It seems that Shell just cannot help themselves from being involved in the most destructive oil exploitation projects in the world. They were not given the licences to drill in the Arctic this year after they "screwed up" their attempts last year, according to the Obama administration.
They are now chasing the rights to develop to Tar Sands surface mines around the lands of Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, these Native American peoples live off the land like their ancestors used to and live in balance with creation. It is this balance that is slowly being eroded away, as the pollution present in the Athabasca river from Tar Sands developments further up stream is exterminating the fisheries and animals that they depend on.
Athabasca Chipewyan peoples have decided that the time has come to draw a line in the Tar Sands, and stand up and fight back! Firstly they are suing Shell for not honouring agreements made in 2003 & 2006 in which the oil multinational promised mitigate the effects of their Tar Sands exploration, and secondly they are going to oppose all future Tar Sands exploration applications made by Shell.
This is the second lawsuit that has been filed by the peoples of Alberta, Canada against Tar Sands exploitation which is universally recognised "as the most destructive project on earth because of the serious impacts on treaty and aboriginal rights, ecological destruction and global green house gas emissions (GHG)" (it is widely understood that if all the Tar Sands in Alberta Canada are mined than we will surpassed the point of no return in terms of catastrophic climate change). The first one was filed by the peoples of the Beaver Lake Cree with support of the Manchester based ethical bank the Co-operative against the Canadian government who dishonoured treaties and allowed the exploration of native lands for Tar Sands Oil.
To find out more check out the No Tar Sands website & check out this video about the view from Fort Chipewyan
Rakesh
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