James Cameron wraps up oilsands visit
Posted Sep 30, 2010 7:56 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Environmental groups are applauding the recent oilsands tour by Hollywood director James Cameron.
After spending three days meeting industry leaders, politicians and people living downstream, the moviemaker called for a slowdown on oilsands development.
Cameron also believes independent experts should be brought in to monitor their environmental impact.
Executive Director of Sierra Club Canada, John Bennett, tells 660News Cameron managed to do something he hasn’t been able to do in 12 years: get the ear of the Alberta government.
Bennett says Cameron’s concerns are the same ones his organization and other environmental groups have been raising for years.
He says when you have enough oil to last 300 years, there’s no reason why production should be doubling every decade.
Bennett believes Cameron will continue monitoring and speaking out about what’s happening in the oilsands, adding his visit will lead to increased global scrutiny of the tar sands.
Cameron says one short-term solution would be to bank the approval of future tailings ponds until new technology can be developed to remove the toxic pits.
The man behind such blockbusters as Titanic and Avatar says Alberta’s oilsands are a gift but could end up a curse, if not managed properly.
