[caption id="attachment_4499" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Tar sands risks"]
[/caption]by Carol Forsloff - While environmentalists are demonstrating against nuclear energy, they also oppose drilling in the Arctic, as demonstrators are poised to begin a major protest using a large dramatization at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa on Wednesday.
A large oil spill dramatization complete with icebergs and oil barrels will allow the media to take the kind of photos environmentalists hope will cement their position with the public on the risks of drilling in the Arctic. The demonstration will be taking place at 10:00 a.m. and is being organized by the Council of Canadians and the Indigenous Environmental Network.
Environmentalists are part of what is said to be the growing movement to 'leave it in the ground.' They hope to create a moratorium on Arctic drilling according to a Canadian newswire.
Oil drilling that creates environmental challenges is being protested widely concerning offshore drilling and drilling in pristine areas. This includes the tar sands of Canada and the pipelines to proceed through the United States bringing oil across the border from another controversial strategy. Recently there has been a rash of commercials on American television touting tar sands oil as one of the answers to getting needed oil and gas to the United States and removing the dependency on Middle Eastern sources.
Oppostion to tar sands began to heat up in earnest in 2010. An organization called ForestEthics is hoping to involve American retailers, including Wal-Mart, Radio Shack, and Safeway in the fight against tar sands, as Whole Foods and Bed, Bath and Beyond have already signed up.
“Toxic waste ponds, air and water pollution, habitat and species destruction are all legacies of the enormous operations in northern Alberta. “ declares one website, advancing claims that tar sands has created serious problems for Canada the site says will really impact all Canadians
