Sheila Muxlow's blog

**I was down at the demonstration at the Enbridge AGM yesterday and played a bit of an Indy media role, interviewing some shareholders after the presentations by members of the Yinka Dene Alliance. - thought I would write it into an article for all you good people out there. :-)

Thursday, May 12, 2011

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Lots of love for the environment on Valentines day this year.

Greenpeace set up this sadly honest satire under the name: Polluter Harmony, showcasing the closeness between our present government and big oil interests - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weS0-7sBgHw

Similarly Velcor Ripper's 'Evolve Love' trailer draws out themes about love and climate change furthering the maximum that 'love is the movement' for revolution - http://www.evolvelovelive.com/

Adding to the mix, numerous groups from the West coast sent in this strongly worded letter to CN rail - confronting the idea of moving tar sands by train to the BC coast  (see full letter below)

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Because of an appeal by local people on the environmental and health impacts from the project!

As far as we know, this is a recent, if not a first, move for the Alberta SDAB.

Gravel mining can have major impacts on the local ecosystems and hydrological systems within a region. The process demands drilling into the earth, disturbing layers of earth and clay risking the distruption of aquifers and ground water systems. Toxic waste from quarry operations can contaminate our communities water supply, endangering public health. Rock dust can also damage air quality and health of people living near the mine. For more information on the risks of gravel mining in Alberta please read Battling Gravel Goliaths by Water Matters.
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On Monday, October 4th, a large reservoir filled with toxic red sludge in western Hungary ruptured, releasing approximately 700,000 cubic meters (185 million gallons) of stinking caustic mud, which killed many animals, at least four people, and injured over 120 - many with chemical burns. The 12-foot-high flood of sludge inundated several towns, sweeping cars off the road as it flowed into the nearby Marcal River. Emergency workers rushed to pour 1,000 tons of plaster into the Marcal River in an attempt to bind the sludge and keep it from flowing on to the Danube some 45 miles away. The red sludge in the reservoir is a byproduct of refining bauxite into alumina, which took place at an alumina plant run by the Hungarian Alumina Production and Trading Company. A criminal probe has just been opened by Hungarian authorities.... Read more »

I received the following write up from the Council of Canadians - it came from an Australian Water Rights listserve. It provides an important insight on the impacts water markets have on who gets access to water and who gets left high and dry.

In a situation very similar to Alberta - the Australian Government implemented a water market for the Murray Darling River Basin. In what was a very short sighted move, the Australian Government is now being forced to use tax payer money, competing with Internationally buyers to 'buy back' water to ensure adequate flows for the needs of ecosystems. Even more problematically, rural farmers are being forced to sell their water and International water barons are buying up permanent water rights which they can than lease out and turn a profit. May seem like some sort of cheesy James Bond movie - but sadly it's not.

Read it for yourself:

Liquid gold... Read more »