Oil Sands
The US State Dept. just released a long anticipated environmental report which concludes the Keystone XL pipeline would not have a "significant impact" on carbon pollution. The first exercise is to unpack the language and wonder what a "significant impact" would be. It is fascinating to look at the wording used by the NY Times, "substantially worsen", or by Obama recently, "significantly exacerbate". It is purely subjective and without metrics. It had nothing to do with climate science and everything to do with economics. It is in fact meaningless in the sense of calculating the Alberta Tar Sands contribution to climate change. What it is instead is an appraisal of Market factors. As a source quoted in the Times put it, "at the end of the day, there's a consensus among energy experts that the oil will get shipped to markets no matter what." So all the report was doing was weighing the significant impacts between rail, truck and barge versus a pipeline. The Market will decide for us how it travels. If the price stays between 65$ and 75$ a barrel, we pipe it and truck it. If it falls below that we just pipe it. If, however, we go into a global economic depression, that would be a "significant impact" and the oil will stay in the ground. So again, the Market decides. It is reported that "environmental groups" think this crash scenario is the "good news". Double digit unemployment and misery can save us from ecocidal catastrophe. Isn't capitalism awesome. Speaking of language, the reporting was that "environmentalists will not be happy with the report", setting up a great them vs us dichotomy. Most people love the concept of "American Energy Independence" and those who don't favor servitude to Arab sheiks or Venezuelan dictators. This logic is a dominant force within the hegemonic ideology of capital along with various other discourses designed to keep us in check. The thing to remember is, the fossil fuels will "get burned anyway." It is all a done deal.The Market will decide how much. The only question is :Which Side Are You on?
posted by troutsky @ 11:22 AM
11 comments
11 Comments:
Environmental impact statements are not scientific documents, although people pretend that they are. They are political/policy statements. They happen to use a lot of statistics, and sometimes modeling to reach, or support their conclusions.
It's all in how you frame the question, and what the question is in the first place. No surprise here.
(I guess I'm a robot. I'm having a helluva time getting those transcriptions right.)
I will try to disable that stupid thing Lichanos.
I agree that science takes a back seat on the EIS process, unless you count "social" science, where they try to model economic and cultural effects of proposed actions.
The science is then "balanced" with the guessed at "impacts" to human progress and the American Way of Life.
Specifically, whatever side you are
on book me for the opposite. Communists have been wrong about everything.
I hope you are around when the stories of Hugo's crimes against humanity become public knowledge.
Herding Indians onto collectives sounds like an American Historic crime. Somehow it becomes peachy when an imbecile whose IQ was probably improved by a brain tumor
does it to Indians.
Of course you went on the Theriesenstadt tour with the Witless for Peace Commies er Quakers.
Have no use for obtuse so called Christians playing Commie Clowns.
When the crimes become public knowledge you should face the consequences. Some nice time in GITMO next to the Al Queda crew is punishment enough for them. You can bore them to death with Marxist crapola.
For Beaks, coz I know he'll like it. You're such a nice guy!
‘Chavez Was Here’ Campaign
By Tamara Pearson
Source: Venezuelanalysis.com
February 10, 2014
One month before the first anniversary of Hugo Chavez’s death, countries such as Bolivia, Cuba, Argentina, and Russia are participating in a global campaign to pay homage to him and his political achievements.
The campaign is being lead by the Venezuelan government through its embassies. The government is calling on social movements, political parties, unions, intellectuals, artists, and sportspeople around the world to participate in the activity from 4 February until 15 April.
Already some countries are planning to hold forums, exhibitions, story competitions, concerts, marches, food festivals, cultural performances and print books.
According to a government statement, the aim of the campaign is to “mobilise public opinion around the figure of comandante Chavez, the importance of his legacy for the struggles of the people and the achievements… of the Bolivarian revolution… as well as to strengthen the movement of solidarity and in defence of the Venezuelan process”.
At the launch of the campaign in the Venezuelan embassy in Bolivia, the Venezuelan ambassador there, Cris Gonzalez said, “We owe the creation of new structures such as Unasur, Celac, and …the Alliance for the Peoples of Our Americas (ALBA) to Chavez”.
“The crisis of capitalism has passed from a uni-polar world to a multi-polar world thanks to Latin America, and this wouldn’t have been possible without Chavez. He synthesised and articulated all of our dreams,” said Hugo Moldiz on behalf of the Bolivian Network of Intellectuals and Artists in Defence of Humanity.
The Venezuelan embassy in Cuba has planned a formal ceremony, a conference, and a photo exhibition.
The Venezuelan embassy in Argentina is planning forums on 15 April, and a soccer tournament on 8 February between people from Colombia, Haiti, Paraguay, Bolivia, Russia, China, Argentina, and Venezuela. On 10 February a debate will be held and a photo exhibition.
In Ecuador, activities will be held for a month, beginning yesterday. In Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca there will be forums on topics such as twenty-first century socialism, social justice, and the role of women in processes of change. There will also be a homage ceremony, political-cultural activities, cinema forums, and a launching of the second edition of the Eternal Comandante magazine.
In Sydney, the Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network (AVSN) is organising a month of solidarity. It started it off yesterday with a public forum about the issues facing the Bolivarian revolution. A photo exhibition is being held from 28 February.
In Olinda, Brazil, the Landless Workers’ Movement (MST) is planning to include the figure of Chavez among the giant dolls that are exhibited each year in the city’s Carnaval.
Other countries and cities already planning activities include Canada, New Orleans, New York, and Paraguay.
It is a shame he was not tried for his crimes against the "people".
Maybe they should make a balloon of his body and place it in the Macys Day Parade.
Imbeciles
No, YOU'RE the imbecile Beakster! So there!
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It is fascinating to look at the wording used by the NY Times, "substantially worsen", or by Obama recently, "significantly exacerbate". It is purely subjective and without metrics. It had nothing to do with climate science and everything to do with economics. It is in fact meaningless in the sense of calculating the Alberta Tar Sands contribution to climate change. What it is instead is an appraisal of Market factors.
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The Market will decide for us how it travels. If the price stays between 65$ and 75$ a barrel, we pipe it and truck it. If it falls below that we just pipe it. If, however, we go into a global economic depression, that would be a "significant impact" and the oil will stay in the ground. So again, the Market decides. It is reported that "environmental groups" think this crash scenario is the "good news
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it is purely subjective and without metrics. It had nothing to do with climate science and everything to do with economics. It is in fact meaningless in the sense of calculating the Alberta Tar Sands contribution to climate change
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