Deep
oil sands developments are major industrial facilities, and may include
an upgrader to convert bitumen into synthetic crude oil.
In collaboration withGreenpeace
at Parkteatret
Corporate
Social
irResponsibility 3
Norway's future - at what cost?
The exploitation of the oil sands in Canada - Statoil’s number one investment for the next ten years - is a political, ethical, financial and environmental disaster.
Two short films and discussion with international guests.
Downstream
(USA, 2008, 33 mins)
Oscar Shortlisted, Shortfilm
<Surprise film>
(Canada, 2009, 40 mins)
Program:
18:45: Bar open
19:00: Film: Downstream
19:45: Discussion
21:00: <Surprise film>
The
biggest project in StatoilHydro’s portfolio for the next ten years is
the Alberta oil sands. Whether it is viable on financial, ethical and
environmental grounds is key to Norway’s credibility and viability as a
nation living off its oil money.
Discussion with:
Dr John O’Connor: General practioner for Fort Chipewyan 1993-2005, central character in the film Downstream.
Andrew Nikiforuk: Journalist and author specialising in oil sands.
Melina Laboucan-Massimo, Lubicon Cree representative from Northern Alberta and expert on international indiginous rights.
Andrew Nikiforuk: Journalist and author specialising in oil sands.
Melina Laboucan-Massimo, Lubicon Cree representative from Northern Alberta and expert on international indiginous rights.
Others to be confirmed.
3-D seismic involves cutting a dense grid of seismic lines across deep oil sands leases to map the location of deep oil sands.
Their decision to invest in the oil sands of Alberta Canada as their number one priority, is one that comes at a cost. We look at that cost; health, financial, social, environmental and political. This is a subject that civil society in Norway should be aware of and feel part of, but the messaging is hard to decipher. These films and discussion aim to shed light on what this investment means for the future of Norway as an oil nation.
The Athabasca River flows north from its glacial source in Jasper National Park to the Arctic Ocean.
(USA, 2008, 33mins, Leslie Iwerks)
At
the heart of the multi-billion dollar oil sands industry in Alberta,
Canada, Dr John O’Connor suggested that the significantly higher rates
of rare cancers could be due linked to industrial effluent released
into the local river and atmosphere. He was accused of “raising undue
alarm in the community” and his career was jeopardised. Oscar
shortlisted short film.
Thousands of core holes will be drilled from well pads to map the location of the deep oil sands.
The
amount of long term deforestation associated with development of
existing deep oil sands leases is expected to exceed clearing
associated with oil sands mines.
Above-ground pipelines are required to transport steam and bitumen across a deep oil sands project site.
Photos: David Dodge,
The Pembina Institute
www.oilsandswatch.org.
Photos: David Dodge,
The Pembina Institute
www.oilsandswatch.org.
19:45: Discussion: Norway’s future - at what cost?
Health: Dr John O’Connor, main character in Downstream. Was there a case of undue alarm in Alberta, or is there a risk that poor health can be linked to oil sand extraction? Would StatoilHydro methodologies of underground extraction be any better than the current open pits, or could it be worse?
Environmental and ethical: Andrew Nikiforuk, Investigative journalist, Canada (also in Downstream). The boreal forest the size of England that overlies the oil sands, covers what is the second largest oil deposit on earth.
Can StatoilHydro remove the oil without destroying this ecosystem? Canada is accountable for the CO2 quota emitted from these activities - if Norway is committed to keeping these low, why did they not apply for a 2 million dollar grant to invest in Carbon Capture Schemes in the area? Was it because they know it is not viable? Fresh water resources may be drained- can this be guaranteed not to affect local communities?
Social and legal: Melina Laboucan-Massimo How can a community survive in the face of big industry? Including an illustration of how the tar sands, and the North Central Corridor Pipeline (in which Statoil has invested $160 million) in particular, will affect the Lubicon Cree inidignous community in Northern Alberta.
Political and financial: (participant to be confirmed) What are the politics of investing in Canada- a nice safe place to reply on in times of world insecurity? Obama has recently stated the USA will not rely on dirty oil- does this mean no future for the oil sands of Alberta? The investment in the oil sands was made when oil prices were high. The decrease in oil price makes this project uneconomical, for the moment. The next climate meeting in Copenhagen is fast approaching; Norway is likely to support Canada’s efforts to water down any targets for cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, a move likely to undermine its credibility as an environmentally friendly nation.
21:00: <Surprise film>
(Canada, 2009, 2009, 40min)
This film has only be screened once at an international festival, where it was received to great acclaim. The main release date is autumn 2009, but we are able to screen it as an unpromoted event.
Health: Dr John O’Connor, main character in Downstream. Was there a case of undue alarm in Alberta, or is there a risk that poor health can be linked to oil sand extraction? Would StatoilHydro methodologies of underground extraction be any better than the current open pits, or could it be worse?
Environmental and ethical: Andrew Nikiforuk, Investigative journalist, Canada (also in Downstream). The boreal forest the size of England that overlies the oil sands, covers what is the second largest oil deposit on earth.
Can StatoilHydro remove the oil without destroying this ecosystem? Canada is accountable for the CO2 quota emitted from these activities - if Norway is committed to keeping these low, why did they not apply for a 2 million dollar grant to invest in Carbon Capture Schemes in the area? Was it because they know it is not viable? Fresh water resources may be drained- can this be guaranteed not to affect local communities?
Social and legal: Melina Laboucan-Massimo How can a community survive in the face of big industry? Including an illustration of how the tar sands, and the North Central Corridor Pipeline (in which Statoil has invested $160 million) in particular, will affect the Lubicon Cree inidignous community in Northern Alberta.
Political and financial: (participant to be confirmed) What are the politics of investing in Canada- a nice safe place to reply on in times of world insecurity? Obama has recently stated the USA will not rely on dirty oil- does this mean no future for the oil sands of Alberta? The investment in the oil sands was made when oil prices were high. The decrease in oil price makes this project uneconomical, for the moment. The next climate meeting in Copenhagen is fast approaching; Norway is likely to support Canada’s efforts to water down any targets for cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, a move likely to undermine its credibility as an environmentally friendly nation.
21:00: <Surprise film>
(Canada, 2009, 2009, 40min)
This film has only be screened once at an international festival, where it was received to great acclaim. The main release date is autumn 2009, but we are able to screen it as an unpromoted event.
Some links:
Oil Sands Development: A Health Risk Worth Taking?
http://www.ehponline.org/members/2009/117-4/focus.html
Main website:
Downstreamdoc.com
Controversy behind the documentary:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2008/12/oscar-short-spa.html
Til hovedsiden for Oslo Dokumentarkino:
www.dokumentarkino.no