Tar Sands: Canada for Sale

On September 11, 2014 I attended a session covering the tar sands in Canada.  The title of the documentary I watched was called "Tar Sands: Canada for Sale."  This documentary was prepared in 2009. The session was held at the Bayliss Library and the Michigan Sierra Club was hosting the event.  America was referred to as being addicted to oil, mainly because of the transportation industry. Three quarters of the crude oil is shipped to the U.S. from Alberta. Oil provides the westerners security. The oil sands of Alberta, Canada are an economic force and Canada has quickly joined the global market. Alberta is quickly becoming a Kuwait in regards to its production of oil. 
    The oil sands in Alberta provide 11 million barrels of oil a day and over 30 thousand workers from around the world work at this oil site.  Alberta has been linked to ground zero concerning global warming. The land is being stripped completely and this was referred to as horrible as stripping the top soil from farms.
      The high stakes of economic insurgence at such a fast rate has thrown the province of Alberta off balance.Too much money in such a short amount of time has led to the rise of costs for housing, food and other necessities. Housing is limited and what is available is not affordable for people who are just moving to the area to work so many are living in their cars. 
     Many of the people in China are concerned about their oil supply and worked diligently to become one of the main benefactors of the oil from Alberta. China wanted to own the tar sands. China has made great strides concerning technology and refining the process of oil production. However, the U.S. maintained its foothold in that market. 
     A bill was being passed that there was to be no dirty oil in the U.S. The oil market in Alberta rised to the challenge and did not lose the U.S. as its main consumer.  The oil retrieved from the tar sands in Alberta is considered dirty and the process can be rather difficult to clean the oil.  It was stated as part of the documentary that the U.S. would rather feel secure about the oil supply than about the environment. 
     The country of Norway has discovered oil in the North Sea and their process of establishing an oil franchise has been proven to be more successful.  Their oil market is handled through public and private control.  They are aware that if too much money is flooded into the country, that ruins the economy. 
     The Alberta oil sands are known to produce lakes of toxic sludge. The Alberta sands are holding Canada back on their climate change action.  Canada is not on track to reduce climate pollution becasue of the planned expansion of the tar sands industry. The toxic tailing lakes are considreed on of the largest human-made structures in the world. The toxic lakes in Northern Alberta cover 176 square kilometers and can be seen from space.  Producing a barrel of oil from the oil sands produces three times more green house gas emissions than a barrel of conventional oil. The oil sands operations are the fastest growing source of heat-trapping greenhouse gas in Canada. It was predicted that by 2020 the oil sands will release twice the amount produced currently by all the vehicles in Canada. Fully exploiting the tar sands could release more climate pollution than the U.S. and China combined.  (www.desmogblog.com/top-10-facts-canada-alberta-oil-san...)
     A discussion was held about the concerns about the pipeline that is running under the Straits of Mackinac. What happens if the pipe erodes and leaks? It was reported that there has been some maintenance provided to prevent leaks. 
     What can we do to protect our atmosphere and our planet from the abuse that is being inflicted upon it by the lethal toxic exposure from massive amounts of greenhouse gas? I know many of us are diligent about recycling.  Some of us try to cut down on the gas we use in our vehicles by riding our bicycles to work and other places. Many of us are walking.  I know before hearing this presentation, I didn't realize that the tar sands in Canada was such a prominent producer of crude oil. I was reminded of what happens to communities when too much money is flooded into them. The same problems occurred during the Klondike gold rush.  We need to be aware of all these problems and do our best to protect the population of this country and other countries as well. 
    

Can Cats and Dogs Get Along?

Can Cats and Dogs Get Along?

 

You’ve heart-warming stories:  Dog meets cat.  Cat loves dog. They bond and are best buds forever. But the real world is a different story, animal behaviorists say. Whether you’re introducing a new cat to a dog, or vice versa, it’s worth remembering that cats are from Mars, dogs are from Venus.

There’s a reason there are no cat parks,” says Pam Johnson-Bennett, animal behaviorist and author of eight books, including Think Like a Cat.  “Cats don’t run up to a strange cat and say, ‘Hey! Let’s play.’” Most cats are essentially solitary and territorial, a phenomenon rooted in their wild ancestry.  Felines lay claim to their turf, and will fight invaders fiercely; they need “home” to be a predictable, safe place.

What does this mean when it comes to introducing dogs and cats?  Following are a few suggestions that can make the meet-up more successful.

Take it slowly. “If I’m a cat, and a new dog is coming through the door, I’m thinking, ‘invasion!’” Johnson-Bennett says.  “The cat doesn’t know if the dog is a friend or foe.”  Restrain the dog on a leash and always provide the cat with an escape route.  “Cats need to [be able to] get away,” say animal behaviorist Sarah Wilson, author of the blog My Smart Puppy. “It helps to use baby gates, just to give the cat a safe place to run to.” A study, well-installed cat tree will give the cat a vertical escape route, which many prefer.

If you’re bringing a new cat home from the shelter, do not let your dog rush up to the cat carrier.  Instead, take the cat to his own safe room, if possible, and let him hide as long as he needs to. “I’ve had cats who stayed in the linen closet for months,” Wilson notes. “They came out at night and scoped the territory while the dog stayed in the bedroom with the door closed.  And that was fine.”

Animal behaviorist Chris Shaughness, author of Puppy Mill Dogs SPEAK!, recommends rubbing a washcloth or towel over your dog, then letting your cat sniff the cloth.  “if the cat hisses, never scold,” she says.  “Just talk very calmly and happily: ‘This is your new friend. Don’t be scared.’”

Catnip and treats will help, especially in the beginning.  “I reward the dog every time he focuses on me and relaxes,” Johnson-Bennett says. “The dog understands that he’s going to work with me; he’s not going to go chasing after the cat.”

While over time, most cats and dogs come to accept one another, sometimes they never fully warm up to the idea of co-habitation. “There are some households where the dogs and cats are separate,” Shaughness says.  “Again, that’s Okay.  Animals have their preferences just like we do.  We just need to make sure they’re having positive experiences.

More Tricks and Tips:

1.     Kittens are not as territorial as grown cats, but they still need gradual, safe introduction to dogs, behaviorists say.  Never leave a kitten alone with a dog, even a dog who seems non-threatening.

2.     Puppies are likely to be particularly exuberant around cats; a leash and consistent training are even more important for them.

3.     When selecting a puppy, go for a breed with a low prey drive. Or, even better, adopt an adult dog who demonstrates good cat manner; many rescue groups evaluate their dogs on cat-tolerant behavior.

4.     When selecting a cat, avoid high-strung, nervous types, or those who have had bad experiences with dogs.  Instead choose one who is confident, mellow and friendly.  He’ll be more likely to warm up to your pooch.

5.     Have a ferocious feline? “There are cats who terrorize dogs,” Wilson says.  It absolutely can go both ways” Keep a water-filled spray bottle handy and spritz the cat when he jumps the dog.  Don’t scold, yell or even speak to the cat, which will only teach him to attack the dog when you’re not looking.  “You want them to associate attacking the dog with water from the sky,” Wilson says.  “Also, a crate where the dog can hide can be  a great salvation.” 

 Source:  Martin, J. Can cats and dogs get along?  Bark Magazine.  Jan./Feb. 2012 Issue.