Essay Questions

How does the mining of oil in Alberta impact the indigenous communities?

Fort Mckay is polluted to the degree that the communities cannot consume the waters of the Athabasca River that used to be pure and clean before the exploration. Dembicki reports, “After the first oil sands plants opened upriver, many people in Fort McKay became convinced that the Athabasca was no longer a safe water supply…a pond containing toxic waste at a bitumen operation upriver began leaking, sending contaminants seventeen times the legal limit into Athabasca." The pollution of the community's water creates a dystopian environment. Community members are left with no option for clean water. Their lives and the lives of their plants and animals are imperiled due to the inevitable contamination.

Expound on the irony of "Project Plowshare.”

The project was launched during Dwight Eisenhower's time. It was influenced by the Biblical verse that encourages humanity to "beat their swords into plowshares.” Dembicki explains, “The idea behind the project was that the United States could use controlled nuclear explosions to build canals, blast through California mountains for railroads and highways…or accomplish anything else requiring large excavations." The project's aim is ironic, considering the potential of triggering adverse climate changes through nuclear excavations. Employing nuclear weapons in the excavation of oil would not avert crises associated with oil usage. The program is a hypocritical attempt to continue developing destructive nuclear bombs.

Why does Holland argue against the self-regulation of oil companies?

Oil companies' focus is an accelerated expansion and massive profits. There must be clear laws to curtail destructive activities. Hollands asserts, "The protection of the interests of society as a whole requires the establishment of legal controls on pollution as on other anti-social acts." Specific laws would help monitor the levels of pollution the companies emitted. If companies are left to self-regulate, they will deliberately turn a blind eye to their polluting activities. Uniform laws would ensure uniform compliance.