The "Rethink Alberta" campaign made by environmentalists in California is telling people to avoid going to Alberta because of the tar sands. Now, they are putting ads in the U.K. I think they are doing it wrong. By boycotting the province you are going to punish innocent businesses that have nothing to do with the tar sands. I say you can hate the government or oil companies to death, but don't punish the citizens of Alberta of different political stripes. Just because people live in the province that has the tar sands does not mean that support the tar sands. So I would rather environmentalist groups campaign directly against the tar sands, or against the use of oil made from the tar sands. I think that this is a way better idea than punishing the people of Alberta.
The group that created the controversial "Rethink Alberta" tourism boycott campaign in the United States is taking its anti-oilsands message to England.
"The level of awareness about the tar sands is still well below the radar screen of most Americans," he said.
Eleven large digital billboards with graphic images of the environmental costs of the industry are scheduled to go up in London over the next couple days. As well, ads will run on some of the country's most popular websites.
Read more at CBC.
I disagree. It is up to the people of Alberta to demand that their government and the oil companies enforce tougher Tar Sands environmental regulations if they don't wish to suffer the negative consequences of these ads.
ReplyDeleteThen why doesn't this group go to Alberta and campaign with ads in the province about the oil sands. This could make them want to see changes happen. Yet the group goes to the U.K. I say if they want to make change in Alberta happen you don't go to the U.K you go to Alberta.
ReplyDeleteAlbertans, Canadians, the Cons and the Libs so far seem quite content to forge ahead with the expansion of the Tar Sands. Maybe the only way to effect change is to make the issue a global concern. Rainforest Action Network's ads are forcing us to pay attention to the environmental destruction that is happening in our own country. It's about time.
ReplyDeleteLady Gaga made headlines when she went to Arizona to do her concert, and then she told her crowed to peacefully protest. She said when other celebrities ask her to boycott the state she said no. You can make change when you go to the route of the problem and start an uproar for a cleaner province.
ReplyDeleteCheck out the Greenpeace Canada website for "Walking to Heal a Wounded Earth" posted on 10 August. This was a 20km walk sponsored by Greenpeace through the Tar Sands itself. You can't get much closer to the root of the problem than that. I am in favour of both local and global nonviolent protests against the Tar Sands, i.e., whatever works.
ReplyDeleteThese kind of actions, if carried out by governments are called sanctions or embargos. The UN does it to Iran, the US does it to Cuba. Actions like these are legitimate.
ReplyDeleteYes but should we treat Alberta like Cuba. No! we should create protest outside of Alberta too, but the best way to change Alberta is too create grass roots movement in Alberta and we should not hurt the people who might want to change by boycotting those people business. We should not treat Alberta like Cuba and Iran
ReplyDeleteAny ways this isn't done by government this is done by an environmental group. I would be okay if the Government where to ask of Alberta to change it's way. The thing is that if this group cares about people who care for the environment then they shouldn't try to punish people people who might agree with them. I say if they want to change how Alberta does things they should try in Alberta.
ReplyDeleteBut how can one promote sanctions against Iran and be against people who want to impose the same kind of rules on Alberta?
ReplyDeleteFirst Iran has sanction on it because of military arsenal. These sanctions on Iran are of military treat, while Alberta is not having a sanction on the oil sands. Alberta is being boycotted by tourist that have nothing to do with the oil sands. While the sanctions in Iran are of military arsenal something connected to the treat of an attack. So they are punishing Alberta with something that have nothing to do with the issue. Iran is being stopped from getting weapons, because of a treat of an attack something that has to do with weapons.
ReplyDelete