The process in which Tar Sands are created are like Lady Gaga's song "Beautiful, Dirty, Rich". First the "Beautiful" lush landscape of Canada's Alberta region is completely turned inside out, forests are demolished, tonnes of dirt overturned and the rivers polluted. This is the "Dirty" exploitation of the land for Canada's fossil fuels (crude bitumen) by the "Rich" companies who are making obscene amounts of money by polluting Alberta’s air, rivers, ecosystems, people and our climate.
Lush the fresh handmade cosmetics shop or known to many disgruntled men "that smelly shop" are known for their fresh handmade products, ethically sourced ingredients and captivating campaigns. Some of their most outlandish campaigns have included; hanging one member of staff by fishing hooks in protest of shark hunting and staff stripping off in aid of "naked products”. I knew that Lush were big into their flashy campaigns but what I didn't realise was how much they believe in everything they say and campaign about.
The exploitation of Canada's Tar Sands is the latest campaign that Lush NA and Lush UK are taking a loud and very proud stand against. Lush stores across the UK and Ireland are voicing their concerns as only Lush knows how; they are quite literally pouring oil over one of their lovely sales assistants to create a crude awakening into the public domain. This will be happening on March 3rd 2011.
Why should we care about Canada's Tar Sands? Apart from the 65,000 km of forests destroyed, toxic laden lagoons which can be seen from outer space, communities living downstream who are suffering from increased cancer rates or the 2 trillion (yes, trillion) barrels of oil which have been produced by destroying an area larger than Florida, we care because this destructive oil could soon be reaching European shores if we don't.
It’s our appetite for environmental destruction which has led to "fossil fuels supplying 86% of the world's energy" (Wiki). This hunger for faster lives has caused the demand for the creation of the Tar Sands. I believe that we can stop this corrosive project and draw a line in the (Tar) sand, as there are so many environmentally friendly and clean alternatives to these toxic fossil fuels, including renewable energy like solar and wind, taking public transport or switching to green energy suppliers. These can be the first steps towards a greener future and putting an end to this Tarmageddon.
Why should we care about Canada's Tar Sands? Apart from the 65,000 km of forests destroyed, toxic laden lagoons which can be seen from outer space, communities living downstream who are suffering from increased cancer rates or the 2 trillion (yes, trillion) barrels of oil which have been produced by destroying an area larger than Florida, we care because this destructive oil could soon be reaching European shores if we don't.
It’s our appetite for environmental destruction which has led to "fossil fuels supplying 86% of the world's energy" (Wiki). This hunger for faster lives has caused the demand for the creation of the Tar Sands. I believe that we can stop this corrosive project and draw a line in the (Tar) sand, as there are so many environmentally friendly and clean alternatives to these toxic fossil fuels, including renewable energy like solar and wind, taking public transport or switching to green energy suppliers. These can be the first steps towards a greener future and putting an end to this Tarmageddon.
MEGAN McEVOY-WARR, Environment Journalist
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