Sustainatarian

Oil Sands, Natural Gas, and Nuclear Power.

This past month I have encountered a lot of interesting documentaries, all which take place in the province of Alberta, Canada.  I grew up there and fell in love with its mountains, lakes, and vast beauty. But things have changed. Why? Oil, money, greed.

There are three specific documentaries I would like to share.  The first one is called The Tipping Point which goes into the dirty side of the oil sands. The next is a local documentary is about Encana drilling for Natural Gas, titled Burning Water. The last one I watched today, is called My Nuclear Neighbor about a proposed Nuclear Plant in Peace River Alberta.

I am fully aware of the economic benefits that have been brought to Alberta because of oil, and now the controversial oil sands.  I always feel sick to my stomach when I see commercials promoting the oil sands, attempting to paint a picture of good intentions and a false picture of a company dedicated to the environment.  You know something doesn’t pass the sniff test when you have to invest in marketing making something sound good and “safe”.  We need to be focusing on reducing our dependency on fossil fuels, not exploiting and devastating the environment, wildlife, and indigenous communities.

Furthermore, what we don’t need are nuclear plants.  It’s not so “green”, everything has consequences.  With no environment there will be no economy. Its not rocket science.  It really can be as easy as utilizing the best form energy OURSELVES! By utilizing our bodies and walking or riding our bikes instead of driving.  Utilizing our brains by the choices we make, such as thinking about where our food comes from, choosing to eat locally to support your local economy and at the same time reducing the amount of fossil fuels used to ship your food.

The bottom line is as long as our society chooses to consume and have our lives and communities structured around the need for fossil fuel, then these companies will not only continue to exist, but will thrive, exploit, and suck the earth dry until there is nothing left.  Its not enough to say that we don’t want a nuclear power plant, the oil sands, or natural gas drilling in our communities, we need to map out a way and commit changing our lifestyles, by reducing our consumption, and investing back into the earth which gives us life.

If you are looking for some ways to do every day changes in your own life, please visit an organization that has changed my life, called the Otesha Project.  You can click here to have check out a sweet book, with cool info and suggestions with ways in which you can be the change you wish to see in the world, you can purchase this book or download it.

I hope you find these interesting, and sparks an interest in what is happening in your very own communities.

Have a lovely sustainable day.

xo