Environmentalits Against Pipelines!
By: Anastasia Anokye
The Root of the Problem
Oil Spill Waiting to Happen
Oil running through pipelines also has diluted bitumen and natural gas (dillbit), which is intended to keep the oil afloat if the pipes were to ever burst. The major concern is that dillbit only allows the oil to stay afloat if it isn't disturbed. Strong waves could easily mix the oil with sands and sediments, making the oil sink to the bottom of the water floor.
Oil cleanup is a very expensive and long process, the Kalamazoo oil spill in Michigan being a great example (burst in 2010 and is still being cleaned up). Oil spills are a huge example of pollution, and can wipe out many wildlife species, which can result in overpopulation of some species and decreasing of others.
Greenhouse Gases
The extraction of oil is already so damaging to the atmosphere. Extraction of oil from tar sand gives of 3 to 4 times more greenhouse gas emissions than the traditional crude oil. Imagine all the construction machines and equipment giving off even more toxic fumes. The tailings ponds are also a big reason as to why there are so many fumes being released into the atmosphere. And to top that all off, if lets say, the Keystone project gets the go ahead, the amount of energy needed is unthinkable; it's the equivalent of Americans driving 60 BILLION extra miles per year. 60 BILLION!
Sustainability
If these pipelines get built, making the impression that Canada has a never ending supply of oil, other countries will use that against Canada to keep their own countries sustainable! They are thinking smart, as we are throwing it around like we don't know it isn't renewable.
There are many ways we can make oil more sustainable than it is being treated right now. We should be finding ways to get as green as possible! We can still use oil, but only the things that are only limited to oil being its source of power.
There is:
- Wind Energy
- Solar Energy
- Geothermal Energy
...which should be used more in efforts to keep oil sustainable for future Canadian generations. We should be using what the world gives us freely more than what we have a limited supply on.
Taking the oil by only the amounts needed will allow nature to adjust. The greenhouse gas emissions won't be as high and the oil sand sites can be downsized so the land that is spared can left for nature.