Canada Blocking Global Climate Progress to Protect Dirty Oil Sands

Environmental Groups Launch Video to Engage Global Audience
Climate Activists Won’t Be Silent on Canada’s Inaction on Climate Disaster.

(Edmonton, Alberta) Today, Rainforest Action Network, Greenpeace Canada and an international network of environmental groups launched a provocative and powerful new music video mashup, called “Tar Sands Blow,” targeting Canada’s dirty oil sands and focusing on Canada’s role in blocking an international climate treaty.

The video which contains graphic images of the tar sands, urges young people to immediately act to make their voices heard before the international climate meeting in Copenhagen, Dec 7-18. The video is being distributed over the internet by groups and individuals all over the world.

Groups around Canada have called for climate justice actions in a least nine cities during the period Nov 30- Dec 12. Already, a series of peaceful sit-in at MP's offices have been staged by groups of people in three Canadian cities (Calgary, Edmonton and Toronto)with the promises of more to follow.

Eriel-Tchekwie Deranger, an indigenous youth climate activist hopes that this video will help connect the youth voice with politicians, “I just returned from a UK speaking tour about the dirty, dangerous environmental, climate and Indigenous and human rights impacts of the Tar Sands. It’s clear that people across the world and leaders in the International community are beginning to understand that Canada has actively been blocking international progress to develop collective emission target agreements.” Deranger points out: “There’s one main reason they are unwilling to join the rest of the world to meet these targets: the Tar Sands.

Despite the growing climate crisis, the Harper Government is doing everything in its power to sabotage global problem-solving efforts," said Mike Hudema Climate and Energy campaigner with Greenpeace, Canada. "By endangering and blocking progress on an international climate agreement and prioritizing the tar sands over the health of people on this planet Harper is further jeopardizing the lives of millions that will die or become displaced due to the climate crisis. This government's behaviour is unacceptable, we need governmental leadership for climate justice now."

The Canadian government announced recently it was leading its biggest campaign to expand the Tar Sands, Canada’s fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions and responsible for making it one of the world’s top 10 polluters. Canada has refused to take any international climate action in climate negotiations and has been repeatedly accused of bullying others

The latest International Energy Agency report showed that by the end of the century the planet is on target to be 6 degrees hotter. The result would be a disaster.

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