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Local First Nations representatives will soon be on their way across the pond to lend their expertise to British campaigners rallying to step up their fight against oilsands development.
The five will be teaming up with U.K. climate activists at workshops and in planning anti-oilsands actions at the London Climate Camp, co-ordinated by the Indigenous Environmental Network in partnership with the Camp for Climate Action, scheduled for Aug. 27 to Sept. 2.
The groups claim that as traditional sources of conventional oil are beginning to run dry, multinationals are now turning more to unconventional sources such as the Alberta oilsands, which the groups call “significantly more polluting.” In a press release announcing the camp, organizers use the a claim often voiced by opponents: tailings ponds created from mining operations are visible from space.
“Tarsands is a global phenomenon. It is the largest industrial project in the world. It is also the dirtiest. Tarsands produce three times as much CO2 per barrel as conventional oil. There's enough under the ground to push us over the edge into runaway climate change. It should be everyone's concern,” said Lionel Lepine of the Athabasca Chipewyan of Fort Chipewyan, and one of the five Canadian visitors.
Activists say the story of indigenous communities being negatively affected by oilsands development is not being told, which has prompted local First Nations to forge this latest partnership with U.K. Campaigners.
“I think primarily our goal is to bring awareness to residents of the United Kingdom,” said George Poitras, Mikisew Cree spokesman for Fort Chipewyan. That community, Alberta's oldest settlement, has long been fighting adverse impacts of the multibillion industrial development upstream. Residents have blamed the oilsands for the loss of traditional ways of life and negative health impacts as well as degrading the quality of the environment, wildlife and fish. There are also concerns that elevated levels of cancers are linked with the downstream development.
The remaining members of the Canadian delegation are Eriel Tchekwie Deranger, also from Fort Chipewyan, Clayton Thomas-Muller of the Mathais Colomb Cree Nation, also known as Pukatawagan, in northern Manitoba, and Heather Milton-Lightning from the Pasqua First Nation in Saskatchewan.
“More often than not, the Alberta government spends millions of dollars promoting investment in the oilsands, suggesting it is environmentally sustainable,” he added. “These types of impacts to the indigenous people in the region are not talked about in the promotions of the tarsands by the Alberta government or oil companies around the world.
“Those stories aren't told around the world.”
While primarily looking to raise awareness among the general public, campaigners are also bringing the same messages to oil company executives.
Some oilsands development is being driven from London's financial district. For example, Royal Dutch Shell and BP are involved in the oilsands, and are financially backed by pension funds from the U.K. Meanwhile London's investment banks, such as RBS and HSBC, have helped finance a wide range of oilsands projects.
Poitras said a request for a meeting with BP's president was sent a couple of days ago. The group wants to meet with Tony Hayward on Sept. 1 to express their concerns and identify problems they're observing as “impacted communities” in the oilsands region, he said, adding he's waiting to see if they respond.
“The oilsands don't just affect Canadians. They're one of the most carbon-intensive projects in the world, and could make a major contribution into tipping us over the edge into runaway climate change,” said Jess Worth, a camp participant, from Oxford, England, today. “Furthermore, British companies like BP and Royal Bank of Scotland are deeply involved. That's why we're bringing the campaign to stop the oilsands to the U.K.” She added not many people in the U.K. have even heard of the oilsands.
“By inviting First Nations activists to participate in the camp, we are bringing the campaign to the U.K. We plan to target the British companies involved through protests and media coverage. The Climate Camp brings together thousands of the U.K.'s leading climate campaigners. After this week, they will all have heard of the oilsands,” she said.
cchristian@fortmcmurraytoday.com