Upstream | December 05, 2011 | 3 comments

FUELISHNESS

source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSCSURdq4F8

coolplanet
Is fear of the "Dirty Oil" label behind Canada's tarring of Artist's European tour?

What lengths will the Canadian Government go to ensure that oil from the Alberta Tar Sands is not labelled "dirty"?

Watch this video about Canadian artist Franke James, and how a dream opportunity -- a 20-city European artshow to educate youth about climate change -- faced behind-the-scenes interference by the Canadian Government.

"The government of Canada has no right to determine what is an acceptable opinion for an individual citizen, on climate change or any matter of public interest," said Charlie Foran, President of PEN Canada, "To do so is clearly not in the spirit of the Charter and the long history of freedom of expression in Canada."

Greg Hollingshead, Chair of The Writers' Union of Canada, "The right to freedom of expression includes freedom from official disapproval, including the sort of bureaucratic interference encountered by Franke James."
  1. groups:
    Community,   Green,   Upstream,   Endangered Earth,   2 more
  2. tags:
    Censorship,  Climate Crisis,  dirty oil,  Franke James
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3 comments // FUELISHNESS // Video

  • coolplanet
  • treewolf39
  • coolplanet
    • +3
      coolplanet  
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    • http://www.frankejames.com/debate/?page_id=28

      Franke James merges science, art and storytelling to inspire people to take action and “do the hardest thing first” for the planet. Franke uses her skills as an artist, photographer and writer to create visual essays on environmental and social issues. She is the author of two award-winning books, Bothered By My Green Conscience and Dear Office-Politics. Franke has delivered keynotes and workshops in Toronto, Colorado, Ottawa, Northern Ontario, Cincinnati, Maine, the Ontario Teachers Federation climate change camps, the Ontario Government, and others. (See her Speaking page for more details.)

      Franke made news headlines for her environmental actions by successfully winning permission from Toronto City Hall for the right to build a green driveway. Her work has been featured on the CBC National News, CBC Radio, Grist, Change.org, 350.org, Treehugger, YES! Magazine, Gopher Illustrated Magazine, The Toronto Star, National Post, Montreal Gazette, Times-Colonist, Ottawa Citizen, Worldchanging, and in numerous blogs. Her story A Green Winter was part of an anthology entitled Perspectives on Contemporary Issues that included stories from Stephen Lewis, Margaret Atwood, and David Suzuki. Franke produced A Green Winter as an animated short. It was screened at the 2007 Green Living Show between appearances by Al Gore and Robert Kennedy, Jr.

      Franke has a Masters in Fine Arts from the University of Victoria, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Mount Allison University. She is a Member of the Writer’s Union of Canada, CARFAC Ontario, and PEN Canada. Throughout her artistic career she has received awards and support from Canadian institutions including Telefilm Canada, the Canada Council, the Ontario Arts Council, the Ontario Media Development Corporation, the Banff Centre, the Gairdner Foundation, Mount Allison University, the University of Victoria and others. She now lives in Toronto where her favorite mode of transportation is walking.

    • 6 months ago
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