Aug. 31, 2010 - Issue #776: The Gaslight Anthem
Vuepoint
Deny all knowledge
Although information should always be up for debate, critically challenged and analyzed, there comes a point where you have to recognize a fact as a fact. And through the years humanity has actually divined a few methods to verify facts such as gravity and the shape of the earth (round). These methods were employed by water expert and University of Alberta researcher David Schindler who has proven that metals such as lead, arsenic and mercury are seeping into the Athabasca River at elevated levels, and that those levels are caused by the oil industry situated upstream.
Environment Minister Rob Renner, in his responses to the study, attempts to undermine the information, challenging the research as simply another set of raw data that could have been collected at particularly damaging points in chemical runoffs. Renner fails to recognize the method by which Schindler researched and published his conclusions.
The study appeared in a peer-reviewed science publication, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, which requires papers be reviewed by scientists in the field. Schindler's research paper itself is peer-reviewed, undergoing the strict academic guidelines which compose pages upon pages of academic regulation and policy governing the University. Schindler himself is quick to point out that much of the debate about the tar sands has persistently gone without the conclusiveness of science. And so as a scientist he set out to prove the source of the problem.
Renner believes his own scientists. The Regional Aquatic Monitoring Program is a joint initiative of industry and government to monitor pollutant levels in the water surrounding the tar sands. The problem: RAMP is funded by industry and one can't help but question where loyalties lie when RAMP claims chemical levels are naturally occurring.
Schindler's report is the first indepedent report to challenge RAMP's assertions. What Schindler has done is place facts outside of the influence of bias and into the harsh light of critical analysis. It's a light the Alberta government cannot hide from, however they may try.
More stories in front »
vueweekly.com comments: powered by DisqusPrivacy Policy:
Vue respects your privacy. We will not forward your personal information to any other organization except as required by law, and will use your e-mail address only to respond to your comments. We reserve the right to edit and remove comments for length, clarity and/or if they are illegal or inappropriate. Your email address is never shown to visitors to vueweekly.com. Read the whole policy at: http://vueweekly.com/privacy
Comments policy
Comments go online directly without first being seen or reviewed by editors at Vue. Don't personally attack people, don't be defamatory, don't be spam-atory, don't hawk your band, don't pretend to be someone else, be clear, be on topic, be nice. Read our extended comments policy here. »
We use Disqus for our comments system. What's that all about?
We found that managing the comment community at Vue was easier to do with a system like Disqus. If this isn't straightforward to you, get help here.