on the planet, home to toxic tailing ponds and Canada's worst air quality, and yet Albertans are fined more for returning their library books late" says Gillian McEachern of Forest Ethics. "The Federal and Alberta governments either lack the capacity or are willfully ignoring the need to enforce environmental laws in the Tar Sands. The Tar Sands look more and more like a safe haven for the world's largest and most profitable oil companies to do as they please." ::press release from ::Forest Ethics
Effect of the Tar Sands
More on the Alberta Tar Sands:
Tar Sands: The Most Destructive Project on Earth
Edward Burtynsky on the Alberta Tar SandsEdward Burtynsky on the Alberta Tar Sands
Bad PR Week in Fort McMoneyBad PR Week in Fort McMoney
Oil Companies and Alberta Government Go After Little Old LadyOil Companies and Alberta Government Go After Little Old Lady
The Tar Sands Are Eating Our Dinner
Book Review: Stupid to the Last Drop
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
- 166 Million Birds Could Die If Tar Sands Mining Continues to Expand
- Telecom, Financial Services Firm Gets Livermore Lab Help To Test Oil Shale Project For Permanent CO2 Storage
- Two Banks Turning a (Slightly) Darker Shade of Green: HSBC and Bank of America Review Enviro Policies
- The Rat Apocalypse of Lehua
U.S. DOE Announces $30.5 Billion in Loan Guarantees for Renewable & Nuclear Energy Projects
|
Veggie Burgers, Green BBQ Drinks and GPS Devices
|
It's sad that we let companies do this to our country, but I'm very glad that organizations from other countries, like NRDC, have taken up the fight for us.
There was a time we would have fought this battle ourselves but instead we turn around and bend over as our pants fall to our ankles while someone else fights for our rights. All so George Bush can have more oil. More 'war'. More control of the world.
We need to learn to say 'no'.
The Alberta Approach
Clear thinking. Clean results
... taken from their website!
http://www.environment.alberta.ca/1319.html
Sadly the pollution appears to have addled their brains or they're filled with the greenhouse gas - BS.
I think we got it all wrong....
People in Alberta read a lot, and they simply not very punctual and responsible to bring the books back to the library on time.
That is when their big pick up truck come in to play.
Since they read so much they need their trucks to haul all these books from the library home and back. Just late. :(
(heavy sarcasm)