<div>NASA climate scientist James Hansen, in his acceptance speech for the 2010 Sophie Prize:<br><a href="http://www.sofieprisen.no/Articles/514.html">http://www.sofieprisen.no/Articles/514.html</a><br><br>"But our governments have no intention of solving the fossil fuel and<br>
climate problem, as is easy to prove: the United States, Canadian and<br>Norwegian governments are going right ahead developing the tar sands,<br>which, if it is not halted, will make it impossible to stabilize<br>climate. Our governments knowingly abdicate responsibility for young<br>
people and future generations</div>
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<div>Those who think Moscow is dominated by progressive environmentalists should<br>consider how a city council that is truly environmental in philosophy<br>might respond to the Canada tar sands bound mega-loads passing through their<br>
city limits. Even if a resolution such as the following from Bellingham,<br>Washington has little impact on actually stopping tar sands development, it<br>sends a message to the community regarding the seriousness of the problem of<br>
tar sands development impacts on climate change, and that even those<br>operating on the level of city government should address the issue and<br>accept responsibility:<br><br>Draft of Bellingham resolution specifically against Canada tar sands oil:<br>
<br><a href="http://www.cob.org/web/COUNCIL.nsf/0/CC4D3E2B2B770E4B882577370074AF88/$File/07jun2010_AB18877.pdf?OpenElement">http://www.cob.org/web/COUNCIL.nsf/0/CC4D3E2B2B770E4B882577370074AF88/$File/07jun2010_AB18877.pdf?OpenElement</a><br>
<br>-----------------------------------------<br>*City of Bellingham steers away from tar sands oil*<br><br><a href="http://bbjtoday.com/blog/city-bellingham-steers-tar-sands-oil/7594#">http://bbjtoday.com/blog/city-bellingham-steers-tar-sands-oil/7594#</a><br>
<br>by Ryan Wynne <<a href="http://bbjtoday.com/blog/author/ryanwynne/">http://bbjtoday.com/blog/author/ryanwynne/</a>><br>Filed on 09. Jun, 2010 in News <<a href="http://bbjtoday.com/blog/category/news">http://bbjtoday.com/blog/category/news</a>><br>
<br>*By Ryan Wynne*<br><br>The Bellingham City Council passed two resolutions Monday intended to gently<br>steer the city away from using tar sands oil. The resolutions were passed<br>just weeks after council renewed a 10-year franchise agreement with Trans<br>
Mountain Pipeline, which transports some of the controversial oil in a<br>pipeline running through Bellingham.<br><br>Tar sands oil is seen as controversial due to environmental effects that<br>result from mining and processing it, and before council voted to approve<br>
the franchise agreement, community members spent three council meetings<br>urging them not to renew.<br><br>So, on Monday, councilmen were met with applause when they unanimously<br>approved a resolution promoting energy alternatives to fossil fuels, in<br>
particular high carbon fuels such as those derived from Canadian tar sands<br>sources.<br><br>Council was met with less visible audience enthusiasm just minutes later<br>when it unanimously passed a resolution that could affect the city’s next<br>
fleet vehicle fuel supply contract. That resolution would give preference to<br>refiners that don’t use tar sands oil.<br><br>While the first fossil fuel resolution was passed with very little<br>discussion, the second raised some concerns.<br>
<br>Councilmen Terry Bornemann said the measure seemed sudden considering the<br>fleet fuel contract won’t be up for renewal until 2014. Bornemann said that<br>would give them plenty of time to get feedback from city staff and that<br>
council should wait for that feedback.<br><br>“It’s not for another five years,” Bornemann said. “I don’t understand the<br>rush.”<br><br>But Councilman Michael Lilliquist said the resolution only sets forth goals,<br>not restrictions. It is a commitment to look in another direction, he said.<br>
<br>Councilman Barry Buchanan said he was concerned with potential costs to the<br>city that could result from avoiding tar sands fuels.<br><br>Councilman Jack Weiss responded that economic costs shouldn’t be the only<br>
ones considered; environmental and social implications should also be<br>weighed.<br><br>To allay concerns, Councilman Seth Fleetwood recommended adding the phrase<br>“where such effort is reasonably feasible” to the resolution, which was<br>
enough to convince all seven councilmen to approve the resolution.<br><br>Next time the city considers fuel contracts for Bellingham fleet vehicles,<br>“where such effort is reasonably feasible,” fuels with higher than normal<br>
greenhouse gas footprints will be avoided, those with higher than average<br>environmental or social impacts will be avoided, fuels produced by<br>refineries taking feedstock from Canada’s tar sands will be minimized, and<br>
preference will be given to fuels with lower than normal greenhouse gas<br>footprints.<br>------------------------------------------<br>Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett<br></div>