May 20, 2009. 11:00 AM EST
Dear Friends,
Fabricio Gauman of Oil Watch in Colombia, Sara Stratton, KAIROS staff leading this delegation, and I are in flight, en route to join other members of the KAIROS Ecumenical delegation to the Athabasca Tar Sands, at our starting point, Edmonton.
Below us the beautiful forests and lakes of northern Ontario remind us that we owe our environment a debt for this polluting flight. We’ll work to compensate for this through our protocols for reducing energy use at KAIROS. But, if we wish to really understand an issue, there is no substitute for seeing it up close and talking one-on-one with those most affected by it.
The plane’s captain comments that many on board today are flying to work in Fort McMurray. We hold in our hearts and prayers the many people whose lives and families depend on their salaries as workers for the oil industry in Alberta. Our delegation is setting out on a journey of dialogue with people who live or work in the communities surrounding the tar sands developments, with Indigenous peoples, corporations, and Alberta government and elected officials.
Our goal is to work hard as a team throughout this journey; to listen, share our concerns, and in the end to build common ground for an ecumenical witness to what we have learned about the tar sands development. Once we are at home, KAIROS will begin to shape a policy on the tar sands as part of our ongoing work for just and sustainable energy with just and sustainable livelihoods.
It is a privilege for me to join leaders of KAIROS member churches, an Indigenous leader, and two Southern partners on this journey. The first chapter of the journey has begun. Your prayers and accompaniment are most welcome.
Blessings,
Mary
Mary Corkery
Executive Director, KAIROS
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I am watching, praying and celebrating the gathering of this delegation.
ReplyDeleteMay your reflections be rich;
May your blogs be engaging;
May your ears be open;
May your time be KAIROS;
May your presence be a blessing to many.
Peace
Paul Gehrs
To the members of the tour.Over and above the real issues of the tar sands there are alternate ways of obtaining energy. As an innovator I believe that EHS geothermal electric production is the prefered way to go. I would like to share our findings and incites. To date I have created a 5 page summary of the process. It has been circulated to all MLAs in Alberta. I have formed an association consisting of a geologist, engineer, ex president of a major collage, business man, lawyer, and a design engineer. As a result of our efforts to date we have been invited to present at an all party government hearing on alternate energy this fall. It would be of great benifit to garner as much public support as possible. As a result we would be happy to make a presentation to appropriot people. If this works for anyone I would be happy to send the summary and follow it with an inperson presentation with pictures. Thank you Richard McKelvie
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