So, I was in my office yesterday and as usual, had a television news channel on, in this case, CBC Newsworld and I am intrigued to hear that in a few minutes, the host from CBC will interview Daryl Hannah about her involvement in the protest movement against the pending approval of Trans Canada’s Keystone XL Pipeline slated to be built and carry oil extracted from the Alberta Oilsands to refineries in Texas. I am not going to get into this in detail as at least I can admit, I am not an expert on oilsands, pipelines or refineries. But apparently, Daryl Hannah is so I waited with anticipation to hear her thoughts.
In case you missed it, this 2,700 km pipeline is slated to run through a sensitive ecological area in central Nebraska called the Sandhills and Ogallala Aquifer. Red flags were initially raised by the owner of the property, Bruce Boettcher whose family has worked a ranch there for four generations so he is understandably touchy about this project. But, back to Ms. Hannah; I totally get why celebrities lend their status to causes and the bulk of them make sense and that is the exact point…they make sense! Don’t just believe me. Please google Daryl Hannah CBC and follow the links to her interview. Not only is her information wrong but she doesn’t seem to either acknowledge it or even be aware of it. Mr. Boettcher has a lot in common with Ms. Hannah. When asked to comment on this to the press recently, he said; “Trans Canada has it’s scientists, has it’s geoligists and even the Enviromental Protection Agency have been led to believe that the pipeline will have minimal risk! What do they know? We live here and nobody knows this land better than us! I’m certain he knows his land but perhaps, and this is just a thought; maybe the experts know more. Mr. Boettcher runs a modern day ranch. Is he Amish? Ms. Hannah went from Hollywood to Washington to get arrested in front of the Whitehouse. Did she walk? Part of her comments in the interview suggested Trans Canada should invest their billions on solar and wind power not “dirty oil”. I couldn’t help but imagine how you run a Greyhound on a wind turbine. Even electric cars need power and the coal fired plants that dot the American landscape alone cause over ten times the greenhouse gas emissions than the oilsands…but that would be a pesky fact. So I decided to do a little research imto what else we take for granted that starts as oil. Please read this list and don’t just skim by as it is fascinating, one of many and a partial list at that. Enjoy:
Things
Made From Oil
Ink, toys, paintbrushes, dishwashing liquid, toys, telephones, unbreakable dishes, insecticides, antiseptics, dolls,car-sound insulation, tires, fishing lures, deodorant, motor-cycle helmets,linoleum, tents, shoes, sweaters, paint rollers, floor wax, modelcars,refrigeratorlining,electrician’s tape, plastic wood, skis, glue, roller-skate& skateboard wheels, trash bags, soap dishes, clotheslines, permanent-pressclothing, combs, dyes, shampoo, cameras, soft-contact lenses, panty hose,fishing rods, food preservatives, oil-filters, dice, transparent tape, handlotion, anesthetics, television and computer monitor shells, upholstery, mops,disposable diapers, cassettes, salad bowls, sport-car bodies, cd cases, house
paint, purses, ammonia, electric blankets, ladies dresses, awnings, ice-cubetrays, candies, car-battery cases, water pipes, synthetic rubber, hair curlers,rubbing alcohol, safety glass, pajamas, eye glasses, pillows, pharmaceuticaland vitamin capsules, movie film, plywood adhesives, camping coolers, icebuckets, boats, loudspeakers, credit cards, crayons, fertilizer, insectrepellant, roofing shingles, toilet seats, hip waders, life jackets, caulking,balloons, shower doors, lipstick, cortisone, beach umbrellas, carpeting,petroleum jelly, artificial turf, tennis rackets, shower curtains, artificiallimbs, hearing aids, curtains, aspirin, vaporizers, wading pools, golf balls,parachutes, garden hose, yarn, milk jugs, umbrellas, slacks, swimming poolliners, hair coloring, cold cream, toothbrushes, rubber cement, sunglasses,heart valves, putty, nail polish, perfume, faucet washers, antihistamines,folding doors, ballpoint pens, drinking cups, guitar strings, false teeth, golfbags, bandages, LP Records, luggage, tool racks, toothpaste, wire insulation,shoe polish, shaving cream, cell & smart phone cases, laptops.
Our own Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper has suggested the approval of a project that will reduce American consumption on foreign oil, be less dangerous to the environment than deep water exploration proved with the BP Gulf of Mexico tragedy and create thousands of jobs that will stimulate a U.S. economy that is practically on life support is a “No Brainer”.
I guess if that’s a fact, than the anti-Keystone XL Pipeline critics have picked a perfect spokesperson!