I read with interest Royal Dutch Shell’s decision to sell sell most of its stake in Alberta’s tar sands. It brought back memories. I toiled for Shell Canada during my days in the oil patch and the last project I worked on was in the tar sands. Shell was a
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The Progressive Economics Forum: Extracted Carbon: Re-examining Canada’s contribution to climate change through fossil fuel exports
We just published a new report, Extracted Carbon: Re-examining Canada’s contribution to climate change through fossil fuel exports, by yours truly. It is part of the Corporate Mapping Project, a new mega research partnership led by CCPA’s Shannon Daub and UVic’s William Carroll. The new report tallies up all of
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Pipelines, good-looking liberals and Hanoi Jane
Jane Fonda is unhappy with our prime minister. She has announced that “we shouldn’t be fooled by good-looking liberals.” Rachel Notley says Fonda doesn’t know what she’s talking about. I’m with Rachel. Ms. Fonda, an ardent environmentalist, believes that by supporting pipelines, Prime Minister Trudeau “has betrayed every one of
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Pipelines, good-looking liberals and Hanoi Jane
Jane Fonda is unhappy with our prime minister. She has announced that “we shouldn’t be fooled by good-looking liberals.” Rachel Notley says Fonda doesn’t know what she’s talking about. I’m with Rachel. Ms. Fonda, an ardent environmentalist, believes that by supporting pipelines, Prime Minister Trudeau “has betrayed every one of
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Monday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material for your Monday reading. – Jared Bernstein argues that the limited stimulus provided by tax cuts for the rich is far from worth the overall costs of exacerbating inequality and damaging public revenues: I’m encountering progressives who are compelled to be at least somewhat supportive of wasteful, regressive
Continue readingSong of the Watermelon: Vancouver Sun Letter
For what is likely to be my last letter to the editor of 2016, see today’s Vancouver Sun (fourth letter from the top). The gist of my argument is that Kinder Morgan is bad. Fun fact: this ain’t the first time I’ve responded to a pro-Kinder Morgan op-ed by former
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Trudeau’s approval of Kinder Morgan pipeline a call for Standing Rock-style intervention
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s approval of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project spurred anger. We need strategy to stop the project. The post Trudeau’s approval of Kinder Morgan pipeline a call for Standing Rock-style intervention appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Dozens of Students Arrested in Ottawa Protesting Kinder Morgan Pipeline
Dozens of students from around Canada were arrested on Parliament Hill, Ottawa, while protesting Kinder Morgan’s proposed $5.4 billion Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project. The protest was the largest act of youth-led climate civil disobedience in Canadian history. The post Dozens of Students Arrested in Ottawa Protesting Kinder Morgan Pipeline
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: How to Fight Big Oil: Join Your Neighbors
Yes! Magazine co-founder Sarah van Gelder outlines the four reasons communities led by indigenous people all over the United States are winning against the war against the powerful and deep-pocketed fossil fuel industry. The post How to Fight Big Oil: Join Your Neighbors appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading.
– Branko Milanovic examines whether the U.S.’ tax system is actually progressive all the way to the top of the income spectrum – and finds that there’s not enough data about the treatment of the extremely wealthy to be sure. And Robert Cribb and Marco Chown Oved discuss the latest Panama Papers revelations showing the large-scale stashing of Canadian assets in the Bahamas.
– Laura Wright reports that Canada’s federal government has approved secret surveillance technology which leaves the public in the dark as to which of its communications are subject to eavesdropping.
– Meanwhile, the federal government is rather less interested in the public safety concerns involved in documenting the fires on the First Nations reserves within its jurisdiction – having abandoned that task in 2010.
– Ross Belot writes that there’s no point in approving and building new pipelines at the moment other than political posturing. And the CP reports on the connection between air pollution from tar sands developments and the health of residents of the area.
– Finally, Adnan Al-Daini is encouraged by Sweden’s move toward a repair-not-replace mindset, and suggests the idea should spread further:
Continue readingIf more countries followed the Swedish example, think of the impact that would have globally on our CO2 emissions. Manufacturing goods is energy intensive. The website “Fix it-Don’t replace it” gives the example of the iphone6 where 85% of its lifecycle’s carbon footprint is from manufacturing it, not using it and another 3% from shipping it.
Climate change is with us already and such measures are needed as a matter of urgency. Such a proposal should not be a party political issue. Good quality jobs would be created in the country where the appliance is used. It would save the consumer money, and it is good for the environment.
Could we do something similar in Britain? Does this have to be a political issue and parties have to have it in their manifestos before it could happen? I don’t see where disagreement between parties could arise.
The Canadian Progressive: “Indian Givers”: New Neil Young Song Honors Dakota Access Pipeline Resistance
Canadian rock legend Neil Young just unleashed “Indian Givers”, a new protest song honoring the ongoing Standing Rock Sioux Tribe-led protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline.
The post “Indian Givers”: New Neil Young Song Honors Dakota Access Pipeline Resistance appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Court overturns Canada’s approval of Northern Gateway pipeline
In a decision that’s already being hailed as a major victory for First Nations and the planet, the Federal Court of Appeal recently overturned the Canadian government’s 2014 approval of Enbridge’s contested Northern Gateway pipeline project.
The post …
Accidental Deliberations: Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading.- Andre Picard writes about the widespread poverty faced by indigenous children in Canada – and the obvious need for political action to set things right: The focus of the [CCPA’s] report, rightly, is on the chil…
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Is Pollution From The Oil Sands Killing People In Three Provinces?
It was thirty three degrees in Toronto today, and as usual when it gets that hot a smoggy haze covered the city.A blanket of pollution caused by the six million people who live in the Greater Toronto Area, and all their cars.But did you know that sam…
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Canadian common sense: Fee-and-dividend petition e-297 grabs James Hansen’s attention
In a blog post published Monday, the former NASA scientist applauded petition e-297, a new petition that’s urging the House of Commons to steer Canada away from fossil fuels.
The post Canadian common sense: Fee-and-dividend petition e-297 grabs James H…
The Canadian Progressive: “Top 7 Reasons You Can’t Trust Kinder Morgan”, Pipelines
A new report outlines the “Top 7 Reasons You Can’t Trust Kinder Morgan” and the energy giant’s proposed $5.4 billion Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project.
The post “Top 7 Reasons You Can’t Trust Kinder Morgan”, Pipelines appeare…
The Canadian Progressive: Canada cannot fulfill Paris Agreement, call to action on climate change while creating more tar sands pipelines
More tar sands pipelines means going in reverse on the climate action Canada needs to fulfill the Paris Agreement and its call to action on climate change.
The post Canada cannot fulfill Paris Agreement, call to action on climate change while creating …
The Canadian Progressive: Trudeau urged to reject pressure to champion expansion of tar sands operations, pipelines
On Wednesday, over 40 Canadian groups wrote to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal cabinet and urged them to reject the pressure to champion the expansion of tar sands operations and pipelines.
The post Trudeau urged to reject pressure to ch…
The Common Sense Canadian: 90% of world’s new electricity coming from renewables: Welcome to the end of the fossil fuel era
90% the world’s new electricity now comes from renewables. China is shuttering 1,000 coal plants and global emissions are on the decline. The end is nigh for the fossil fuel era…so why hasn’t Canada gotten the memo?
The post 90% of world’s new electricity coming from renewables: Welcome to the end of the fossil fuel era appeared first on The Common Sense Canadian.
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Monday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material to start your week.- Robert Frank discusses the essential role of luck in determining the opportunities we have – and how the advantages of a strong social fabric are too often ignored by the people who benefit the most from them…
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