Derek Leahy's blog

Tomorrow, Europe will finally know what the words "tar sands" mean!

BERLIN, GERMANY - What a week. What a month. What a summer! At the beginning of June, it looked like we were only going to have two small demonstrations (London, England and Berlin, Germany). Instead tomorrow  Berlin and London will be joined by Copenhagen, Denmark and London, Ontario. In fact, International "Stop the Tar Sands!" Day already started today with actions in BC and Utah (near site of proposed tar sands project). In Amsterdam, Vienna and Paris groups are eager to launch their actions this September. Tomorrow is only the beginning.... Read more »

I read an article today called The Dirty Trail of the Black Gold in an Austrian newspaper. It was about the Albertan tar sands and other extreme sources of oil. It made me think about the first time I talked about the tar sands with an Austrian. He had never heard of them before. 

VIENNA, AUSTRIA - I have come full circle. Today, after sleeping very little on a 10 hour night train I arrived in the very first city I travelled to to spread the word about the Tar Sands Demonstrations Europe Project - Vienna.... Read more »

As Canada Day slowly comes to an end in Germany, I can't help but wonder what it is going to be like for me the next time I am in Canada? ... Read more »

I heard the news today oh boy!

BERLIN, GERMANY - Last March, when I sent my first email to my first group and subsequently got my first non-response, I never imagined this - a stop the tar sands action in Canada taking place the same day as our demonstrations in Europe (July 17th). 

Don't get me wrong, a demonstration or action in support of shutting down the Canadian tar sands taking place in Canada is logical. The power to stop this disaster lies solely in the hands of us, the people of Canada. But back in March while trying to convince European environmental groups that the tar sands were a problem for Europe as well, I was having trouble staying optimistic that the demonstrations would take place in Europe at all, let alone Canada. ... Read more »

How does one go from being a care-free individual giving walking tours to subsidize his many many travels in Europe to organizing demonstrations in five major European cities to raise awareness about the tar sands? 

BERLIN, GERMANY - My last post explains why I decided to finally get involved in the climate change movement but not why I began with the tar sands. There are dozens if not hundreds of different issues related to climate change that I could have began with but I chose the tar sands.... Read more »