National Geographic: Oil sands in Alberta

In March of 2009 an article is going to be released in the National Geographic magazine. This article is focused on the oil sands in Fort McMurray, Alberta.

Let me explain. This article isn’t in support of the oil sands, it isn’t suppose to show the work the oil sands is doing in a good light, this article is purely to show sludge-covered tailing ponds and the sprawling oilfields. In essence it is to tell a story of companies who suck out all the natural resources of the land and give nothing back.

Our Government is calling this article “Fair.” Fair??.... Screw that...Fair is showing both the good and the bad. If that is not the correct term then all dictionaries should be changed immediately. It’s just a piece that tells one side, a bad under your bed, lights turned off scarey dark side.The kind you tell your kids if you want them to stay in bed and not ask for one more damn glass of water. It says nothing about how the oil sands has created many jobs for not only people in our country, Canada but all over the world, and Newfoundland. The oil sands have given back by helping pay off Alberta’s great debt.

They are not just taking, but as they take, they are shifting back the washed sand, planting new trees,and giving the land a cleansing. Let’s face it, bush (and not George) that grows wildly and freely only ends up burned by hot weather and natural lightening (as apposed to campers who forget to put out their camp fires when they leave the area). Fires destroy more land then what the oil sands is doing. Just look at what BC has gone through due to fires.

The oil sands are working to restore the land which 30 years ago no company would have done what they have done for a community, town, city, province, or country. 30 years ago it would have been laughable if you said that an oil company was working with environmentalists in preserving the land that they sucked out natural resources from. Today we have companies doing just that, yet tree huggers are still coming out of the wood work screaming murder like they had been touched sexual by a moose.

Come off it. I don’t see articles on the “good” things the oil sands are doing. Oh they are there, but used only as bird cage paper. Good doesn't mean shit. We only get interested when it means someone or something is causeing great mayham over, acually who cares over what it is as long as it's aweful and we can shake our heads and yell at the top of our lungs will we read about it. Search Google about the oil sands in Alberta and it's site after site on how the oil sands are the "most destructive projects on earth". I see they have not met my kids then.

Now do not even think for a second (cause thinking can be painful to some) that I do not believe in nature and in preserving our forests and our wildlife. I am completely on board for preserving all these things. I ride the boat of conservation.(they serve booze) I love wildlife (even if they would like to see me dead) and believe in making sure animals are not extinct (like the wolly mammoth).
I believe forests play an important role in our environment (and not just a place to urinate when you have to go now, not in 50 miles).
I am however not on board when it comes to just bashing companies that are working to not only take resources but give back to its community and it’s country.

The oil sand not only provides jobs, but they donate money to different charities, hospitals, and government funded services, this includes education.

Now Obama, yes, the United States's new President is trying to put forth a Carbon Capture and storage solution, sounds pricey, how much is in your wallet?, in which he is on the case of the Tar Sands... hmmmm wonder why .. Did the USA run out of all the oil they "got" from the Middle East. So now what let’s go "barrow" Canada oil... or at the very least make a profit from Canada's oil. About 75 percent of Canada's oil sands output are shipped to the U.S. market, and American refineries in the Midwest and Gulf Coast are being reconfigured to handle those supplies. Not enough I assume for Obama. Doesn’t this president have more to worry about in his own country.... Like Health care for the millions of people without it, jobs for the millions who live in far worse poverty then even our own poverty stricken folks in Canada and His country’s reputation of taking what they want in brutal ways. Let’s not even mention how the USA government works for their people to help them achieve the fundamentals in life. Instead they make a suggestion for a new money grab which in turn will force Oil companies to pay a certain fee in advance for the emmissions they may produce. Could we not come up with a better plan? Are we really that uneducated that we think that by the oil companies paying money to distrubute emmissions into the air is the best solution. Ok I want to dump toxic waste into the river and I can if I pay $19.99 to the government... Wonder if I can get a quanity discount? hmmmm
But let’s not get into country vs country since this is about the Oil sands. I can just say that Obama must be pretty bored to pick only on the Tar sands in Canada while his own country suffers so much.

Back to the oil sands... As I write this right now a friend is working up north for the oil sands and they are building a add on, to one of the plants to reduce their emissions’. This will help make their work and our air stay cleaner. So are they not doing anything to help stop the erosion of your environment as some would like you to believe? Yes!, they are, but tree huggers only get attention if they find fault. Hey I want attention look at me running with the moose in Fort McMurray naked... woot me ... awww shut up get on topic and stop dreaming... The oil sands are trying to stay within the governments environmental guide lines. Shit happens, mistakes happen, but when they do, they correct them. They are very committed to them. They have people on Staff like environmentalist, biologists and more that help them ensure they are processing and following local laws and reclamation services. They are not just hired because they are pretty.(look at me being pretty, in the forest.... weeeeeeeee!) The oil sands are not the big evil corporations we use to hide from and who lived under our beds at night (that's called the boogie man/woman).
Yes, they are making money... huge money ( you ever see the size of those cheques they hold up for publicity shots), but who doesn`t want to make money, who doesn`t want to own their own home, drive a nice vehicle, pay for their kids education, have kids, go on vacation... gawd! Not me (I say with sarcasm) ........... blah.....

The oil sands are one of the safest places for people to work. These companies have one of the highest standards of safety in the world as well as setting new standards across the country. They pay top wages and provide some of the best working conditions for staff in the world. Syncrude is on the top 50 employers in Canada for woman in the working field to work for. Every company relies on the oil field whether is directly or indirectly. So the next time you start bashing the Oil sands just ask yourself, if the food you and your family are eating is something you would like to keep providing to them on a daily event. cause if you do then stop and think.
Love them or hate them the oil sands contribute billions of dollars in wages to people throughout Canada and the USA and to turn that tap off would make this recession (we are going through) far deeper then we could ever imagine.( I would have to switch my kraft macaronii to no name macaroni)
I could go on and on (and almost did),as there as so many issues that have been raised from this article that I should be addressing but let’s face it, this would turn into a book instead of my personal rant... So I stop, but if you have a comment please post it. I would love to spare with others on this topic till I get bored.




"...I won't let it happen. I won't... I won't let this world exist without me!"