http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17102027
This article from BBC news, talks about an issue that has been going on in Canada for a long time now. The issue is none other than the Alberta Tar Sands, which the European Union is now voting on for a draft legislation that will say if Canadas oil sands are too damaging or energy intensive. This issue is also affecting the Indiginous people of the areas where the oil sands are. Theses people live off the land for food and natural medicines, and they say it is not uncommon to see something wrong with the animals they hunt or the plants they gather because of the pollution that the oil sands are causing. Many of their natural hunting grounds like the Boreal Forrests have been deforested because of the oil sands. Now the indiginous people are starting a legal case about how the oil sands are disrupting their traditional ways of life, even though the oil companies say they are doing whatever they can to clean up the mess they have brought upon the indiginous peoples.
I think that these oil sands need to be debated. Being so harmful to the environment and the people who live there is an issue that needs to be fixed. However, I have family in Alberta and I am afraid of what might happen to the economy there if the oil sands are ruled against. I think they need to be less harmful to the environment and not interfere with the Indigenous people, but they are still needed for Alberta's economy.
ReplyDelete