Winning Letters on Ethics and Tar Sands

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Winning Letters on Ethics and Tar Sands

We held a contest for the best letter to new Environment Minister Peter Kent on ethics and tar sands. Below are the winners and some other favourites.

You can still take action by sending a letter to Minister Kent here

First Place Winner:

We were chatting about you, Minister Kent, the other day at our dinner table. I was skeptical about your commitment, “but”, my somewhat naïve 20-year-old daughter interrupted, “doesn’t the Minister of the Environment have to care about the environment?”

Good question. Doctors care about healing the sick and hair dressers love to create style. But it does appear that you do not care about the environment. Your comments about ‘ethical oil’ speak volumes about your concern for industry and are a testament to your nationalism but they are very disappointing comments indeed about your concern for the environment.

A major fault in your argument is that you compare our democratic, oil producing nation with other less democratic oil producing nations and use this to justify tar sands production. This creates a number of ethical dilemmas. Firstly, just because we have a democracy does not mean that everything that happens under its jurisdiction is right, fair or just. We cannot say that our murderers are less vile than other murderers because we are democratic nor justify any other questionable practices because of it. There is also the double standard that your comment evokes. We happily encourage trade with China, whose human rights record is less than stellar and that does not seem to bother anyone. Should we only trade with nations that meet your high standards of ethical behaviour?

There is of course, one other major problem with your comments and that is your complete dismissal of your responsibility as a global citizen. Your comments may have been somewhat more palatable if the outcomes of the greenhouse-gas-heavy extraction of oil sands only affected Canadian citizens. However, the ability of the world to absorb GHG emissions is finite and those that Canada produces in the tar sands do not honour national borders. As such, they negatively impact all nations, democratic or not, and while the prime beneficiaries are Canadian corporations, the detrimental effects are the most severe on those that neither benefit from the production nor can protect themselves from its negative outcomes. There is nothing ethical about that. To say that we can ignore that fact and still proclaim that our oil is ethical is unconscionab le.

It would have been much easier to agree with my daughter had this not been your opening position. Perhaps, you could start again with the premise that, as a political leader in a great democratic nation, you are going to clean up the environment instead of an industry’s image.

Cheryl Shour

Toronto, ON

Second Place Winner:

To Environment Minister Peter Kent:

At commencement two years ago, I was told I would be a part of the generation that would make a change. I would be a part of the environmental movement to heal the Earth, and reverse the downward spiral the world is spinning to. I remember wondering, what can I do, I am one person? Then, I was reminded, I am a part of a democracy, where every vote counts to put into power officials that can make that change, make a difference. That is your responsibility Mr. Kent, you are the voice of the many, and you are accountable for the people's collective opinion. From the grocery store to the national newspapers, Canada is calling for change; a country that distances it’s self from being like that of our money-hungry southern neighbours and values the future of the Earth. Unfortunately, the image you project, is that Canada, the Canadian people, are not much different, and evidently do not care about making a change for the better.

Ethics, in corporate terms, means to take the initiative to accelerate the transition to a clean and sustainable energy economy by slowing the expansion of the tar sands. However, you Mr. Kent, do not see 'ethics' in the same light. Instead, as the defender of the environment on behalf of the Canadian public, you stand idly by as the federal government, in which you are a part of, promotes the use of tar sands oil-the dirtiest, most carbon intensive form of fossil fuel. The world is in the midst of an environmental catastrophe, and rather than initiating a change, you, Mr. Kent, endorse an environmental hazard.

Mr. Kent, if you intend to be able to hold your title as Minister of Environment with pride, you need to take a stand to defend the Environment, and to discontinue holding your hand out for the easy pay-off. It should be your priority to put forth public policy that will bring emissions under control, increase fuel efficiency, and promote development of clean energy technology. Take a stand, change our future for the better, and end the puppet show. Let Canada be the first to truly combat the future of dirty fossil fuels.

Devon Franklin

Toronto, ON

Third Place Winner:

Mr Kent,

I felt heart-dropping disappointment when I read the headline, "Oilsands ‘ethical’ and unfairly demonized, Peter Kent says.”

Ethical. Such a shockingly inappropriate word to describe 130 square kilometres of tailings ponds, thousands of dead fish, birds and other wildlife, and rising cancer rates in communities downstream from the devastation that is Canada’s Oil Sands. 11 million litres of wastewater contaminated with arsenic, mercury and other poisons, pouring out of the tailings ponds each day could be described as embarrassing, appalling and even criminal, but certainly not ethical.

And yet, I can almost imagine how you have chosen to defend oil sands development rather than our planet. It is undoubtedly much easier to bow to the urgent political pressures of today, than to stand-up for the future. Your pragmatic choice does not distinguish you from the majority of our world's politicians; in fact, it ensures that your legacy will all but disappear into the story of how our generation made a series of short-sighted decisions that lead to one horrific mess. I know we share the responsibility for this disaster with our parents and grandparents but what will make us the villains in the tale, is the fact that we know. Unlike our equally gas-guzzling and greedy predecessors, we know, and can see what damage we are doing. For that, every generation of people to come will point the finger at us - at you.

If only you might be tempted to stand up to Stephen Harper and his Conservatives, and stand out against the masses of self-interested politicians and business people, you would be supported, celebrated and cheered, the world over. Even if you only spoke-out for one day, you would create a stronger and more lasting impression than years of working as you do now - in support of business, of economic growth and ultimately, of the destruction of our environment.

Canada’s children are growing-up with a sense of doom. In my daughters words (they are 5 and 7 years old), “the planet is dying because we're making a mess, and we need to hurry to save it”. They already envision what their generation will face as a result of our short-sightedness, and yet they feel utterly powerless to make us see. Perhaps it is this sense of helplessness that I regret most for them.

You, on the other hand, have the power. If only you could find the courage to use it, to champion such a worthy cause as the future health and happiness of our kids, they would remember your name. The Environment Minister who fought to save the environment - what a legacy that would be.

Sincerely,

Sheila, Kaitlyn and Emily Potter

Lakefield, Ontario

Other Favourites:

Dear Mr. Kent,

As an individual gravely concerned by the threat of global warming and by Canada’s lack of leadership in curbing GHG emissions, I am writing to ask that you please provide the Canadian electorate a clear explanation about the role you have assumed as Minister of the Environment.

Judging from the public statements you made during the first week in your new position, I am inclined to think that you have the wrong job. Should you wish to continue unabashedly promoting Albertan tar sands oil as “ethical” (and as environmentally benign in comparison to other heavy polluters), I suggest that you seek employment as a Marketing Manager for the oil industry. As the incumbent in one of these well-paid positions, you will be right at home re-branding Albertan crude, implementing effective advertising campaigns and ensuring record sales of our bituminous wonder to conscientious consumers in the US.

If, however, you prefer staying on as Minister of the Environment, I humbly submit that you reconsider defending the oil sands industry and focus instead on your core responsibilities. The webpage of your Ministry reminds that “At Environment Canada our business is protecting the environment, conserving the country's natural heritage,” and therefore your central mandate is to conserve and protect Canada’s air, water, soil and renewable resources. The skills required for your job amount to standing up to industrialists and their lackeys, and enforcing stricter regulations to preserve our shared environment.

“Ethics,” by the way, means conforming to accepted standards of social or professional behaviour. Our tar sands are therefore completely ethical, if you consider that they conform to the hypocritical standard of wasting massive amounts of energy, poisoning water, and undemocratically placing corporate interests and profitability ahead of the inherent rights of indigenous peoples and future generations. Given the reality of climate change, ending the use of fossil fuels as a primary energy source must be a priority. We need a new ethic, one saying that the massive extraction and combustion of fossil fuels is no longer acceptable because of the environmental destruction engendered.

As you’re so concerned about Canada’s economy, the good news is that making a shift to a post-carbon world is economically advantageous, and our country can enjoy a first-mover advantage. We can also use the enormous wealth generated by the tar sands to immediately fund innovative research and the commercialization of appropriate technologies that contribute to our transition to renewable energies. It is the responsibility of our government to signal these changes to industry, and I hold you, as the Minister of the Environment and representative of the governing party, personally responsible for applying stricter regulations to the oil sands and for pushing government in the only truly ethical direction. As a Legislator and Parliamentarian, you participate in developing and amending government policies to ensure the optimum outcome on behalf of all Canadians, and your actions now will be judged by future generations.

Do you want to be remembered as the Marketing Manager for the Oil Industry, or as a visionary leader who, using all the force of his privilege and power as Minister of the Environment, stood for real and necessary change?

I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest possible convenience.

Jordan Thompson

Leduc, AB

Dear Minister Kent,

In high school I created a presentation on the Albertan Tar Sands for my World Issues class. I became extremely frustrated by the whole issue, putting much more time and effort into my presentation than any of my classmates. So I may not be a professional Environmental Biologist or a Minister of Environment, but I am a first year Life Sciences student at the University of Toronto and I care about my country.

I've had some amazing experiences in my life; I was born in the Philippines, and completed High School in Singapore. So I've lived in many different countries, but no country has ever compared to Canada. Nowhere else could you see so much wildlife and natural beauty being so appreciated by the people living in it. Canadians value their cottage country and want to keep it clean, healthy and safe. And for as long as I can remember I've had a healthy dose of national pride in our Environmental Policy. We were right there beside David Suzuki, signing the Kyoto Accord and promising to reduce our carbon emissions. And we proudly looked down our noses at the United States and their blatant refusal to sign the Accord.

But then the oil in the Middle East started to run low, and panic burst forth. "Don't worry," we said, "we can help! We just happen to have the world's second largest oil reserve." And so we began to tear up our beautiful Boreal forests, scraping away the bedrock to get to our precious Tar Sands. Tar Sands are a ridiculous energy source: the amount of energy needed to extract the sands from the ground and then get usable oil from the sands is barely outweighed by the energy that is produced. Because of the Tar Sands our carbon emissions have risen 26%, and the amount of carbon emissions they produce is projected to be TWICE the amount of carbon emissions as all of the cars and trucks in Canada by 2020 (getenergysmartnow.com).

So let me ask you this question Minister Kent: When did Canada become a destroyer of the environment instead of the careful loving guardians we used to be? Regardless of the numerous social, economic and environmental sufferings (of which, I hope you are aware, there are many) it breaks my heart to see the government of this Great Nation do such an abrupt about-face all for the sake of short-term economic profit. We as a nation are not behind you. Our hearts are with the trees that you’re tearing out the bedrock; and the lakes that you’re filling with tailings. Our hearts are buried deep in the soil of our Nation and we want them to stay there.

I will leave you with the words of George Monbiot, a British news writer who said it better than I ever could: “Canada’s image lies in tatters. It is now to climate what Japan is to whaling.” (guardian.co.uk).

Forever Canadian,

Emily Ruth Fuller

Toronto, ON

To the Hon. Peter Kent,

It is very discouraging to be a young citizen of Canada these days. When I look ahead to the future of this amazing and beautiful country that I am proud to call home, I don’t envision that much of our country's beautiful landscapes will be destroyed. Sadly, this seems to be the future that you see for our country. I am an Environmental Studies student at a university in Ontario and after doing much research on the tar sands and everything involved with it, I must say that I am baffled that you could ever use the words “ethical” and “regulated” when referring to what is going on up there.

I would like to remind you of the meaning of the word ethical. When you say something is ethical it means that you believe that is it a morally correct decision. Based on the meaning of the word, I would like to ask you, “How can you ever say that the tar sands are ethical?” Being the Minister of the Environment, I (along with the rest of Canada), would expect you to preserve our landscape and protect the animals living within Canadian borders. The tar sands have HUGE detrimental impacts on the environment that surrounds the production sites and on places that draw water from these sites. However, you may not be as concerned about the environment as many of Canada’s young citizens are today, so let’s approach this from a different angle. Polluting Native people’s water and lan d, affecting their livelihoods of hunting and fishing, and ignoring their concerns and opinions is completely unethical based on the Canadian standard.

It appears that you, along with the Government of Canada, are willing to profit at all costs. The unfortunate thing about this is that the cost in this case is the future health of a very large portion of Canada, and also the respect of other nations. Many European countries and many other countries are making huge leaps in the fields of green technology and renewable energy, while Canada is falling behind as they delve into a dirty, polluting, and harmful development on the tar sands.

In conclusion, I urge you, Minister Kent, to think ahead to the long term effects that will be felt from proceeding with this development and to refrain from ever using the word “ethical” when referring to a development as harmful and unethical as the tar sands. The future truly is in renewable energy, not dirty energy. Think about the future of Canada and how you would like us to be seen by other countries of the world. Listen to what Canadian citizens want and help restore the faith of young people in our Government, by stepping up and doing what your job requires you to do; protect the integrity of Canadian landscape and preserve it for future generations.

Sincerely,

Heather Haight

Sarnia, ON