Extreme Weather ~ the clock is ticking . . .

If you Google > News > Extreme weather . . .  
examples come up from around the world.

2011 Severe Drought Texas 

8 hours ago

Outside the town of Lafayette Indiana cars and big rigs slid off the highway keeping tow truck operators busy.

7 hours ago

A recent trend of extreme dry and wet spells of weather in the UK means growers are taking land drainage more seriously.

1 day ago

The National Weather Service is working to confirm tornadoes touched down.

1 hour ago

Last year was one of weather extremes in Northland, with everything from record high and low temperatures, record rainfall and even snow recorded.

1 day ago

      As we reflect on 2011, a year of extreme weather all over the world

What's in store for the future as global warming takes a bigger hold? 

For a small population, Canada plays a major role in contributing to carbon emissions attributed to oil production in Alberta Tar Sands. In fact, Canada's Tar Sands emit carbon emissions 23% higher per barrel than regular oil, according to a European Union-commissioned study

The clock is ticking . . .

Dirty Oil

Alberta's Tar Sands oil is labeled Dirty Oil in the EU. California, has also labeled the Alberta bitumen as Dirty Oil.

Right now, hearings are being conducted in Kitimat, British Columbia, to assess the feasibility of a pipeline to transverse Alberta & British Columbia to transport bitumen from the Alberta Tar Sands to tankers, that will then sail a dangerous and pristine coastline.



"It is not a question of if, but when, a spill will happen."
(The Pembina Institute)

"The proposed Northern Gateway pipeline would carry highly acidic and corrosive diluted bitumen from Alberta's tar sands through nearly 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) of rugged and unstable landscapes to Kitimat on British Columbia's northern coast. The pipeline would be serviced by over 220 supertankers each year sailing through B.C.'s North Coast waterways, which have been off-limits to the giant vessels due to concerns that an oil spill would ruin precious coastal natural resources.

"There is fierce opposition in B.C. to allowing oil supertankers into our coastal waters and rightly so," said Katie Terhune, Energy Campaign Manager, Living Oceans Society. "History has shown that oil tankers come with oil spills. It is not a question of if, but when, a spill will happen." (The Pembina Institute)

It’s the oldest trick in the book used by governments - defame or criminalize those who oppose them.

The day prior to the commencement of the Northern Gateway Pipeline hearings, harper's government labeled Environmentalists concerned about this pipeline, 'radicals'. This is the typical response of governments today. It’s the oldest trick in the book used by governments - defame or criminalize those who oppose them.

Dr. David Suzuki, a renown Canadian academic and advocate for the environment responded to the governments misnomer:

"It's a distortion of language. To me, the environmental community are the ultimate conservatives. They say, "wait a minute. Let's go slow. We don't know enough. Let's go slow and find out more. Let's save some for tomorrow. Let's live within our means." That to me is the essence of the environmental movement. That's conservative.

A radical says, "Look, we don't know. It may destroy this forest. It may destroy this river, but let's go ahead. We need to have the economic development."To me, that's "radical" acitivity. That's eco-terrorism as far as I'm concerned."(for complete quote 'In his own words')

        

The clock is ticking . . . 

Dr David Suzuki responds to harper's attack on Environmentalists. . .In his own words.

This is a transcript of his interview. Thank you Dr. David Suzuki for your passion for our country and our environment. In his own words . . .


"We are in a process in which we are supposed to see whether or not to develop the pipeline. And already, the Minister of Natural Resources and the Prime Minister are saying it's a done deal. That pipeline they say, has got to go through. So what are we going through this whole exercise for? It's just a sham. And then to accuse people of taking foreign money for NGO's is the most absurd kind of argument I can imagine.


It's a distortion of language. To me, the environmental community are the ultimate conservatives. They say, "wait a minute. Let's go slow. We don't know enough. Let's go slow and find out more. Let's save some for tomorrow. Let's live within our means." That to me is the essence of the environmental movement. That's conservative.


A radical says, "Look, we don't know. It may destroy this forest. It may destroy this river, but let's go ahead. We need to have the economic development."To me, that's "radical" acitivity. That's eco-terrorism as far as I'm concerned.


But some how, there's been an inversion of language here, so the environmentalists, who are the conservatives are called 'radicals'. And that doesn't make any sense to me at all."

Interview Transcript
Dr. David Suzuki
CBC Interview Jan 11, 2012


Dr. David Suzuki is a reknown Canadian academic and advocate for the environment. Since the mid-1970's Suzuki has been know for his TV and radio series & books about nature and the environment. He is best know for his program, 'The Nature of Things' seen in over forty nations. He is also co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation and is devoted "to find ways for society to live in balance with the natural world that sustains us".

The David Suzuki Foundation's priorities are: oceans and sustainable fishing, climate change and clean energy, sustainability, and Suzuki's Nature Challenge.

Today Dr. Suzuki was interviewed on the CBC with regards to the Gateway Pipeline that is planned to transverse Alberta & British Columbia, carrying toxic bitumen to tankers that will be collecting it in Kitimat.

My thanks to Dr. David Suzuki for your hard work and your passion for protecting and perserving our environment, our world.