Community | September 15, 2009 | 39 comments

Activists drop 70' "No Tar Sands Oil" banner off of Niagra Falls

source: http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2009/09/15/breaking-activists-drop-70-banner-off-of-niagra-fa...

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joshuakahnrussell
Before dawn this morning, a small team of climate and Native Rights activists rappelled from the US observation deck at Niagara Falls. Dangling hundreds of feet above the ground, they sent a special welcome message to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper ahead of his first official visit to Obama to push dirty Tar Sands oil.
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39 comments // Activists drop 70' "No Tar Sands Oil" banner off of Niagra Falls

  • Agent_Alpha
  • acontradiction
  • oh_dear
  • crispyfritters
    • 0
      crispyfritters  

    • Oh yes, activists; lay your clean energy plan on me! Hmmmm, yes, this solar panel you put on top of your bathroom is impressive. It can almost power my watch!

    • 2 years ago
  • StrangE2U
  • EtVoila
  • samthesixth
  • hunzedog
  • thecoyote23
  • jerminator
    • 0
      jerminator  

    • I hate to say it but yes the Oil Sands are more are more environmentally damaging than conventional oil but would we rather import oil from a country that at least has environmental and humanitarian laws or import oil from totalitarian countries with no human rights records or environmental protection. Is this the lesser of two evils? At least with pressure from the public and governments like the United States we can impose harsher environmental restrictions on these companies until we are no longer dependent on fossil fuels.

    • 2 years ago
  • Sam_the_Wizer
    • 0
      Sam_the_Wizer  
    • jerminator:

      Oil companies are poisoning communities and water supplies in the US, why would they treat Canada with any more respect? Those are traditional drilling techniques, and oil sands processing is worse.

    • 2 years ago
  • jerminator
    • 0
      jerminator  
    • jerminator:

      I'm saying in places like Canada and the US they should be held accountable for actions through federal and provincial/state law. These protester instead tell us to ditch this supply buy oil from places in the middle east where select people have tremendous power and zero disregard for human and environmental rights? Oh and it's 3 times more carbon intensive to process the oil. I ask you what is the carbon output in regards to shipping and transportation cost? I still think that Canada is the lesser of two evils.

    • 2 years ago
  • bailey78
    • 0
      bailey78  

    • We have a lot of tar washing up on the beach around here. Why don't they recycle it? Some one out there must have a use for beach tar. Any takers on beach tar? this is grade A beach tar not that imported crap from China.

    • 2 years ago
  • leahl
    • 0
      leahl  

    • Update: Those arrested have been released on bail, they are scheduled to appear in court on Friday, but possibly as early as tomorrow.

    • 2 years ago
  • misfitme
    • 0
      misfitme  

    • if you like this story you might like this film
      it is a greenpeace film with peter mettler(of gambling gods and lsd)
      beautifully shot over the alberta tar sands and showing at this years toronto international film festival

    • 2 years ago
  • dancore
  • locutus
  • theauthor
    • 0
      theauthor  

    • Too bad the mainstream press won't pick up on this...or maybe they will. Either way, at least someone is trying to call attention the tar sands oil which only becomes profitable when oil is over $100 a barrel. I guess that's one environmental downside to high oil prices.

    • 2 years ago
  • RudyRudell
  • sidewaysclyde
    • 0
      sidewaysclyde  

    • People are exploiting the land at the expense of people living on it.

      "The expansion of the tar sands will strip mine an area the size of Florida. Complete with skyrocketing rates of cancer (by 400%!) for First Nations communities living downstream, broken treaties, toxic belching lakes so large you can see them from outer space, churning up ancient boreal forest, destroyed air and water quality, the tar sands have been called the most destructive project on Earth." - taken from the article above

      Another notable paragraph from the article:

      "Canada has no regulations to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, and the federal government’s climate change plan would allow total pollution from the tar sands to increase almost 70 percent by 2020. Tar sands oil production is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada and was recently cited as one of the most important reasons Canada will miss its Kyoto targets by over 30%."

      I hope Obama raises these concerns in the hour long planned meeting and they can reach some sort of resolution that protects the people being affected and help insure a safer future for Canadians and the rest of the world.

    • 2 years ago
  • Prijedor
  • Sam_the_Wizer
    • 0
      Sam_the_Wizer  

    • Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is doing a lot to impede the development of tar sands/oil shale development. Oil shale is a big issue in his (and my) home state of Colorado. Keep your voices up and I'm sure he'll hear the message!

    • 2 years ago
  • asherp
    • 0
      asherp  

    • Does RAN have any plans to do a banner drop where politicians might read them, say from the top of the Washington Monument?

    • 2 years ago
  • joshuakahnrussell
    • 0
      joshuakahnrussell  
    • asherp:

      Hey asherp,

      We do actions at locations that are strategic for the message and timing. Sometimes that means doing them in iconic places in DC, sometimes not. It doesn't matter if politicians are physically present to read the banner, the goal is to make sure the photo is alongside the news articles that come out tomorrow about Harper's visit to Obama - they all end up in the papers that decision makers read, raising the profile and controversy around the Tar Sands.

      The interview with Eriel Deranger should be up on current soon if folks want to check it out.

    • 2 years ago
  • Manatee_man
  • asherp
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  

    • Were the letters big enough for the politicians to read?

      My question:

      Will the US State Dept reconsider building the Alberta Clipper Pipeline now that will bring this toxic carbon intensive crud into the US? Any plans to go to Washington to ask them?

    • 2 years ago
  • WakeUpPeople
  • leahl
  • sidewaysclyde
    • 0
      sidewaysclyde  
    • leahl:

      I would love to hear what the activists have to say about the direct impact of these facilities and operations on the people living in or around the area in conflict. Really love that you guys are interviewing them, thank you!

    • 2 years ago
  • hollyMiamiFla
  • bill1think2012
    • 0
      bill1think2012  
    • leahl:

      I like what your doing and I would like to help you in your mesage. so if you like any time you guys are in north west PA. your crew is welcome to stay on the mountain with me and my three boys 10,8,and 6. incase your tavalin throw.

    • 2 years ago
  • EdJoyProductions
  • nursediesel
  • futuregen
    • 0
      futuregen  

    • Let's hope this warning doesn't fall on deaf ears.

      Tears of the World by George Harrison

      War mongers terrorize us all
      Our leaders heed us to their call
      Stonewalling, voices calling
      Drowning in the tears of the world

      Big business calling ev'ry tune
      Polluting here and to the moon
      All nations, conservations
      Drowning in the tears of the world

      But your life's worth saving
      We should start behaving
      Like the truth's been told
      By saviours through our time
      Your downfall, you bring it on yourselves

      All warning fall upon deaf ears
      Their scorn compounding my worst fears
      No way out, hopeless souls shout
      Drowning in the tears of the world

      Drowning in the tears of the world
      Tears of the world

      Where's your love been sleeping?
      Has your heart been weeping
      Over all unrighteous action in the world
      Where bad jazz seems all they're laying down?

      No use in turning your blind eye
      You feel the heat as you fry
      Try your best, you'll find no rest
      Drowning in the tears of the world
      It's a sure bet, each pays his debts
      Drowning in the tears of the world

    • 2 years ago
  • leahl
    • 0
      leahl  

    • RAN is reporting that the activists were arrested but that all are safe.

      We'll be doing an interview with one of the activists later this afternoon, so stay tuned.

    • 2 years ago
  • SeaJade
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