NEW PIPELINES IN CANADA (EVEN A POSSIBLE ‘TAKE 2’ ON THE KEYSTONE XL) THREATEN TO DOOM PARIS CLIMATE TREATY

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I recently learned from an indigenous friend in Alberta, Canada, that Prime Minister Trudeau has approved 2 new pipeline expansions. One would bring the most polluting tar sands oil to the harbors of British Columbia and the other would bring the oil to Wisconsin thus violating Canada’s commitment to Indigenous rights and reconciliation and possibly dooming the Paris Climate Treaty Goals. Not only that, he is apparently considering joining with the U.S. President-Elect to reopen the Keystone XL pipeline. 99% of climate scientists agree that if there is any hope of meeting the Climate Treaty goals, there can be no new mining or drilling of fossil fuels. The reserves in already-operating oil and gas fields in Canada and in the U.S., even without coal, are sufficient to carry us through a transition period.

I was shocked at this news because Trudeau had positioned himself as a climate hero while he was at the Paris Climate Summit and has committed his government to respecting First Nations people’s right to free, prior and informed consent to proposed projects that may affect the lands they customarily own or use. Over 120 First Nations and Tribes on both sides of the Canadian and U.S. border have signed a Treaty stating their official opposition to the tar sands expansion.

I feel that what the Prime Minister has done has such far-reaching consequences that I decided to travel to Alberta and add my voice to those who oppose the pipeline expansion. Together with Barbara Williams, an actor/singer who was born in British Columbia and is half Sioux, I traveled to Fort McMurray in Alberta where the tar sands are.

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It was 40 degrees below zero when we flew over the tar sands in a helicopter with Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, and Melina Laboucan Massimo, Greenpeace Canada organizer and member of the Lubicon Cree First Nation.

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Barbara Williams, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation.

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The forests and skin of the earth has been stripped away as far as the eye can see.

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Snow covered much of the tailing ponds and pits but steam from the processes and from the ponds was everywhere.

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There was also ample evidence of the devastating fire that swept Ft McMurray last year, itself the result of the increasingly frequent perfect storms that result when natural El Ninos are supercharged by climate change. Many workers were laid off after the fire in large part because of the drop in the price of oil.

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I lunched with 89-year-old Violet Cheecham Clarke and her daughters. Violet, a Woodlands Cree, told me how she grew up on these lands, drinking water from the Athabasca River, living off the fish and game that she and her family hunted. Now the river is falling, sand bars threaten the boats and the water is undrinkable. Its fish often have tumors now as do the moose and other animals they rely on. Now her people must depend on water delivered to them in plastic bottles. So much of the land has been contaminated or clear cut that the Indigenous people can no longer pick berries and herbs or find healthy food. I know people who have family and friends that have worked in the tar sands and they, too, have had health consequences.

Even if we start right now to do everything needed to made a managed and compassionate transition to a low-carbon economy, climate change that we are already experiencing will greatly worsen causing economic turmoil, a far greater refugee crisis, more forest fires like the one last year that brought such heart-breaking devastation to Fort McMurray and to Northern California, longer droughts, more storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, the disappearance of entire island nations and coastal cities and the extinction of numerous animal and plants species. And that’s a best-case scenario.
For centuries, first Nations peoples have been telling non-indigenous people how to live in relationship to the land rather than to see the land and its natural resources as commodities to be bought and sold and used up. We did not listen and now we are reaping what we have sown.

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We met with Cecilia Fitzpatrick, an indigenous Dene woman from Fort McKay First Nation which is completely surrounded by the tar sands. Cecilia opposes the tar sands expansion. She ran for tribal chief of and lost by one vote! The man who won the election supports the tar sands expansion and his name is constantly being used to create the impression that Indigenous people support it. His support of expansion should come as no surprise. Wherever people are in economic and social crisis they will do what’s necessary to survive. It’s not their fault that the only economic opportunities that exist in t territories are in the dirtiest industry. I’m told that unemployment among oil field workers is at 9% which is awful. This isn’t because of environmentalists, however. It’s because of the drop in oil prices and cutbacks. It was surreal sitting in Cecilia’s home which is being surrounded by the new community center, paid for by the oil companies. I get it. These and other sorely needed infrastructure not to mention well-paying jobs are hard to resist. In the non-oil-supporting tribal areas unemployment is 90%! Poor people are perfect targets for the extractors (among others) and pitting us against each other is their strategy. We all share the same enemy and unity is our best weapon. They’re afraid of that.
What’s so sad is that there is another way. It requires wartime-type commitments of policies and resources from developed Nations like the U.S., Canada, China, etc. It requires ending the huge subsidies our governments give to the fossil fuel industries (Funny how those wealthy oil guys hate welfare for others yet they themselves depend on massive petrol welfare that taxpayers subsidize) and investing them in renewable sources, housing, transportation, renewables, healthcare, social assistance and education services – the very low-carbon sectors that knit our society together, that create social fabric rather than environmental catastrophe – these industries create dozens or even hundreds of times more jobs than oil and gas.

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We need the kind of commitment JFK made when he was determined to put a man on the moon. A managed transition to a low-carbon economy that protects oil, gas and coal workers and their families and communities is absolutely possible. Denmark, Nicaragua and Germany are doing it. Germany already employs over 350,000 people in their renewable energy sector. Ontario, Canada, created 35,000 jobs in just a few years like this. The Oil companies and the politicians they’ve bought off want us not to know this. They want us to believe the alternatives are far in the future. Wrong. It’s tragic that our president elect doesn’t seem ready to commit to this job-intensive transition. That’s how he could fulfill his promise of jobs to the folks in the rust belt. He could demand policies that would train the laid off and underpaid workers in building renewables and mass transit projects, weatherizing, etc and turn the rust belt into the green belt

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Here I am marching to stop DAPL with my Grandchildren.

 

YOU CAN HELP BY DONATING TO THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS IN CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES

 

In Canada (what happens there impacts all of us)

Visit:  www.pull-together.ca.

Join regular people, business leaders and community groups who standing with First Nations to fund their legal cases.

Whatever you give will be matched up to $500,000 and used to help First Nations stop the new tar sands expansion.

 

Visit:  WWW.INDIGENOUSCLIMATEACTION.COM

To help the organization that works on Climate Change in Canada by spreading awareness, increasing organizing capacity and training and implements renewable energy projects in Indigenous communities

 

 

In the U.S.

 

Visit: http://standwithstandingrock.net/donate/

Help the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe stop the North Dakota Pipeline:

donate

DONATE ONLINE: http://standwithstandingrock.net/donate/

CHECKS PAYABLE TO:  Standing Rock Sioux Tribe – Donations

#1 N. Standing Rock Avenue

Fort Yates, ND 58538

CROWDRISE:  http://standwithstandingrock.net/donate/

Donations will be used for legal, sanitary and emergency purposes!

Please do not mail physical goods to the Standing Rock Mailing Address!

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43 Comments
  1. Hey Jane thank for visiting our great country and province. According to http://business.financialpost.com/news/energy/america-has-built-the-equivalent-of-10-keystone-pipelines-since-2010-and-no-one-said-anything America is building far more pipeline than Canada. Also did you know that California oil has about 32 gram of CO2/Mjole while Alberta’s is about 19. Did you speak with the approx. 1000 aboriginals how are employed by the Oil Sands. Finally did you bother to stop in Fort McMurray to show you support to the thousands of people still out of there home due to last years fires. Maybe next time you come stay awhile and get the WHOLE story.

    • Kevin, I know that many people, indigenous and non-indigenous, are employed in the tar sands and I know they are paid well. I understand that well-paying jobs and the new infrastructure that the oil companies have built or are building is sorely needed. I understand all this and why it is very scary when oil prices drop and people are laid off. Unemployment among many indigenous tribes is 90%. I know many were laid off after the fire.I believe unemployment in Alberta is 9%. That is very sad, very hard. I can imagine how they must be hurting. I didn’t come to trash Alberta nor do lack empathy for the laid off workers. My message is that there is another, cleaner, healthier way to create jobs and that is through subsidizing renewable energy instead of fossil fuel. Those oil and gas companies get huge subsidies from your government and mine, paid for by taxpayers. Other low-carbon economic sectors such as housing, transit, health care are also far more job intensive. see my previous reply to Holly, also from Alberta. And, by the way, plenty of people in the U.S. are saying a lot about the new pipelines going in there.

  2. Hi Jane , I am a Canadian, but I am an Albertan first. I have lived here all my life. So how is it that you feel its alright coming to my country and my province to look at something you know nothing about. You did not have all sides of the operation my friend. While I am a typical Polite Canadian, I am an Albertan first. This is where I will call you out on your Hollywood Celebrity Bullshit. You should have done your research before you decide to come to MY COUNTRY, MY PROVINCE and start smearing everything my parents and myself worked for. We have one of the best reclamation programs in the world. So my advice to you is worry about your own SMOG RIDDEN , HIGH EMISSION STATE, one of the worst. What are you doing to help in your own state? Tell me that your flying around in helicopters and taking pics of your lovely Hollywood. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF, GET A GRIP. Should you wish to have an educated tour and learn about our oil sands let me know. We could certainly put you in the right circles for an educated tour of all sides of the Sands.
    Yours truly
    A very disappointed pissed off Albertan, Canadian
    Holly J Sinclair

    • Dear Holly,

      I am sorry to read about your distress but I see a Jane Fonda who freely gives her time, energy and heart filled writings to HELP raise awareness on many topics that effects ALL people of the world and I applaud her efforts to help educate Americans regarding the Dakota Pipeline and our “SMOG RIDDEN , HIGH EMISSION STATE.”

      A very grateful citizen of the world who lives in America,
      Eileen Fleming

    • Holly, I understand why you’re upset but allow me to say a few things in response. I am going to places besides Alberta to oppose the expansion of drilling, mining and pipelines. There are no new fossil expansions in California that have come to my attention. What happens in Alberta with the proposed tar sands expansions affects not only Alberta, not only Canada or the U.S. but the entire world. 99% of climate scientists have said we must leave what is not already being pumped in the ground. It’s the NEW extractions we are speaking out about, not already existing pipelines. You probably know that the major extractors and those who make millions off extracting fossil fuels have put multi-millions of dollars into “think tanks” in order to figure out the best ways to create doubt in people’s minds about climate change. It has been officially revealed that EXXON, for instance, knew decades ago that what it was doing was damaging the climate and they hide what they knew; they lied about it. In order to appease their shareholders they are drilling in places like North Dakota even though there is less oil from the Baakkan fields to pump now and oil prices have dropped. There is NO NEED for additional pipelines in North Dakota and there is huge risk of leaks into the Missouri River (drinking source for millions of people downstream). So you see, it’s not just Alberta that is of concern to those of us who are worried about whether there will be a safe, livable future for our grandchildren. I would not bother to travel and protest if there wasn’t another way– as I said to every news outlet and panel I spoke at (though few used my words about that). Ontario, Canada has created 35,000 new jobs with renewables just in the last few years. Germany has 50% of its power coming from renewables and there’s Denmark, Nicaragua etc The extractors don’t want us to believe this but it is the TRUTH, as can be seen in these other countries and as many responsible businessmen and women know are investing millions of dollars in renewable energy and creating far more jobs than oil & gas production does.

  3. I understand that our dependence on Oil and Gas isn’t very sustainable but I’m still concerned with the storage of green energy. Lithium Ion Cells are apparently our best form of rechargeable batteries and thus the best form of electrical energy storage. The Tesla power wall being a great example of this.

    My concern is, the mining process involved in Lithium and Cobalt; one of the primary ores involved in most modern rechargeable batteries.

    I’d like to believe we can phase out fossil fuels but I’m worried that we might be jumping into another harmful industry. The only economical reasoning behind going green in my province seems to be government subsidies and foreign manufacturing cost differentials…

    • Mitchell, Just FYI, others countries are going green. 50% of Germany energy is from renewables, for instance.

  4. Thank you for all you do Jane! I live in Vancouver, BC and am fully committed to doing what I can to stop the expansion of the Kinder Morgan Pipeline (and any other new pipeline infrastructure). As you likely have heard, there are a LOT of who have signed a pledge initiated by Grand Chief Stewart Phillip and dedicated to doing what we can. It’s my opinion that Trudeau is doing a lot of good on social issues in this country – however, I think his belief that we can approve new pipelines AND meet the Paris accord is wishful and very dangerous thinking.

    Again, thank you for your leadership!
    PS: I don’t know if you’re familiar with the idea of a Guaranteed Basic Income. I’ve written to my member of Parliament and the PM sharing my full support for a pilot of basic income in Fort McMurray while transitions to sustainable energy sources continue.. There are pilots in Ontario, California, Finland, etc. Not likely to happen (at least not now) yet seems like a great idea to me.

  5. Not a big fan of his work (but haven’t really explored it)
    Read one of his books…
    I see roger vadim in your beautiful grandchildren

  6. Holly and her ilk are full of sh*t…
    “It helps my local economy” …”so its good”

  7. Every, and I do mean every decision made that effects the masses is based on money (profits) for those backing them. They always say we need to do this, change that etc etc as if everything in life is black and white when really the vast majority of things are a shade of grey. Climate change, is it happening? Absolutely! Are we humans responsible? Those who say yes are classed as ‘tree huggers’, those who say no are as ‘deniers’. In reality the climate of our planet is always changing naturally. The question should be how much of an effect do we have on it. Not blame us for it which makes many defensive. But those who stand to profit big from green technology only play the ‘we are the cause’ card.

    So let us consider some of the so called ‘green’ options to replace fossil fuels. Since you have brought up Ontario I will use them as an example. There are people in Ontario complaining their power bills have increased 3 fold just over the past few years while the provincial government proudly states the average increase is only 70%. These increases were brought on by the provincial green power movement which has seen 2% of power now created from wind and solar. But guess what, the provinces emissions since have increased and not decreased. Why, because sun and wind are not ‘on demand’ power sources. In other words they are unreliable unless mass power outages become the norm. So therefor they need to keep the plants running in standby.

    Both wind and solar kills birds. The extent of which may not be known until after these huge green farms are built. Solar requires batteries. These batteries use lithium which when mined use many harsh chemicals during the extraction process. There is an estimated shortfall of lithium for this year so the sector is growing quickly with new mines starting up for new production. I would personally like to know the ‘climate impact’ of these mines. Much of the hardware like solar panels, wind turbines etc are made in China. China is still building new coal fired power plants and most likely this form of power is used during their construction. Some of the materials these parts are made of are derived from fossil fuels. (The dirty buggers are everywhere). Coal is by far the worst of the fossil fuels.

    If we look at nuclear power well look what it has done to the pacific ocean since the tsunami and the spill has still not been completely stopped. Also, of the 65 nuclear plants in the US, 48 have or are leaking radioactive tritium. One of them in Florida they say may be as bad as the one in Japan yet few have even heard about it.

    Carbon is the lifeblood of our planet. Too much carbon we are told is going to cause dire consequences. Ok, but methane I have read is 40 to 45% worse and others put that number at 84 times. The oil and gas industry is estimated to produce about 30% of the worlds methane emissions. There are existing ways of capturing this methane right now. And the estimate is if applied to all of Alberta’s vented or flared methane it would reduce GHG emissions by 35% of all of Canada’s 2020 goal alone.

    Instead of just saying no to oil would it not be way easier and potentially way more earth friendly to institute stronger regulations like on methane than us go from plan A (fossil fuels) to plan B Green alternatives which at this time we do not know that these particular ones are the answer. And let’s not get into green energy job creation as most of those are temporary construction ones just like pipeline ones are. And Jane if you look into it you will find German coal produced power has started increasing again. There is so much more to say on the whole subject. But one thing I will is that if that pipeline to the coast does not get built all Canadians had best start to except a lower standard of living in this country.

    PS: I didn’t even bring up cattle (cows) if all brought together would form the 3rd largest greenhouse emitter (country wise) because of all the methane they create.

    • Paul, I will look into what you say about Ontario and Germany and I appreciate your communicating. BTW, I know about how dangerous methane is—how cattle contribute to it massively as do the melting ice/glaciers which then release the methane trapped inside. That’s why I’ve given up meat.

      • Steve Berman
        On a per capita basis in particular, Canada is one of the world’s top greenhouse gas emitters. If you include land use and forestry, it’s the #1 per capita emitter.
        The oil and gas sector is Canada’s largest source of Green House Gase emissions, and the oil sands are the single fastest-growing source.

        • Yes, per capita we are. We also live in a relatively cold climate that requires us to heat our homes. However per capita isn’t nearly as relevant as total emissions when it comes to actually making a difference in total emissions. We may have a high per capita, but our total emissions are still so small as to barely register. We could slice our per capita in half and again it wouldn’t make a relevant difference when you look at what is emitted by the US, China, India etc.

  8. What will doom the Paris Climate Treaty will be dictated by your home country, which ranks second only to China in terms of global emissions. Canada’s contribution is symbolic at best. As a nation, Canada is responsible for less than 2% of GHG’s, and the oil sands contribute a nearly irrelevant 0.16%. It’s confounding that you have chosen to single out Canada while ignoring the impact of the heavy oilfields in Bakersfield, or the mass pollution in Los Angeles (what with operating refineries within city limits), or taking on the many environmental and human rights violations perpetrated by Middle East oil producing nations.

    Further, pipeline expansion will simply move existing production to market in a safer manner than by other means. Even if pipeline expansion did renew investment interest in the oil sands (of which access to market is just one of many challenges), the contribution to global emissions and climate change would still barely register.

    Perhaps it’s easier to take on Canada, what with our nice guy image, rather than face the more challenging (but relevant) contributors such as China, the Middle East, and the US, however doing so is the equivalent of blaming the 3rd assistant director for the failure of the movie Gigli.

    • Steve, you have a good sense of humor, I’ll give you that…”however doing so is the equivalent of blaming the 3rd assistant director for the failure of the movie Gigli.” Please see my response to Danilo. It speaks to some of your issues. The terms of the Paris Climate Treaty states unequivocally that if we are to meet the goals of the treaty, there must be NO NEW fossil fuel infrastructure–no new drilling or pipelines. “If it’s in the ground, leave it there.” that’s the mantra. It’s the NEW that I was protesting in Alberta as I did in North Dakota etc. Climate Science also says that oil from tar sands is more toxic to the environment than the easier-to-get oil that we used to drill for. But as that is running low, the extractive industries are now going for deep off-shore drilling, tar sands, etc. It must stop all over the world.

      • Unfortunately that’s an unrealistic goal. Oil demand continues to rise, with each passing year adding about 1MM barrels per day. All existing supply has a natural decline curve, hence new drilling is needed just to maintain current demand, let alone future demand growth. As about 6,000 consumer items are made from petroleum as a base material, and fuel for planes, trains and automobiles is still required, halting all drilling is simply not feasible; hence it would make more sense for oil to be supplied by nations that maintain a high level of human rights, and produce oil in conjunction with high environmental standards.

        Protesting Canadian oil is meaningless. You could literally shut down all of Canada and it would have no impact on climate change. We simply aren’t a big enough player, and in most years our vast forests eat up as much carbon as is produced.

        The Oil Sands producers have made great strides over the last several decades (and continue to do so) in terms of finding more efficient extraction methods, with less top side disturbance, and less overall environmental impact, not to mention the reclamation projects that have been undertaken (with major oil companies foregoing IP rights so as to truly collaborate) which have been nothing short of amazing.

        Again, it just comes down to singling out Canada while not taking the protest road show to the heart of California’s heavy oil industry, or to China or to the Middle East. Since I like analogies so much — it’s like trying to conquer the world by focusing your attacks on Easter Island.

        • Let’s agree to disagree, and, BTW, I am speaking in NY today in protest against the new Preditor-in-Chief’s executive order re Keystone XL and North Dakota pipelines. So you see, I don’t just focus on Canada. Who’s info are you taking and repeating?

          • Thank you for not letting the fight, You inspires many people

  9. Dear Jane.

    I am from Calgary, Alberta; but I am not related to the Oil & Gas in any direct way – maybe only by the revenues Alberta and Canada get every day from Oil extraction. I am not to found into the Oil & Gas industry, as it distorts the economy and it makes my city more expensive.

    However, I am a realistic and pragmatically guy. We need the oil. You can quote whatever you want to me, but from studies and research, I can tell you that renewable energies are not as wonderful and as green or friendly to the environment, as some interested parties want us to believe. It is great that the environmental movement has sped up new developments that help us to have a better environment. For example, we can now have this good carbon power plants; which by the way Germany has a lot; that are clean and friendly with our environment. We have a cleaner way to extract Oil, where by the way Alberta/Canada is the leader.

    What I do not really get, is why target Canada? I think because it is easy. But honestly, I prefer to use the oil from Canada and USA rather than Venezuela or Middle East; I have my strong ethical believes here in place, don’t you?

    But then the problem is not Oil production, the problem is consumption. Which by the way your country leads the way. Same as the drug problem that Americans have, you are trying to solve the “Climate Change” problem by attacking the wrong party. As long as there is a consumer, you will have production. Increasing your demand for oil goods, as USA keep doing year after year, will inevitable increase the oil production in the world. For example, was it really necessary for you to travel in such a carbon foot print expenditure to see an oil extraction facility that does not differ too much from any other open mining projects; with the only difference that here in Canada we have a commitment to clean and improve the environment after we are done – why the way, did you check how an extraction point looks after we are done? Lots of trees, right?

    Please note that I avoided any confrontation about “Climate Change” or CO2 as a pollutant. That’s also another misconception, which by the way with current observations is not as apocalyptical as they want us to believe. The world is not going to an end and no, our children or grandchildren are not doomed. But that does not mean that we can relax. I appreciate the effort, your effort to make this a better world. But in this case, your efforts are misplaced.

    I hope to see you in the next Cupertino conference advocating for the environment, and complaining about the smart phone replacement cycle. Honestly, who needs to change his/her phone every two years? Or in Texas or Florida, advocating for the environment and asking your fellows citizens to raise the thermostat. You can have your home or office at 80F and live comfortable. You will save a lot in electricity bills and will also help the environment a lot. You can even have it at 90F. A win-win scenario, don’t you think so? But no, 70~72F is ideal, right? Now we are advocating for 65F for sleep time, but with warmer pyjamas. Let’s decrease our thermostat and just look to the other side. And let’s not talk about your big trucks or luxury cars in California.

    Best wishes,
    Danilo.

    • I hear you, Danilo, live in a solar home. Sine the 1970s. And my ranch had power from photovolteic cells and a windmill—in the 70s. I drive a 6-year-old Prius. I travel the U.S. as an activist speaking out about the environment. I focus mostly in my own super polluting country, you’re right, way more polluting than Canada. But we are neighbors so what each of our countries do affects the other. I’ve been at a climate and jobs rallies in Vancouver and Toronto besides my trip to Alberta. Interesting to have marched with a union of oil and gas workers.

  10. Jane what sources are you using for “99% of climate scientists believe the oil needs to stay in the ground?” I agree that it does affect climate but are you providing citeable facts? Or is this your opinion stated as a fact?

    • Bryce, I’m sorry I didn’t respond before to your invitation. I was already back in L.A.Appreciate your invite though.
      I will find you the source of my quote about “99% of climate scientists.” I didn’t make it up.

      • Bryce, here’s a source. President Obama said when he was at the Paris Climate Summit that 99% of climate scientists said climate change is real, it’s happening. But other research has it at 97%, not 99%. My bad:

        Scientific consensus: Earth’s climate is warming
        Temperature data from four international science institutions. All show rapid warming in the past few decades and that the last decade has been the warmest on record.

        Temperature data from four international science institutions. All show rapid warming in the past few decades and that the last decade has been the warmest on record. Data sources: NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, NOAA National Climatic Data Center, Met Office Hadley Centre/Climatic Research Unit and the Japanese Meteorological Agency.

        Multiple studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals1 show that 97 percent or more of actively publishing climate scientists agree: Climate-warming trends over the past century are extremely likely due to human activities. In addition, most of the leading scientific organizations worldwide have issued public statements endorsing this position.

  11. Also disappointed you didn’t address my open invitation for you to see our lives in Fort mcmurray, yet respond to those who spoke more crudely to you.

  12. Jane your are wrong about Germany as they are building coal plants currently finding renewables not to have worked and countries like spain are dismantling projects as they have realized no benefit and increased cost to the people. Here in Ontario Canada we are suffering from the highest electrical bills in North American and people are being plunged into energy poverty. Electricity is surpassing the price of their mortgages and 66,000 people had this utility disconnected as we entered winter. 35,000 jobs that were created are now gone as these are temporary jobs putting up wind turbines. The cost associated with the energy poverty come from the failure to do a cost benefit analysis before forging ahead with the Green Energy Act.
    see our reality. Ontario is a poster child for how green energy is a failure. please watch http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/justin-trudeau-ontario-hydro-bill-1.3935173

    • Thank you, Sue, for this. I will for sure look into this. Always appreciate being set to right. xx

  13. Dear Jane, thank you for answering the people who worry about jobs and money. I think it is hard for them to even listen to you because your job an your money ist not at stake. But I love how you are trying to build a bridge. I always trie to remember: when people are shouting at you, it is because they are afraid.

    In Germany electricity is 30 % green. The green part of the circle is green sustainable energie.
    https://www.bmwi.de/DE/Themen/Energie/Erneuerbare-Energien/erneuerbare-energien-auf-einen-blick.html
    I don’t know how it is in America but in Germany (I lived ther for 30 years) and Holland everyone can choose what energy they wan`t at home. You can choose an energycompany which is using gas oil, coal, nuclear energy and you can choose a corporation with sustainable energy. So every single person can influence the process.

    In Holland the government was always promoting gas because we have that ourselves and it is quite clean. But now there are earthquakes in the area where the gas is coming from and Amsterdam wants to be gasfree till 2050. Still a long time I think but it is probably not so easy to build a whole new heatingsystem for a city that is already built. They want to use the warmth of industry around the city and the warmth of the earth (geothermie). I find it very interesting that it will be possible to produce warm water (summertime), keep it in the ground and this warm water can heat a house all winter.
    My english is not so good but I hope it is enough to understand what I mean.

    • Thank you, Ama. This information is interesting and important. xx

  14. O I just found an english article about gasfree Amsterdam
    http://www.citylab.com/cityfixer/2016/11/amsterdam-natural-gas-ban-2050-climate-change-regulations/508022/

    Hello Mitchell, storing a large amount of energy for a city or country isn’t solved yet. They are testing storage in warmth, cold an melted salt (no idea how that is working).

  15. Read this, Jane. https://www.whitehouse.gov/america-first-energy
    Please be aware that there is a lot more to the story than you think. I think your people have way more to worry about than we do up here. I would rather that you would help out in your own country. I am a third generation Albertan, proud of what we have accomplished, but still busy cleaning up, and trying to make a go of it. Without our product going to market, we have no resources to clean up and to find better ways to extract it. Your country is a much larger polluter than we are. I know you need to think that you need to find a cause, but let us fix our own problems, please.

    • Kathryn, I agree that we have to start fixing things where we live. That’s why I’ve been an activist in the U.S. for 50 years. But the Alberta pipelines, if they become a reality, will affect the U.S. directly–not to mention contributing to global climate change so why not speak out? This is a crisis for ALL OF US. And, yes, the U.S. is a far worse polluter than Canada; and yes, I’ve been speaking out about that too.

  16. Dear Jane,
    Just saw you on REAL TIME with Bill Maher!
    THANK YOU! Godspeed and God Bless!

    We are the Ones We’ve Been Waiting For -by Hopi Elders:

    You have been telling people that this is the Eleventh Hour, now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour. And there are things to be considered…

    Where are you living?
    What are you doing?
    What are your relationships?
    Are you in right relation?
    Where is your water?

    Know your garden.
    It is time to speak your truth.
    Create your community.
    Be good to each other.
    And do not look outside yourself for your leader.

    Then he clasped his hands together, smiled, and said:

    This could be a good time! There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold on to the shore. They will feel they are being torn apart and will suffer greatly. Know the river has its destination. The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above the water.

    And I say, see who is in there with you and celebrate. At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally, least of all ourselves. For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey come to a halt.

    The time of the one wolf is over. Gather yourselves! Banish the word ’struggle’ from your attitude and your vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.

    We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. –Hopi Elders’ Prophecy, June 8, 2000

    • Incredibly beautiful, Eileen. Thank you.

      Eileen, incredibly powerful. Thank you.

  17. Dear Jane, next time you come to our Country and slam the industry which supplies hundreds of thousands of jobs, directly and indirectly, please do research on both sides of the issue. You should be embarrassed to have spouted off your mouth without proper research. Why don’t you worry about your own country first instead of coming to Canada who produces less than 2% of the world carbon emissions. Why don’t you lobby Governments to spend money on carbon capture and other save technology instead of taxing people for using a product they can’t live without. Also, next time you come here, don’t fly on your carbon sucking private jet and fly in a carbon sucking helicopter to tour an area you did no research on. You are a hypocrite and Canada does not need your help. Take care of your own country first.

    • Robyn,
      1. I did research before I came
      2. If the pipelines are actually built and activated, one of them will be bring tar sands oil down to Wisconsin. Both of them will increase global warming which affects EVERYONE. This isn’t just a Canadian or Albertan problem.
      3. I do worry about my own country. I speak out in my own country first and foremost
      4. I don’t have a private jet. I drive a 6-year-old Prius, my home is solar.

      • Jane, i’m sure you don’t need anyone to defend you, but you shouldn’t reply to someone who disrespects you. One thing is to debate, another thing is to come here (your house, actually!), and insult you. You are too kind. Some people don’t deserve that. That Robyn woman/girl, should be ashamed of herself.
        Love xx

  18. Hi Jane,
    So glad you’re standing up to the Predator in Chief. As my fellow Welshman Betrand Russell once said “The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves and wiser people so full of doubts.” Need I say more.
    Take care
    Jason xx

  19. Jane,
    Thank you!
    Beautifully written and can not thank you enough for being a voice for Canada and our people. Truly a blessing to have you bring attention to this…sadly, our Prime Minister is seriously lacking.

  20. https://www.rabobank.com/en/press/search/2017/rabobank-excludes-funding-of-natural-gas-exploitation-beneath-wadden-sea.html

    Wow happy about that. I am not investing my money in this bank. There are other banks more ethical but this project will not work now. No dutch bank wants to invest in this project so it is not about a permit anoymor. This ain’t gonna work!!!! 🙂

  21. Dear Jane, We met in D C at my lawers
    Home , Ira Lowe, mid70s .It was a fundraiser for your then Husband Tom Hayden. We talked about our lives and expectations . We were the same age and height , also discussed more children and
    film for you.I was recently divorced and
    Ira was my lawyer .I found you very
    interesting , more so than the men in the room. Down to earth. We talked about the important things in life.
    Thought you should be running for office
    However the good deeds you’ve done since, far surpassed Politics.

    Please keep working for native Americans.

    Arletta Ashe

    • Dear Arletta, you better believe I will…till I die. Thanks for the memories. xx

  22. Thank you Jane for being outspoken regarding the Black Snake Vision !! Our Wolves, Grizzlies and Bison along with Wild Horses are in a more precarious position with this current administration.
    Protect The Wolves® has been researching the Indian Trust, The Public Trust along with Natures Trust by Mary Christina Wood. These three important tools tell us that under not only our Religious Rights but also our sovereign property rights granted by the Indian trust clearly states Tribes remain co-owners, in effect, along with the states.

    As co-tenant trustees, not as guardian-ward as some attorneys have approached it… which by the way needs to stop immediately.

    Trust documents tell us that not only do tribes, as well as Tribal members have legal standing to enjoin states from diminishing the shared assets which include our lands, wildlife, resources, that wildlife in general also encompass our sacred species also gains extra protections under our Native American Religious Rights, as well as the public lands that are held in trust for the people.

    These trust documents also tell us that the majority of public lands in the United States are actually held in trust for the American people by the federal government and managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM),. the United States National Park Service, Bureau of Reclamation, or the Fish and Wildlife Service under the Department of the Interior, or the United States Forest Service under the Department of Agriculture. Other federal agencies that manage public lands include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the United States Department of Defense, which includes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.[4]

    In general, Congress must legislate the creation or acquisition of new public lands, such as national parks; however, under the 1906 Antiquities Act, the President may designate new national monuments without congressional authorization if the monument is on federally-owned land.
    We also have done our Research to show the truth in our words 😉
    http://protectthewolves.com/protect-the-wolves-calls-on-attorneys-again-to-join-their-native-american-voice/

    http://facebook.com/protectthewolves

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