OilGate: Selling our Sovereignty

Harper's government is guilty of projection if nothing else.

Yesterday's article in the Ottawa Citizen clearly points out how foreign interests have taken ownership of the oilsands from the inside:

Defenceless: Canada has no idea what foreign activity...
But what Harper and Oliver inadvertently opened up was a nasty and troubling question that nobody in Ottawa is particularly happy to hear people asking. Just what legally constitutes a foreign activity in Canada that is detrimental to this country's national security interests these days, anyway?

As it turns out, Canada is practically incapable of answering that question with any enforceable coherence. When it comes to the recent and rapid-succession manoeuvres that have given Chinese state-owned entities the spigot key at critical flow points in Canada's oil and gas industry, mysteries abound. But it is now clear that slowly but surely, Canada's regulatory defences have been almost completely hollowed out.

However, I'd argue that there are worse things than projection when it comes to the issue of foreign interests. Much worse indeed.

I'd like to believe that our government was only inept, but I can't.

As the article above noted it was only recently that the Harper government was bemoaning foreign ownership of a mining company. This same group then allowed ministers to exercise their own discretion when making a determination of what was in the national interest. This is a recipe for disaster.

Our government is not inept. Our government is criminally complicit and has gone out of its way to court a relationship with China and Sinopec. We have our government declaring ordinary citizens "radical" and "enemies of the state." This is simply unconscionable and in all likelihood represents more projection on behalf of our ruling junta.

My concern is why the 180 degree turnaround?

There are two things that I can easily imagine given the nature of international intrigue. We are either looking at enough financial incentive to overcome personal ethics or we are looking at enticement, threat or blackmail. I suppose one could consider it ideology -- but ideology rarely does a 180, does it? No, far more likely a country desperate for access to oil, such as China, to make it impossible for our government's ethically challenged high level bumpkins to not give them what they want one way or another.

Regardless of your ability to follow me on my route to conjecture I think you should agree that selling control  of our oil, our national treasure, to a foreign entity directly controlled by a communist country, represents an action by "enemies of the state."

What are CSIS and the RCMP doing?

If they aren't trying to look after our national interests, to determine what influences have caused such a massive turn around in policy and foreign control of vital resources, then they aren't doing their jobs. I can guarantee you that the USA and in particular the CIA is all over their national security interests surrounding access to Canadian oil.

If our own government doesn't find a way to get itself on the right side of this issue we'll end up a surrogate battlefield for US and Chinese oil interests.

What kind of government puts Canada into such a position? One that has been compromised.

Addendum

I realize I do not have anything approaching definitive proof. I also am not an investigative journalist or an organization that has the capability, or the need, to be able to answer the questions I ask.  It's the raising of the questions that is the key...

Harper's Agenda and Playbook

Well, I wish I had of been wrong, but it all adds up so far. I'm sure more will show up, in terms of graft, when cracks finally show up in Harper's government.

First, do yourself a favor and read Federal Documents Spark Outcry by Oil Sands Critics.

In the document, environmental organizations and aboriginal groups are shown as "adversaries." Industry associations, energy companies and the National Energy Board – which is supposed to serve as an independent body evaluating new projects – are listed as "allies."

Now lets rewind all the way back to the Chaquita Banana nonsense.

This is a fantastic way to change the debate to an issue that doesn't really matter. Has anyone seriously thought that we would not be able to sell our oil? Come on. This is much ado about nothing. Actually, I'm sure the outrage has more to do with the fact the claim is based on the carbon footprint reasoning than anything else.

Soon we hear about a National Energy Strategy that may be in the works.

This answer to this question is simple. So that either BC can be forced to accept a pipeline, the government of BC can be given a means of avoiding blame, or most likely provide a means of funneling enough money around to ensure public opinion is ignored.

Before long we start to hear the government use Radicals as a description for pipeline opposition.

Unfortunately, there are environmental and other radical groups that would seek to block this opportunity to diversify our trade. Their goal is to stop any major project no matter what the cost to Canadian families in lost jobs and economic growth.

The whole issue turned into the foreign interests nonsense by Ethical Oil and Our Decision - a pair of government front groups.

Now, as you know I've been stating that it's obvious that Ethical Decision (really, why pretend they are truly different organizations) is a government shill wrapped in the pretense of being a grass-roots organization. If you were paying attention a few weeks ago you would have seen clear synchronization between Harper, key players, and the Ethical Decision team.

Recently Harper spoke at the Crown-First Nations Gathering and I think you can read between the lines a bit.

I've ignored you completely, ignored the Kelowna accord, and now that I'm leading a majority government I have the ability to deal with you from a position of strength without having to worry about the collapse of my government. This bodes well for me.

And, tonight, coincident with the first story, Harper has unveiled his Grand Plan at Davos.

Although short on details, Mr. Harper’s speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday made clear the sweep of his ambition. He will change how Canadians finance their retirement. He will overhaul the immigration system. He will make oil and gas exports to Asia a “national priority” and aggressively pursue free trade in India and Europe.

Our government has a plan born in the days of conflict between East, West and a Federalist Ottawa. Harper, a product of the West's anger over that period is now rewriting Canada in a West first manner. I have no desire to condemn the West but I don't think any one region should be the basis for a national grand plan.

The Harper government is on the wrong side of history. We are facing climate change issues and now is the time to start getting ready for the issues that we can already see on the way. We don't need to cut corporate taxes. We don't need to build prisons. We don't need to dismantle the things that brought Canadians pride for generations. We don't need to import right wing thinking from the USA.

I want my Canada back. I've been calling the Tar Sands the Prime Minister's undoing, his Moby Dick. I hope I'm right. We've got to dump this "grand plan" and get things back on track before we've gone completely over the cliff.  A massive shift to corporatism is not what we need. The world is starting to question the merits of capitalism in its current form while we are about to embrace it more tightly than ever before...

Digging Deeper on Keystone XL

We are seeing a lot of headlines concerning pipelines these days. Here are some articles that should help shed light on what is actually happening with respect to the XL project.

California Awaits Tar Sands Legal Ruling
California's low-carbon fuel standard is the world's first attempt to require oil suppliers to slash the carbon footprint of their motor fuels, measured not just by emissions from tailpipes but across their full lifecycle, from extraction to combustion. Eleven Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states, and the European Union, are closely tracking California's case because they are working to adopt similar rules.

Basically, the world is watching this process and may impose financial penalties on Tar Sands sourced oil. With this as the backdrop we can understand why our government is behaving badly in Europe.

UK 'extraordinarily naive' over Canada's tar sands lobbying
The Canadian government has repeatedly argued that the EU proposal, under the Fuel Quality Directive (FQD), is unworkable. According to a UK Foreign Office document released under Freedom of Information rules, a London-based Canadian diplomat called Sushma Gera met her UK counterparts on 21 October.

"Sushma told me that the US consideration of similar measures had just failed, as it was 'unimplementable'. She promised to send further details," reads the record of the meeting. The only similar measures in the US are being delivered by California's Air Resources Board, which has now written to Europe's Commissioner for Climate Action, Connie Hedegaard, to clear up what the ARB describes tactfully as a "misunderstanding".

The ARB letter, which I have seen, is a clear rebuttal of the Canadian arguments and states: "The principle of accounting for the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of transportation fuels, including those associated with the production and transportation of crude oil, continues to be an important feature of the [Californian] Low Carbon Fuel Standard." The measures are clearly alive and well, not failed.

Meanwhile, the XL project is political fodder in the USA. The Republicans put in a ridiculous timeline which of course was not feasible. However, people are being naive if they think the project is gone.

Why Keystone Pipeline Project May Get Built After All
In December, Congress passed an extension of the payroll tax cut. Inserted in this bill was a deadline of 60 days for the White House to approve the Keystone permit.

However, the State Department had already said it would need more time to evaluate the economic and environmental impact of the pipeline extension, which has the ultimate goal of bringing crude from Canada's oil sands down the middle of the country to the Gulf states.

"This has been 100 percent politics," said Dan Dicker, president of MercBloc and long-time oil trader. "You can re-route all the oil anyway and the pipeline operators are doing it, and planning on it. It will be resubmitted and approved in the next iteration after the election, 100% assured."

In conclusion, it seems Harper is between a rock and a hard place. He can anger millions of Canadians and push through yet another unpopular policy, the Enbridge Northern Gateway project, or he can face abject rejection in Alberta if the western world rejects the Tar Sands. If California penalizes Tar Sands oil then it is very likely a wave of US states and the European community will do so. This explains why China has become so important that the government is willing to consort with domestic propaganda puppets and label everyone concerned about environmental issues a radical.

XL: The Zombie Pipeline

Wait, did you think the XL pipeline was dead?

Don't be silly. This pipeline is still on target... it just wasn't given quick approval during the false deadline artificially imposed by US conservatives.

Why Keystone Pipeline Project May Get Built After All
In December, Congress passed an extension of the payroll tax cut. Inserted in this bill was a deadline of 60 days for the White House to approve the Keystone permit.

However, the State Department had already said it would need more time to evaluate the economic and environmental impact of the pipeline extension, which has the ultimate goal of bringing crude from Canada's oil sands down the middle of the country to the Gulf states.

"This has been 100 percent politics," said Dan Dicker, president of MercBloc and long-time oil trader. "You can re-route all the oil anyway and the pipeline operators are doing it, and planning on it. It will be resubmitted and approved in the next iteration after the election, 100% assured."

What does this mean? It means that Harper's Harpies have no justification for pushing ahead the Gateway project based on this issue. If we had to choose between the two the XL proposal is much better for our environment, our BC First Nation's, and for Canada.

Of course, while there may be alternatives to having either pipeline, it seems that we are unlikely to consider them.

Are These Joe Oliver's Radical Environmentalists?

Read the testimony of First Nations chiefs as they talk about their stewardship of and relationship with their lands.

No oil pipeline here: Enbridge Northern Gateway...
Chief Alfonse Gagnon told how, when Enbridge first proposed the pipeline, the Wet'suwet'en researched the oil sands. They flew over the oil sands and talked to the Fort Chippewa people. "We seen the devastation sitting there at oil sands," he said. "Those big berms by the Athabasca River. We looked at the effects on the people that are living in the area. Their water was poisoned and they were getting strange cancers. It was devastating to our ears. The Athabasca delta produced everything in their life: muskrat, beavers, ducks, provided everything they needed. It was hard to listen to the answers to our questions. I asked, "What is your biggest fear if they keep producing oil sands above you?" They answered, "Our biggest fear is that we will be relocated."

Do yourself a favor and read the article, it's moving.

In case you didn't notice Joe Oliver's rant... you can read it on the Natural Resources Canada web site.

Ethical Oil: Ties That Bind

There is a good article on HuffPo today that details the links between the Harper government and the Ethical Oil propaganda group.  Take a look at the following chart:

Of course, you know I have suspicions concerning where the money is coming from and going to. Finally, if you aren't aware of the work done to debunk the Ethical Oil crew yet then take a look... see the links at the bottom of the article for hours of fun.

This type of network of involvement shouldn't even be suggested, much less exist, in a government attempting to appear like it is operating above the board.

Wait, it's not over yet, check out this blatant example of corporate interests interfering in the interests of those governed by a corrupt government (from the GCN):

Of course, don't forget to go visit HuffPo and the GCN.

Finally, if you haven't heard it from me before, please go look into how corporate influence subverts the will and well-being of the general public.  And, once again, especially with big money lobbyists in the mix, go look at my concerns versus funding shenanigans.

Wake up, before what you think of Canada is all gone.

Well, what do you know, within minutes of posting this I see the following traffic...

The IP address and time have been blocked out to protect the (potentially) innocent. Who knows, maybe there is a hidden Liberal hiding out up there cheering us on...

Unethical Oil: Questions of Fraud?

Given that folks associated with Ethical Oil have been attempting to drive public opinion via use of propaganda we are left to wonder what other ethical lapses might they have.

The following image shows a capital management company searching for the post office box known to be or have been used to accept donations for both Ethical Oil and Tony Clement:

[ Please read the links provided above. Without the background information the following questions will be somewhat out of context. ]

Of course this doesn't prove anything, and the company shall remain nameless unless requested by appropriate authorities, but the crack team at Canada II does have some questions:

1) Fiduciary Responsibility?

The company in question provides resources for creating and managing international financial structures in order to deal with tax planning, estate planning and asset protection. They have a highly qualified team that provides multi-jurisdictional help involving law, taxes, and accounting who can help a group meet all reporting requirements.


2) Asset Management?

According to the company web site successful achievement of a client's goals depends on a customized wealth management plan.  The company in question provides high net worth clients a variety of asset classes diversified across multiple currencies and countries. Clients have tools to manage their affairs wherever they are in the world.

3) Why Check for the PO Box?

Personal curiosity of an employee within the company? Worried about having a client being pressured via Internet exposure? Worried about the implications of looking after the affairs of a client that may soon be involved in a scandal?

4) Who's Sending Money?

Donations from ordinary citizens for ordinary purposes at the very least. Donations for Tony Clement. Donations for Ethical Oil. Other donations? Donations from oil companies? Donations from Chinese companies?

5) Who Set Up the Accounts?

Was it Ezra Levant? Was it Ethical Oil? Was it a large foreign controlled corporation (the concept of projection on the part of Ethical Oil members would tend to favor this)?

6) What is the Scope?

Are we talking thousands of dollars? Probably more if it requires asset management. Hundreds of thousands? Millions?

7) How Many Groups Are Involved?

We believe that there are direct ties between Ethical Oil and politicians. Not often do politicians secretly get into bed with other organizations if there is no money involved. What people are involved and what is their level of responsibility in or what influence do they have on our government? We have seen that Joe Oliver, Stephen Harper and other high level politicians were very quick to jump on the Ethical Oil, Chaquita Banana and Foreign Influence bandwagons.

8) Is Everything Legal?

Well, the appearance of a scandal in the making doesn't mean that there is a scandal. However, it might be best if Ethical Oil and Tony Clement opened up some books for examination otherwise the public may be forced to come to it's own conclusions.

NOTE: Obviously, this is all speculation and questions. Something smells. It is completely possible (even likely) that the smell emanating from Ethical Oil and certain political operatives has absolutely nothing to do with the company in question. Given how embarrassing it might be for Canada we truly hope that there is nothing untoward going on... but there is a loose thread and it's our responsibility to see where it leads.

Addendum

Hey, isn't there some missing money floating around somewhere? Didn't we have some surprising unexplained cost overruns? Where did your tax money go? Aren't questions great?

Hey, wouldn't it make sense to throw a chunk of money somewhere and then use it to drive an agenda? Would it make sense that people with a demonstrated lack of ethics would be the ones doing such a thing? Would it make sense that everyone swirling around the whirlpool would be sharing web sites, involvement in its initiatives, and so on?

We love questions!

Unethical Oil: Who's Funding Whom?

The JSL Report blog brings some new information to light on the Ethical Oil controversy. Notice that Ethical Oil and Tony Clement have or had the same donation address.

Tony Clement Should Resign: Ethical Oil-Gate

About EthicalOil.org | Ethical Oil (link)
P.O. Box 1047, 31 Adelaide Street East, Toronto, ON M5C 2K4.

Free Dominion – Principled Conservative – Party and... (link)
Tony Clement Campaign
PO Box 1047, 31 Adelaide St. East Toronto, ON M5C 2K4

Good catch. We need to dig up who's funding whom with all of this!

There are a lot of ways that money could be misdirected between all the parties involved in this little game. Some investigation is in order to make sure salaries and expenses from one organization are not funding the efforts of another.

Addendum

Full credit goes to The JLS Report -- I simply wanted to make sure screen captures were present and suggest a few questions that need asking.

Ethical Oil: Domestic Puppets

It turns out that Ethical Oil and Our Decision are really domestic puppets. First, let's check out Kathryn Marshall on CBC's Power and Politics to defend her groups claims about environmental groups (go to 4:43 to get to the point quickly):

Now, as you know I've been stating that it's obvious that Ethical Decision (really, why pretend they are truly different organizations) is a government shill wrapped in the pretense of being a grass-roots organization.  If you were paying attention a few weeks ago you would have seen clear synchronization between Harper, key players, and the Ethical Decision team.

While it was originally obvious, the clip above starting around the 4:43 point really drove home how much of an attack dog front group this was.  However, additional stunning evidence has come to light.  It turns out spokesperson Kathryn Marshall, whom I refer to as The Drivelist, is married to one Haimish Marshall. So what right?

Haimish I Marshall, Chief Research Office, Abingdon
Before Angus Reid, Marshall was the Manager of Strategic Planning in the Office of Prime Minister Stephen Harper where he oversaw the quantitative and qualitative research efforts of the central agencies of the federal government... He is married to Kathryn.

Now, I realize that some heavy kool-aid drinkers will never be convinced, but the coordination with the Harper government, the rampant propaganda and spin used by Ethical Decision, and last but not least the direct ties to Harper's office drives the last nail into the coffin of doubt. More about radical conservative activist Haimish Marshall from blog Conservative Home:

After working on the successful national Conservative campaign in 2006, he served as the Manager of Strategic Planning in the Office of Prime Minister Stephen Harper until September 2007. He is a well known strategist and activist trainer within Conservative circles.

I think the proposed pipeline may be Harper's Moby Dick. He'll ride this whale to damnation for himself and his party. Yippee-Ki-Yay Motherfucker! Enjoy the ride...

Addendum

The twitterverse is really tearing this apart. Check out the following pictures from @stephenlautens posted originally on twitter:

Check out more of the neighborhood:

How much could you need? Okay, here you go...

Federal Documents Spark Outcry by Oil Sands..., Globe and Mail, 2012-01-26
Whistleblower claims PMO Tried to Silence..., Marketwire, 2012-01-24
Unethical Oil: Questions of Fraud?, Canada II, 2012-01-16
Ethical Oil, the Sub Prime Mortgage Crisis and..., Desmogblog, 2012-01-15
Ethical Oil Political Connections, Part 1..., Deep Climate, 2012-01-13
Cozy Ties: Astroturf 'Ethical Oil' and Conservative..., Desmogblog, 2012-01-13
Ethical Oil: Domestic Puppets, Canada II, 2012-01-13
The Real Foreign Interests in the Oilsands, Ottawa Citizen, 2012-01-12
Sierra Club vs Ethical Oil (full), CBC Power and Politics, 2012-01-12
Northern Gateway Debate a Tale of Two Provinces, Vancouver Sun, 2012-01-09
Environmentalists Hit Back Over Pipeline Hearings, The Star, 2012-01-09
Radicals Working Against Oilsands, Ottawa Says, Globe and Mail, 2012-01-09
An Open Letter from Joe Oliver, Natural Resources Canada, 2012-01-09
Unethical Oil and its Canadian Friends, Vancouver Observer, 2012-01-08
China's Oil Sands Deal Will Have Lasting Impact, Globe and Mail, 2012-01-04
The Brilliance of Ethical Oil, Canada II, 2011-12-31
Oilsands PR Battle Goes After Chaquita Bananas, The Star, 2011-12-19

UPDATED: Link to YouTube video was no longer working. Changed to use direct link to CBC's video archive.

Oil Sands: Trouble for the Government?

I think there is room for a dark horse to enter into oil sands pipeline debate.

Consider if you will the position of the US on selling Canadian oil to China. We already have Chinese ownership of one oil sands project and I can almost guarantee that China has plenty of money on the table if the  Gateway project gets the green light.

What will Uncle Sam think? Though I doubt Uncle Sam has the nads to stand up to big oil these days I do think his relative the military-industrial complex does. Especially when you add all the hawks hiding in government agencies with three letter acronyms.

Here is one scenario for you. Companies, such as one causing a ruckus in London Ontario, wreak havoc on public perception of the Harper government. XL or else! We have many companies that are foreign owned which would be willing to make a stink if it meant breaking a union and suddenly getting great concessions across the border.

How this one plays out is ongoing delays from the US while we slowly come to the conclusion that BC wants to maintain a tanker moratorium -- and Harper can back down saying he doesn't want to step into the provincial domain in this regard any more than he does for health care.

Magically, after a reasonable period of time so it doesn't look too connected, the XL project gets under way with some added environmental protection to give the incumbent at the time something to crow about for the left while talking jobs and economy for the right.

Unfortunately, I can't see the development of the oil sands being stopped, no matter whether or not a pipeline is built.

I guess we can hope for the lessor of all evils? How many examples would it take to rile the citizens before our majority mad government would decide to care about the consequences.

Addendum:

The following article, from TheStar, about the Harper government trying to find ways past the regular approval process due to the length of time it will take raises some interesting questions:

• Would this imply the Harper government is playing hardball?
• Is energy a Moby Dick for Harper?
• Will bulling through the Gateway project spell the end for Harper?
• Is there enough hidden money on the line he'll sink the conservative party in the process?

Stay tuned, this looks to be an interesting if pricey proposition.

Keystone XL Issues

Care to hear about Keystone XL from a source other than big oil?

While this gentleman get's concerned about big oil "threatening" the President of the United States with political consequences if the pipeline is not approved I find the overview of the project and it's reported purpose to be much more interesting.

Harper's Government Works Hard

Sadly, the Harper government is working hard at tarnishing Canada's image worldwide.

As the article discussed below exemplifies we are now willing to deceive our allies worldwide. Never mind that their ability to be fooled rests on decades of honest dealings. Never mind that putting such a high priority on short term goals makes all future goals harder to achieve. Never mind that our weakened international reputation will have consequences on us for decades.

UK 'extraordinarily naive' over Canada's tar sands lobbying
The Canadian government has repeatedly argued that the EU proposal, under the Fuel Quality Directive (FQD), is unworkable. According to a UK Foreign Office document released under Freedom of Information rules, a London-based Canadian diplomat called Sushma Gera met her UK counterparts on 21 October.

"Sushma told me that the US consideration of similar measures had just failed, as it was 'unimplementable'. She promised to send further details," reads the record of the meeting. The only similar measures in the US are being delivered by California's Air Resources Board, which has now written to Europe's Commissioner for Climate Action, Connie Hedegaard, to clear up what the ARB describes tactfully as a "misunderstanding".

The ARB letter, which I have seen, is a clear rebuttal of the Canadian arguments and states: "The principle of accounting for the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of transportation fuels, including those associated with the production and transportation of crude oil, continues to be an important feature of the [Californian] Low Carbon Fuel Standard." The measures are clearly alive and well, not failed.

At the same meeting, Gera had also pushed Canada's official line that "the reporting requirements in the [EU] proposal would impose a significant administrative and financial burden on companies". Oil giant BP, which has significant tar sands interests, told Baker the same in a letter, claiming: "The regulatory burden would be considerable at a time when the industry is already creaking under the weight of a heavy regulatory regime."

What a short-sighted self-righteous attitude for our government to act on the ego of leadership thinking that their views are so important, so correct, that it's worth lying to the world in order to get what we want.

As soon as you have to start lying to people, never mind your friends, you know that there is something seriously wrong with your actions.

What I can't understand is why people go along with such behavior. The fact that you prefer a conservative government over a liberal government is not worth selling your soul over. If you believe in democracy at all you should understand that respect and tolerance for other people, and their opinions, is part of what you believe in.

However, as in America, it's now become all about using democracy to wrest power away from others, often through negative or downright deceptive propaganda, to get power.

Oh well, at least we know the Harper deceit and propaganda departments are working hard... sigh.

Addendum:

Notice, another foreign interest in Canadian oil sands issues... BP.

Gov't Ties to Ethical Oil / Our Decision Apparent

If you can't see the connection you are being willfully blind:

‘Foreign money’ could gum up pipeline approval, Harper warns
“Growing concern has been expressed to me about the use of foreign money to really overload the public consultation phase of regulatory hearings just for the purpose of slowing down the process,” the Prime Minister told reporters Friday in Edmonton. “This is something that is not good for the Canadian economy and the government of Canada will be taking a close look at how we can ensure that our regulatory processes are effective and deliver decisions in a reasonable amount of time.”

And this folks is how representative government gets put aside. A propaganda arm stirs up a fake controversy and gives the government an excuse to take draconian action if they find that there is a lot of public opposition.

Seriously, is there any idiot out there who can't see how this game is played?

Never mind all the foreign interests funding the process of getting access to our oil and the foreign interests that stand to profit by exploiting our oil. You do know that PetroChina is one of the key players in this process? You do know that China has a lot of ethics and environmental problems?

This is transparent as can be. Wake up.

If you want to see what foreign influence is check out this newspaper article. While I'm happy to see some journalism on the topic I'd like to find out where the money is flowing. Canada's policies have taken an about face and we are selling our souls to China -- who's been bought and who's turning a blind eye.  The cast of characters is not that big...

Ethical Oil Propagandist Screws the Pooch

I could not believe my eyes when I saw this tweet:

God forbid it ever happen but to jest about the possibility that Iran could eventually launch a nuclear strike is about as stupid as it gets!

This goes down in the hall of shame.  In context in case it gets removed...

I think your Harper overlords are going to be a bit upset with your non-aligned message concerning Israel bub.

So Much for Our Decision

Well, as if it was really ever our decision.

PetroChina buys control of Canada oil sands project
CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) - PetroChina became the first Chinese state-owned company to wholly own a Canadian oil sands development after agreeing on Tuesday to buy out its partner's stake in a newly approved project for C$680 million ($674 million).

Can we please shitcan the ethical oil and our decision web sites now?

Or, would you care to convince me that China is ethical when it comes to treatment of workers or environment, never mind the freedom of it's citizens.

Addendum:

China buys oil from countries in the Middle East, including Iran, and Canada. Looks like we aren't keeping very good company. Harper's decision!

Ethical Oil Again - Do People Buy This Crap?

Wow, ethical oil is complaining that environmentally oriented advertising has received funding from some American organizations.

I'm shocked. I thought the conservative point of view was that money and corporations with money could do whatever they wanted.

Where is this nationalism coming from? Are conservatives going to become anti-American all of a sudden?

I'm so confused. Can someone please stop the hypocrisy?

Addendum:

Note that environmental organizations do not have power and they are not able to reward anyone through patronage appointments and so forth. Now, if you claim my politicians are receiving money I'll know to worry because power and money equal corruption.

The Brilliance of Ethical Oil

Yes, I said it, the whole concept is brilliant.

This is a fantastic way to change the debate to an issue that doesn't really matter. Has anyone seriously thought that we would not be able to sell our oil?

Come on.  This is much ado about nothing. Actually, I'm sure the outrage has more to do with the fact the claim is based on the carbon footprint reasoning than anything else.

Oilsands PR Battle goes after Chaquita Bananas
Chiquita spokesman Ed Loyd characterized the campaign to boycott his company's products as "misinformation." He told the Star on Monday that his company is by no means boycotting Canadian oil, but merely asking transportation carriers to use fuel from sources that have a lower carbon footprint than the oil sands. "That does not exclude Canadian fuel. There is a significant amount of Canadian fuel that does not have any oilsands in it," he said.

As for me, I'm buying all the Chaquita I can get my hands on.

On a more serious note this feels like a Rovian Reversal... taking a possible negative and marketing it in a new way as a positive. Gobble it up sheeples!