Category: Uncategorized

RTA says in a news release “We are extremely pleased that the employees voted in favour of the tentative agreement tabled earlier this week. This is excellent news for our employees, their families, the community, our customers and our shareholders. The agreement will help protect the competitiveness of the Alma plant in the future,” stated Etienne Jacques, Chief Operating Officer, Rio Tinto Alcan Primary Metal, North America.

Over the next few days, Rio Tinto Alcan management will initiate the return to work process for the employees, followed by the progressive restart of the smelter’s production cells. In its news release the United Steelworkers said: “We were forced to take on the third-largest mining company in the world and we won,” said USW President Leo Gerard. “Many thought this was impossible, given the power imbalance, but we sent a message to the resource industry throughout the world that workers and their unions can take on huge multinational corporations to stop unjust demands.”

“The key to victory was the enormous solidarity shown by our members in Quebec who inspired trade unions across the globe to support them,” said Daniel Roy, USW Quebec Director.

“Mushy halibut syndrome,”  a mysterious form of malnutrition that affects halibut is being reported in Cook Inlet, Alaska. The syndrome turns the normally firm halibut meat into something that resembles “oatmeal” when cooked.  The halibut is still safe to eat but is unappealing and unappetizing. Mushy halibut syndrome is not new, but scientists are unable to determine the exact cause.  It is some form of nutritioinal defiency in smaller fish that leads to a breakdown of the muscle tissue. Alaska officials say mushy halibut syndrome is not caused by an infectious agent such as a virus, bacteria or protozoa.

Less than a day after a delegation from Enbridge assured District of Kitimat council that it had learned the lessons of the oil spill last year in Michigan, there was an oil spill at the Elk Point pumping station  on the Athabaska pipeline.

Documents obtained by Postmedia shows just how nasty the fight is between DFO (whose ability to preserve the environment was gutted tonight when the Commons passed the omnibus budget Bill C-38),  DFO biologist reports ”
concern on how the proponent is proposing the crossing methods through streams with SARA-listed species, spawning channels, with no hesitation.”

And more Postmedia documents reveal the Conservatives favour what they call “responsible” growth over sustainable development.

LNG

Aberdeen was the centre of the UK North Sea oil boom. Now there are hard times in Annie Lennox’s home town.  A lot of that money went elsewhere, she says, leaving little for the city.  Now an oil baron wants to put money into a public park, and thus privatize it. Annie Lennox is leading the fight against the privatization. There’s a lesson for Canada here, with the government sole sourcing the economy on the oil sands and most of is foreign investment that will leave Canada.

Enbridge lastest

Alberta oil spill

BP, Michigan and other spills

LNG

Coast Guard cutbacks

Tankers

David Atkin of Sunmedia’s Ottawa bureau wants your input on tankers on Douglas Channel

Alberta oil spill latest

Alaska Oil Spill

Environmental problems from BP Gulf spill

Keystone XL

UK tabloid the MailOnline Sunday Mail calls bitumen sands “Tarmaggadon 

Lots of pipeline controversy

A spoof on the Enbridge ad campaign

More anger at Harper cuts

Tsunami

How many First Nations actually signed with Enbridge?

Oil, water and tankers

Harper threatens to cut off intervenors and more cutback controversy

Oil spils

LNG  – Lloyd’s sets safety rules for floating LNG facilities (at least one Kitimat LNG terminal will be on a barge)

Tsunami and invasive species

Who’s right? The Financial Post tells Canadians to get used to it, the bitumen sands are the economic centre, while the Globe and Mail asks if the sands are a :historic mistake.”

Pipelines and politics

LNG