There appears to have been a major failure to communicate within Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (AB SRD). A new report Canadian Biodiversity: Ecosystem Status and Trends 2010 was released by the federal, provincial and territorial governments last week. Read More
Dustin Johnson, Energy Campaigner with the Sierra Club Prairie had the following comment on the sentencing of Syncrude for the death of 1603 ducks in their toxic tailings pond.
Justice was not served today. Sierra Club initiated this law suit with the hopes that is would send a message to the Tar Sands industry. The guilty verdict alone from this trial should have been enough to have industry and government commit to phase out toxic tailing lakes with a moratorium of further tar sands development until it is proven that is is possible to safely dispose of all toxins, and the completely mitigate the environmental damage done thus far. Today's sentencing did nothing to prevent Syncrude from continuing on with business as usually and rather provided them with a monetary fine of $3 million dollars - an amount this company makes in less than 16 hours.
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The fact is that the death of these 1603 ducks is only one aspect of the tar sands exploitive assault on the ecosystem and people of the North. The rising cancer rates in downstream communities like Fort Chipewyan, the poisoning of the Mackenzie River Delta, and the increasing toxic contamination of wildlife are criminal acts and would be considered such if done by any entity other than a corporation. Today's sentencing shows justice for the North is still far from being served.
Survey of area, home to several species-at-risk, must be conducted
EDMONTON — The Alberta government’s proposed sale of 25 public land plots to SLM Spud Farms is ill-informed and could devastate local species-at-risk, Ecojustice said today.
“At minimum, Alberta must conduct an in-depth survey of the land to determine what exactly it is signing away before the sale is approved,” said Melissa Gorrie, Ecojustice staff lawyer. “As it stands now, the province does not have the necessary information to make an informed, responsible decision.” Read More
In a shocking insult to all Albertans, the provincial government is set to sell off a huge swathe of public land – our land – to a private company, to grow potatoes. Despite the fact that the 16,000-acre parcel of land near Bow Island is valuable native prairie, known to be habitat for a number of endangered species, the sale looks set to go ahead this week with no opportunity for public input. The priceless piece of prairie will be ploughed up to grow potatoes. Read More
All federal leaders say more must be done; report outlines Ottawa’s duties under existing federal laws
OTTAWA, ON — Three of Canada's leading environmental organizations released a new report today detailing how federal laws should be enforced to reduce the negative environmental and economic impacts of oilsands activity. The report follows the federal government's recent acknowledgement, in striking a panel to review pollution in the Athabasca River, of the need for Ottawa to play a greater role in the oilsands. Read More
TORONTO, ONTARIO and CANMORE, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Oct. 18, 2010) - Environmental Groups are commending the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) for recognizing the need to establish clear cut offs for water withdrawals from the Lower Athabasca River when flows get too low in order to protect aquatic life. Read More
With Municipal elections just around the corner, a number of AEN members and other groups have surveyed candidates on various environmental and environmental health issues.
EDMONTON - During recent civic elections, the investment in and improvement of public transit in Edmonton has featured prominently among the issues that voters feel are important.
As we have done in previous elections, Citizens for Better Transit, a local non-profit transit advocacy organization, has again polled candidates running for Edmonton City Council on October 18th regarding their views on current public transit issues in our city. Read More
Candidates running in municipal elections across Alberta overwhelmingly oppose the provincial government’s direction towards a provincial water market, and say they have not been sufficiently consulted as part of the current review of Alberta’s water allocation system, according to the results of an online survey conducted by the Our Water is Not For Sale network. Read More
Edmonton, AB – Development of Alberta’s oilsands resources has significant environmental consequences and potentially long-lasting impact on land and water resources. Oil sands surface mining projects have caused radical changes in landscapes and tailings ponds represent a significant ongoing challenge. Read More
