The Athabasca tar sands are Canada’s largest industrial operation, and are the largest source of America’s foreign oil. From major issues of land rights, to polluted water, to impacts on climate change, the oil sands are a hot topic of controversy. Particularly since they also are a major part of Canada’s economy, and an area of development that has lead Alberta to be in current strong financial form.
Newest on the growing list of those who are taking a closer look at the tar sands, is Kairos.
Kairos is multi-denominational social justice organization, made up of leaders from the faith community in Canada – including the Anglican Church of Canada, Mennonite Central Committee, Presbyterian Church of Canada, United Church of Canada, and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (see full list here).
The delegation is set to see the Athabasca tar sands with their own eyes this week, from May 21 to 27 in Alberta, Canada.
Church leaders have been looking quite closely at the tar sands and their impact on climate change. Many people around the world are aware that there are major environmental and human compromises being made in order to move forward with the development of the oil sands. With climate justice – a pressing matter of morals and ethics – at the core of Kairos, a tour of the sands couldn’t be more fitting.
As reported in today’s article on CBC, “Church leaders say it’s a fact-finding mission, on which they’ll speak to a variety of groups with an interest in the oilsands, including the aboriginal community, environmentalists, politicians, the oil and gas industry and those working in the oilsands.”
Those on the tour include Church Leaders from Christian, Mennonite, Evangelical Lutheran, Ursulines of Prelate, Anglican, Presbyterian, United, and Catholic churches. Indigenous and Southern Partners include representatives from the Gitxsan First Nation (British Columbia), Oil Watch South America (Ecuador), and Oil Watch International (Nigeria).
The delegation expects that some churches may come out of this experience with developing statements on the development of the oil sands.
Full media release available here.
