Utah climate activists infiltrate a truly unconventional energy summit.
Occupy Wall Street @OccupyWallStNYC
Utah climate activists infiltrate a truly unconventional energy summit. http://ow.ly/h9zvB via @wagingnv & @tarsandsRESIST #NoTarSands
Occupy Wall Street @OccupyWallStNYC
The US’s first fuel-producing #TarSands mine, in Utah, has gotten a final go-ahead from state regulators. http://ow.ly/h9zFz #NoTarSands
Earlier this month, during the opening session of the 2013 Utah Energy Development Summit, two activists with Utah Tar Sands ReEarlier this month, during the opening session of the 2013 Utah Energy Development Summit, two activists with Utah Tar Sands Resistance took to the stage in order to present Utah Gov. Gary Herbert — the host of the summit — with a very special award: Polluter of the Year. After commandeering the microphone, the presenters called upon “Dirty Herby” to accept the rather dubious distinction. After all, they argued, Herbert is working to grab more than 30 million acres of federal public lands in order to open them up to private fossil fuel development, which includes the first tar sands strip mine in the U.S.
Despite his dedication to the energy industry, Herbert was apparently late to his own summit and thus unable to physically accept the award. Instead, he tweeted: “Utah is committed to protecting our beautiful environment, so we want only RESPONSIBLE energy development.”
Such good intentions, however, were not enough for the activists. Raphael Cordray of Utah Tar Sands Resistance maintains that nothing about tar sands mining is responsible. “Everything from the mining process to the transportation of the bitumen to the refining will only add to the environmental issues we already face here in Utah,” she said. And, as a recent study has shown, tar sands are increasing the levels of cancer-causing compounds in the lakes of Alberta. “This isn’t something we want to happen in Utah,” Cordray added.
As for the award, Tim Tracy, one of the presenters, said, “Gov. Herbert has never let long-term concerns cloud his commitment to short-term profits for big industry. He understands that while we can drink dirty water and breathe polluted air, once our economy is gone it’s gone for good. And though renewable technologies would clearly bring in more jobs, he shows a heartwarming loyalty to his compatriots in the dirtiest extractive industries by creating a business-friendly environment for activities like tar sands mining and fracking.”sistance took to the stage in order to present Utah Gov. Gary Herbert — the host of the summit — with a very special award: Polluter of the Year. After commandeering the microphone, the presenters called upon “Dirty Herby” to accept the rather dubious distinction. After all, they argued, Herbert is working to grab more than 30 million acres of federal public lands in order to open them up to private fossil fuel development, which includes the first tar sands strip mine in the U.S.
(More at the links.)