Events

Spirit of Red Hill Valley Annual Lecture: Andrew Nikiforuk on Bitumen, Pipelines and the Petro State

What we need, says Nikiforuk, is a radical new emancipation movement that confronts the most pressing challenge we face: learning to use energy on a moral and truly human scale.

By RTH Staff
Published November 23, 2012

Next Wednesday, November 28 is the annual Spirit of Red Hill Valley lecture. Acclaimed investigative journalist and author Andrew Nikiforuk will speak on "Bitumen, Pipelines and the Petro-State".

Nikiforuk is an award-winning Canadian journalist whose work has been published in the Toronto Star, the Globe and Mail, Saturday Night, Macleans, Canadian Business, Report on Business, Chatelaine, Alberta Views, Equinox, Alternatives Journal and Canadian Family.

He is the author of several books, the most recent of which is The Energy of Slaves: Oil and the New Servitude, published September 2012 by Greystone Books.

Bitumen, Pipelines and the Petro State poster
Bitumen, Pipelines and the Petro State poster

Today, many people in industrialized countries like Canada enjoy lifestyles as extravagant as those of slave owners. We feel entitled to surplus energy and rationalize inequality, even barbarity, to get it. But endless growth depends on cheap energy, and our primary slave fuels are getting more expensive by the day.

What we need, says Nikiforuk, is a radical new emancipation movement that confronts the most pressing challenge we face: learning to use energy on a moral and truly human scale.

The sponsors for this year's Spirit of Red Hill Valley lecture are: Burlington Green, Conserver Society, Council of Canadians - Hamilton Chapter, Dundas In Transition, Environment Hamilton, Hamilton 350 Committee, Hamilton/Burlington KAIROS Committee, Hamilton Naturalists' Club, Hamiltonians for Progressive Development, OPIRG McMaster, Raise the Hammer and Urbanicity.

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By We must change (anonymous) | Posted November 24, 2012 at 18:12:46

I was sitting in the Homegrown a few day ago, having a coffee and read a article in the dominion aboout bitumen. It is a very toxic item and in mind it is completely unethical that we are extracting this stuff, to sell on the open market.

I think what is going to take for people to change their habits? I heard today, that all coastal protection services in the US and even Canada have been eradicated, which sounds like de-regulation, so that big oil can continue on its destructive path.



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By -Hammer- (registered) | Posted November 24, 2012 at 20:29:34 in reply to Comment 83147

Now this is a heritage building that I can get behind protecting, a unique central entrance with history behind it, directly related to Hamilton's steel industry and certainly large enough for adaptive reuse considerations.

Comment edited by -Hammer- on 2012-11-24 20:29:42

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By Today (anonymous) | Posted November 26, 2012 at 18:27:22

Very interesting, same old concepts that keep getting regurgitated but that is what is needed for sure. Hats off to these guys who have a real passion and message for this.

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By Public space Pete (anonymous) | Posted November 29, 2012 at 09:37:57

Attended the lecture last night, it was highly informative and all the damaging signs mentioned about the various Petro-states are there to see around the world.
It appears that landlocking the tarsands are the only way to slow down the madness and get a honest discussion going.
But criticizing Alberta nowadays is as dangerous as talking about Quebec used to be!

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