Perfect case in point, the lawsuit against Syncrude because 1500 ducks died. Now I am really sorry that those ducks died the way they did because that made them inedible. What I fail to see is why one incident in 20 years makes this an international scandal.
Oil giant Syncrude failed to install noise making cannons near one of its toxic tailing ponds two years ago, leading to the death of more than 1,600 migratory birds, prosecutors told an Alberta court Monday.
The allegations came as prosecutors faced off against the oil company's lawyers over an April, 2008 incident which made headlines around the world and tarnished Alberta's most lucrative industry.
On Monday, lawyers alleged that Syncrude was the only oil company in northern Alberta that didn't have a warning system in place to scare birds away from dangerous tailing ponds.
"Other companies in the area had deployed their bird-deterrent devices," said Alberta Crown prosecutor Susan McRory. "Syncrude failed in its duty to protect the birds."
McRory is twisting the facts. I remember the blizzard that hit us unexpectedly....you would think our weather stations could have forewarned us about that storm, especially because they can supposedly predict what will happen 50 to a 100 years from now. So, in a one time incident, some ducks died. This is a HUGE deal to the eco-nuts.
But the Pembina Institute, an Alberta-based environmental group, said the facts of oilsands production simply don't back up the province's arguments.
The current tailings ponds for oilsands giants Syncrude, Suncor Energy and Albian Sands Energy Inc. cover 50 square kilometres, the group said.
The collective size of the ponds could quadruple, if all the projects proposed for the province go ahead, said Simon Dyer, Pembina's oilsands program director.
Dyer said an estimated 1.8 billion litres of tailings are produced every day in Alberta.
He called the incident with the ducks a "flashpoint," signalling the much larger problems unfolding in the oilsands.
"There are major problems with oilsands development on a whole host of fronts," he said.
"The oilsands are not a positive story when you delve into the data."
So, oilsands dead ducks, a HUGE environmental problem, and these "oil giants" need to pay. How about those wind turbines killing thousands of birds a year? Are the eco-nuts demanding lawsuits against those companies? Not so much.
Funny how the eco-industry can use consultants and spend huge amounts of money on the image of eco-industry, but when the oil industry does the same thing they are the bad guys.
Look at how the eco-nuts defend the fact that wind turbines are killing thousands of birds a year, every year. Not just a one shot deal like at Syncrude. These blades are slicing and dicing birds and bats daily, but that's okay because more birds are killed by cats and windows.
Human Causes of Bird Fatalities
Curry & Kerlinger has compiled the following information from environmental organizations and goverment agencies.
This list is meant to inform the public and to put wind turbine fatalities in perspecitve.
Glass Windows
Bird Deaths a year: 100 to 900+ million
Dr. Daniel Klem of Muhlenberg College has done studies over a period of 20 years, looking at bird collisions with windows. His conclusion: glass kills more birds than any other human related factor.
House Cats
Bird Deaths a year: 100 Million
The National Audubuon Society says 100 million birds a year fall prey to cats. Dr. Stan Temple of the University of Wisconsin estimates that in Wisconsin alone, about 7 million birds a year are killed by cats
So, 1500 ducks in one incident deserves a lawsuit, but because other things kill more birds, wind turbines are just fine and move along, nothing to see here.
The size of the annual body count — conservatively put at 4,700 birds — is unique to this sprawling, 50-square-mile site in the Diablo Mountains between San Francisco and the agricultural Central Valley because it spans an international migratory bird route regulated by the federal government. The low mountains are home to the world's highest density of nesting golden eagles.
Scientists don't know whether the kills reduce overall bird populations but worry that turbines, added to other factors, could tip a species into decline. "They didn't realize it at the time, but it was just a really bad place to build a wind farm," says Grainger Hunt, an ecologist with the Peregrine Fund who has studied eagles at Altamont.
Funny how all these green plans go so wrong. I think it's because you have university educated lefties with an agenda to save the world, kind of like the hippies of the 60's but more harmful. Biofuels take food out of peoples mouths, but they can justify that. Thousands of birds being killed by turbines, well, they aren't as bad as....blah, blah, blah. Eco-friendly good, heated homes for all, bad. Mercury filled light bulbs great idea, genetically altered seeds that would feed millions more people, bad. The list is endless.
I call them eco-nuts, but when you start reading what they say, they really are dangerous to our standard of living and life as we know it. Perfect case is DDT.
The greenies want it both ways, but it looks like people are wisely choosing not to listen to them anymore. Well except for those university students who think they know everything and the rest of us are just too stupid to understand the issues. Maybe if mommy and daddy cut off their funds they would sing a whole different tune.
12 comments:
I seem to remember when this story broke that it was 500 birds. All I have ever seen is one or two dead ducks. Has anyone ever seen a flock of 1500 birds at once. I would love for Syncrude demand the proof that 1500 died at one time. And I also remember the unexpected blizzard that delayed installing the scarecrows or whatever they are called. Any reaction from the econuts on the family that committed murder and suicide to avoid the effects of global warming. Mother, father, one young boy and a baby girl that survived for 3 days with a bullet wound before being found. Shouldn't the econuts be sued for causing death by fear.
"Now I am really sorry that those ducks died the way they did because that made them inedible."
Proving once again, you have missed the point...
"So, in a one time incident, some ducks died."
If it's OK to kill 1,600 ducks where do you draw the line? 2,000, 3,000 or it doesn't matter? For someone who claims to be an animal lover, you have strange standards. The elephant at the Edmonton zoo is not being treated properly and you defend the zoo (because it is your home town) a buncha stupid ducks commit suicide in an eco-disaster area and you defend THE F*ing oil company (because it is in your home province). Do you see a pattern here? Big business over humanity.
So Hunter, what is your solution to help make our planet better? How's about you answer that one.
Oh, I know, you're answer would be to do zip. As that would mean giving up some of your luxuries.
Huntsy's answer to all the worlds problems is to drive to Overwaitea for hotdog buns. Huntsy, you already banged the DDT issue to death. Now you're back at the sands trivializing environmental duck massacre. You're obviously just phoning it in at this point - Re-run Re-run!
Trick question from CK.
I'm noticing a certain angle from the eco-nuts lately. They claim skeptics to be pro-pollution (real pollution not CO2) by first accusing us of wanting to "do nothing".
This is false of course. We do not need to put on eco-nut hats to please you. You are the environmentalists. You bring us your concerns. We decide.
The more you lie about things like storms and polar bears and glaciers and sea levels and hockey sticks, the less we can trust you.
Think about that. Your alarmism hurts the environment.
Great post, providing more proof some of these eco-nuts are simply attacking Alberta.
They are no critical of the middle east countries unless it is Israel.
Human rights abuses are only highlighted by same crowd against one country.
The eco-nuts are socialists who dont care about animals or humans, just policy and power to attack Alberta and Israel.
Your comparison of bird fatalities hitting buildings with birds dying from poisonous tailings ponds is flawed.
In 2006, there were 2889 traffic fatalities in Canada. Yet in 2000, there were six, just 6, deaths in Walkerton due to an E. Coli outbreak.
Why did 6 deaths result in a public inquiry and contributed to the end of the PC government in Ontario? While 2889 traffic deaths a year may have at most resulted in a hand held device ban years later?
The reason is that car accidents and birds hitting buildings do not cause deaths beyond the direct effects. Injured birds do not end up spreading the accident up the food chain. Poisoned birds do. Similarly, after a car accident there is investigation of the cars for systemic mechanical problems. And poisoned people cause investigation into the source and then investigation of why the condition was not found by inspections and tests.
Compare the difference in powers between the health department and traffic safety. Health can close businesses (restaurants), impose quarantines and confine sick people. While traffic safety can at most impound the car of an impaired or racing driver. Traffic safety will not investigate every person you had any contact with or every place you went before an accident.
There is a big difference between poisoning and impact deaths for birds or people.
Mary, Mary quite contrary. The have these things called photos...and a video. Do you think that this large corporation could be charged without the Crown showing evidence?
And the parents that killed themselves...they are up for a Darwin Award. They have just made the gene pool a safer place.
I find it disturbing that our resident eco-nuts don't have one harsh word for Asia and South Asia - the two biggest polluters on the planet. I also notice that eco-nuts don't practice what they preach. My favourite game is to ask any eco-nut I meet if he or she uses real diapers on the baby. Nope - disposable diapers - the pack is right next to their supply of bottled water. Boom, their credibility went completely down the drain.
For the record, I am not an eco-nut but: I dry my clothes outside. I cook only once per week and use the microwave to reheat all week. I drive a small car. I make sure I run my errands in a circular route on the weekend. I use mason jars instead of disposable plastic containers or plastic bags. I have used, for years, cloth bags instead of getting plastic bags from the stores. I compost. I make my own food as opposed to processed or frozen food. I garden. I have clover instead of grass on my lawn, thus saving water. The list goes on and on. Eco-nuts use disposable everything, bottled water, dryers, etc. So, for you eco-nuts out there: practice what you preach, and then we can talk. Until then, put a sockpuppet in it.
SQ, unless I see videos showing 1500 dead ducks in that trailing pond, dying at the same time, I wont believe a thing the econuts say. Yes, I have seen a picture of one dead duck covered in muck. Did the econuts get in there and pick out all the dead ones.
Wait for all the dead birds from all the wind farms Ont is going to put in. And don't forget about the birds getting zapped from power lines when they land on them.
Still waiting for proof that a flock of 1500 birds were in the air at the same time.
Southern Quebec preens...
"Big business over humanity."
and then babbles...
"And the parents that killed themselves...they are up for a Darwin award. They just made the gene pool a safer place."
Huh?..well I guess the dumbass ducks just made the gene pool a safer place.
LS: compelling argument, I must admit. To add to your comment: car accidents are also caused by driver error or stupidity. The Walkerton tragedy was not the fault of those who contracted the disease but, rather, the fault of a system and people whom we trusted to keep us safe.
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