Posted on 4 April 2013 by John Hartz

Canada’s latest climate change

Just days after World Water Day, the Canadian government quietly acknowledged last week that it had dropped out of the United Nations anti-drought convention. The move reportedly makes Canada the only nation in the world not party to United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, or Unccd.

Canada’s Latest Climate Change by Christopher F. Schuetze, International Herald Tribune, Apr 1, 2013 

Canada to lose billions more from pipeline woes

Canada stands to lose out on more than $50-billion over a three-year period because of oil pipeline constraints, one of the country’s major banks projected today as it urged President Barack Obama to approve the controversial Keystone XL project.

Canada to lose billions more from pipeline woes by Michael Babad, The Globe and Mail, apr 3, 2013

Enbridge pipeline opponents say hearings unfair

Federal hearings into the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline project are unfair because company witnesses are allowed to huddle before answering questions during cross-examination, says a lawyer for two conservation groups.

Enbridge pipeline opponents say hearings unfair by Mark Hume, Globe & Mail, Apr 3, 2013

Exxon cleans up Arkansas oil spill

Exxon Mobil on Sunday continued cleanup of a pipeline spill that spewed thousands of barrels of heavy Canadian crude in Arkansas as opponents of oil sands development latched on to the incident to attack plans to build the Keystone XL line.

Exxon cleans up Arkansas oil spill; Keystone plan assailed by Kristen Hays & Matthew Robinson, Reuters, Mar 31, 2013

Federal agencies asked to delay Keystone

Exxon pipeline spill in Mayflower, Ark. illustrates concerns outlined in 54-page petition that EPA and PHMSA must now respond to.

Federal Agencies Asked to Delay Keystone Over Pipeline Safety Issues by Lisa Song, Inside Climate News, Apr 1, 2013

Keystone debate continues

As the cleanup of Canadian crude oil spilled from a ruptured Arkansas pipeline continued Sunday, a leading Republican warned that if President Barack Obama won’t approve the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, Congress will act to give the long-delayed project a green light.

Exxon cleaning up pipeline oil spill in Arkansas as Keystone debate continues by Paul Koring, Globe & Mail, March 31, 2013

Keystone XL oil spill risk troubles Nebraskans

When Meghan Hammond imagines the Keystone XL pipeline, she can't help but think of the Kalamazoo River.

"The oil is still not cleaned up," said Hammond, referring to the fallout of a July 2010 Enbridge pipeline rupture that spewed more than 20,000 barrels of Canadian tar sands crude oil into the Michigan waterway. "That's a good example of what could happen to York, Nebraska."

Keystone XL Oil Spill Risk Troubles Nebraskans, Others Who Point To Previous Spills Like Mayflower by Lynne Peeples, The Huffington Post, Apr 1, 2013

Oozing Canadian crude in Arkansas spill is black gold

Thousands of barrels of Canadian crude spilled from an ExxonMobil pipeline in Arkansas Friday. Opponents of the proposed Keystone XL say the black goo in backyards makes their case.

For Keystone XL foes, oozing Canadian crude in Arkansas spill is black gold (+video) by Mark Clayton, The Christian Science Monitor, Apr 2, 2013

Ruptured pipeline in Arkansas carried Canadian dilbit

The pipeline, called the Pegasus, leaked for about 45 minutes, according to local sources. Exxon has recovered 185,000 gallons of oil and water at site.

Exxon Confirms Ruptured Pipeline in Ark. Carried Canadian Dilbit by Lisa Song, Inside Climate News, Mar 30, 2013

The Keystone XL Pipeline and its politics

With the controversy over the Keystone XL pipeline extension surfacing yet again — opponents will hold a rally Wednesday night in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights neighborhood, outside a fundraiser President Obama is headlining–we thought we’d clarify a few points about the contentious project. (For more details, read Steven Mufson’s new e-book, “Keystone XL: Down the Line.”)

The Keystone XL Pipeline and its politics, explained by Juliet Elperin, Washington Post, Apr 3, 2013

The Tar Sands disaster

IF President Obama blocks the Keystone XL pipeline once and for all, he’ll do Canada a favor.

The Tar Sands Disaster Op-ed by Thomas Homer-Dixon, New York times, Mar 31, 2013

Trans Canadas west east oil pipeline gains momentum

TransCanada Corp has moved a major step forward on its plan to ship Western Canadian crude to the country’s eastern refineries and export facilities, so far facing few of the political hurdles that have dogged other pipeline projects aimed at moving crude out of Alberta.

Trans Canadas west east oil pipeline gains momentum by Shawn McCarthy, Globe & Mail, Apr 2, 2013