Oil sands protest to get Canadian actors' suppor t

This is a pipeline. It carries oil from one place to another.

This is part of the pipeline people have protested in the United States. It is the same pipeline people in Canada are planning to protest. It will stretch from Northern Canada to Texas, U.S.A..

Many experts are divided on whether this pipeline and project to build it will make global warming worse.

Dave Thomas and several other Canadian actors said Tuesday they support a protest planned by Greenpeace in Ottawa against the oil sands industry.

The protest would follow similar demonstrations in Washington, D.C., in August (the one from the picture on the first slide) .

There are 9 legal hearings in the U.S. on this topic to decide if the pipeline will be built. The Canadian protests hope to support these hearings so the U.S. says “NO” to the pipeline.

The pipeline will ship oil sands crude from Alberta to refineries in the U.S.-It will be 2,700-kilometres long.

-Actor Dave Thomas, of SCTV , said he opposes the pipeline because the pipeline would be an environmental disaster and that it must be stopped.

Greenpeace is against the development of the oil sands too.--

A study shows that alternatives to the planned route would be longer, disturb more land and cross more water bodies.

Another study showed that increased investment in Canadian oil sands development will add $775 billion US to the American economy and create more than 500,000 new American jobs by 2035.

Nearly 2,400 American companies in 49 states are involved in the development of Canada's oil sands.

Greenpeace believes the oil sand and the pipeline contribute to global warming and is a risk tot he main source of fresh water for the Great Plains.

a) Why do you think people are against the pipeline and the oil sands?

b) Why do you think people support the pipeline and oil sands?

c) How does this effect the wilderness?

d) Why do you think people protest?

e) Why is being able to protest important?