Relying on oil sands for our energy weakens our economy, damages the environment and endangers health and human rights.
Continued development of oil strengthens the fossil fuel industry and discourages competition from alternatives. We should be investing instead in American made solar, wind, geothermal, algal and electric vehicle technology, thereby providing jobs, profits and export products for American business.
To get at the tar sands of Alberta, they cut down boreal forest, potentially losing a carbon sink the size of Florida. The sands need to be steamed to extract the oil, so they boil massive amounts of water by burning natural gas. The toxic waste is held behind a gigantic dam. Downstream, where leaks of lead, mercury and other pollutants have been reported, First Nation people have experienced increased incidences of cancer and aquatic animals show deformities.
That is just to get the oil. Putting it in a cross country pipeline risks spills. Then burning it releases carbon emissions which overheat the world causing more intense storms, floods, droughts, fires, and rising acidified oceans.
We can do better.
Technology for clean energy and efficient processes and designs are available and affordable. Many citizens are involved in community projects to conserve electricity water, and forests. Others are lobbying governments for regulations to help us transition to a clean energy economy.
They are making the choice for a healthy, equitable, sustainable world.