Update: We've just found out that Alberta is only days away from implementing laws to save the Athabasca River from tar sands destruction.
But Petro-Canada, owned by oil giant Suncor, is lobbying hard against the rules for the sake of a few more profits.
SumOfUs has already exposed Suncor's plans by creating a hard-hitting video and website. Together, SumOfUs supporters signed thousands of petitions calling on the largest tar sands company to stop lobbying against water laws that could save the River, made hundreds of phone calls to Suncor headquarters, and got our campaign in the Calgary Herald.
With days to go before the new laws are announced, its time for SumOfUs to step up the pressure. If we reach our goal of 50,000 signatures, we'll make sure Suncor hears our voices loud and clear by hand-delivering the signatures to selected Petro-Canada gas stations across the country.
*****************
Original petition
Suncor, the biggest company in the tar sands, has a dirty secret -- it’s lobbying against laws that could prevent the Athabasca River from running dry.
Scientists, experts and industry know that restrictions on the amount of water taken from the river are needed to protect this rich ecosystem, one of the world’s largest freshwater deltas. But Suncor is only concerned with corporate profits -- it's determined to take as much water as it wants, whenever it wants it.
The new laws are weeks away from being released by government, and if we can force Suncor to back down, we have a chance to save the Athabasca.
Tell Suncor’s CEO: Stop lobbying against water laws that could save the Athabasca.
Suncor has spent millions on a flashy ad campaign claiming it's green, innovative and that it cares about water management. But lobbying records and leaked legislation show it's trying to weaken water laws and could be able to withdraw ten times more water than its competitors, and even be able to dump toxic tailings right back into Lake Athabasca, causing even more havoc.
We’re targeting Suncor because it is the largest company in the oilsands, and it cares deeply about its reputation. It spends millions convincing the public it is clean and green. If these laws go through, fish and aquatic species will be put directly at risk and it will be almost impossible to save the Athabasca.
The SumOfUs.org community have already fought Suncor for intervening in our kids’ education, and dumping toxic water into Lake Athabasca and failing to even inform the Fort McKay First Nation what was going on so they could protect their communities and families.
Now, we have a real opportunity to call out Suncor on its greenwash and protect the Athabasca from growing tar sands expansion.
Tell Suncor's CEO Steve Williams to immediately stop lobbying the Alberta government.
PS. If you missed the greenwashing video that we created to greenwash Suncor's video, please check it out here.
**********
More information:
Alberta’s plan for Athabasca River ‘pathetic’, critics say, Financial Post, March 19, 2014.
Lobbyists Registration, Office of the Ethics Commissioner of Alberta Report