Fuelling the EarthFuelling the Earth

Ben WentzellBen Wentzell

Global Geography (2)Global Geography (2)

Ms.AliphatMs.Aliphat

IntroductionIntroductionThe extraction of oil is a multi multi billion The extraction of oil is a multi multi billion

dollar business. Companies can haul up to dollar business. Companies can haul up to 900,000 barrels of crude oil a day. Crude oil is 900,000 barrels of crude oil a day. Crude oil is the basis of all oil based products. Huge the basis of all oil based products. Huge international companies come into third world international companies come into third world countries and start drilling. Throughout this countries and start drilling. Throughout this slide show we’ll discuss benefits and negative slide show we’ll discuss benefits and negative impacts of the oil industry on the life of impacts of the oil industry on the life of people. Oil is classified in the thickness of people. Oil is classified in the thickness of bitumen, the raw form crude is found in.bitumen, the raw form crude is found in.

Who Uses Oil?

We all use oil, it keeps us warm, gets us to work and helps make all the goods we use in every day life. Face it, without it we’re screwedand we may be screwed soon enough. Businesses need oil on their product lines for a coolant and to make the machines run. When we eventually run out of oil these companies will fold. What will happen then? Life will be changed entirely, is our world ready for these drasticmeasures? For now though we continue to gobble it up in our H2s and ¾ ton trucks we drive through town when a Geo would suffice. Yet because of this oil companies are making a killing because we’re payingover one dollar for a liter of gas in Canada now. So we all use oil, now we have to learn how to stop.

Canada’s Stock PileCanada’s Stock PileAthabascaAthabasca

Alberta is home to the Athabasca oil sands, a chunk of land that is Alberta is home to the Athabasca oil sands, a chunk of land that is composed of sand soaked with precious crude. It is the largest of its kind composed of sand soaked with precious crude. It is the largest of its kind and could supply Canada with all the fuel we need for the next 500 years, a and could supply Canada with all the fuel we need for the next 500 years, a veritable stash of 300 billion barrels. However the nature of the oil veritable stash of 300 billion barrels. However the nature of the oil business is money so the oil is exported to other countries for a formidable business is money so the oil is exported to other countries for a formidable sum. This oil field provides Canadians with a constant source of sum. This oil field provides Canadians with a constant source of employment for those who want to work there. Fort McMurray just outside employment for those who want to work there. Fort McMurray just outside the sands has expanded drastically over the years with the creation of the sands has expanded drastically over the years with the creation of more jobs. The housing prices there are one of the highest in the country more jobs. The housing prices there are one of the highest in the country and cocaine runs rampant through the streets. So is the oil business a and cocaine runs rampant through the streets. So is the oil business a positive impact or a negative one. For Canada it seems to benefit citizens positive impact or a negative one. For Canada it seems to benefit citizens of Canada and the country on the whole. Uneducated workers can find a of Canada and the country on the whole. Uneducated workers can find a job here easily and they can make a pretty penny while doing it. Some job here easily and they can make a pretty penny while doing it. Some companies start out at around $20/hr. But what about third world companies start out at around $20/hr. But what about third world countries?countries?

Products of OilProducts of Oil• Plastic bottlesPlastic bottles

• Computer CasingComputer Casing

• PackagingPackaging

• Lobster trapsLobster traps

• The whole worldThe whole worldThe need for recycling is humongous. The world needs to The need for recycling is humongous. The world needs to realize that our reserves of oil will not hold up for long. We realize that our reserves of oil will not hold up for long. We have to start being smarter with how we use oil and to stop have to start being smarter with how we use oil and to stop burning it up at the rate at which we do.burning it up at the rate at which we do.

Benefits to CanadaBenefits to Canada• Ralph Kline, premier of Alberta has considered Ralph Kline, premier of Alberta has considered

removing income tax of Albertan citizens.removing income tax of Albertan citizens.

• Electricity shortage in California has increased Electricity shortage in California has increased export amounts to US, boosting profitsexport amounts to US, boosting profits

• Canada is ahead of both Saudi Arabia and Canada is ahead of both Saudi Arabia and Venezuela in exportation to the US, two huge Venezuela in exportation to the US, two huge playersplayers

Around the WorldAround the World

Most countries are not as well off as Canada. Oil producing Most countries are not as well off as Canada. Oil producing countries should appear to be better off and have more countries should appear to be better off and have more support for their citizens. This, unfortunately, is not the support for their citizens. This, unfortunately, is not the case. Looking in the Oxford atlas finds correlation of the case. Looking in the Oxford atlas finds correlation of the Human Development Index and oil producing countries. The Human Development Index and oil producing countries. The countries in Africa that produce oil are father behind than countries in Africa that produce oil are father behind than any other oil rich countries. This leads to the conclusion of any other oil rich countries. This leads to the conclusion of power greedy leaders. Owners of the companies get rich power greedy leaders. Owners of the companies get rich while the citizens suffer, government is corrupt and accepts while the citizens suffer, government is corrupt and accepts the money underhandedly, out of reach of its people. the money underhandedly, out of reach of its people. However in the Middle East they seem to be better, yet still However in the Middle East they seem to be better, yet still distant from the level of Canada and other countries.distant from the level of Canada and other countries.

Environmental IssuesEnvironmental Issues• Oil spills from the constant flow of tankers Oil spills from the constant flow of tankers

around the world is too common. Thousands of around the world is too common. Thousands of animals die from these catastrophes, it pollutes animals die from these catastrophes, it pollutes the water and turns an ecosystem on its head.the water and turns an ecosystem on its head.

• For mining of crude, like in Alberta, the whole For mining of crude, like in Alberta, the whole top layer of trees and soil is stripped down, top layer of trees and soil is stripped down, which obviously destroys much wildlife habitatwhich obviously destroys much wildlife habitat

• The expansion of towns where oil is booming The expansion of towns where oil is booming pushes it out farther and destroys more and pushes it out farther and destroys more and more habitatmore habitat

• Fumes from burning oil in factories and from rigs Fumes from burning oil in factories and from rigs causes detrimental effects on the atmospherecauses detrimental effects on the atmosphere

The PeopleThe People• In third world countries labourers are In third world countries labourers are

exploited and used unfairly. They are exploited and used unfairly. They are underpaid by the company and are not given underpaid by the company and are not given the rights and benefits they need for the the rights and benefits they need for the dangerous job they are enrolled in.dangerous job they are enrolled in.

• In Canada the rigs are a source of In Canada the rigs are a source of employment for uneducated workers. Not employment for uneducated workers. Not only that, the pay is great. These jobs help only that, the pay is great. These jobs help support Canadians who need it. They also support Canadians who need it. They also receive lots of benefits and the conditions receive lots of benefits and the conditions are good there.are good there.

Economic DevelopmentEconomic Development• With the oil shortage scare, companies are With the oil shortage scare, companies are

charging more for oil and they are making charging more for oil and they are making a killing. The top 10 oil companies control a killing. The top 10 oil companies control 70% of the world oil flow. Poor third world 70% of the world oil flow. Poor third world companies are folding and joining these companies are folding and joining these larger companies giving them more power.larger companies giving them more power.

• Prices are up almost 60% in the past 30 Prices are up almost 60% in the past 30 years, most of which occurred recentlyyears, most of which occurred recently

The ProblemsThe Problems

• If we use even one quarter of all the If we use even one quarter of all the Earth’s oil, there will be major shifts in Earth’s oil, there will be major shifts in temperature.temperature.

• The whole world revolves around oil, will it The whole world revolves around oil, will it come to a stand still when we run out?come to a stand still when we run out?

• It causes wars, the need for it drives It causes wars, the need for it drives people to great length in order to obtain itpeople to great length in order to obtain it

• It has many environmental issues along It has many environmental issues along with itwith it

Work CitedWork Cited

• GeologyGeology, , http://collections.ic.gc.ca/oil/litr03.htmhttp://collections.ic.gc.ca/oil/litr03.htm

• Talk:Tar SandsTalk:Tar Sands, , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Tar_shttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Tar_sandsands

• Oil and DictatorshipOil and Dictatorship,, http://www.peacemagazine.org/archivhttp://www.peacemagazine.org/archive/v14n3p08.htme/v14n3p08.htm

• Mired In Crude,Mired In Crude, Wayne Ellwood Wayne Ellwood