Greenpeace strikes again: activists occupy Shell upgrader expansion site in
Fort Saskatchewan

FORT SASKATCHEWAN, AB, Oct. 3 /CNW/ - Nineteen Greenpeace activists have struck again, this time occupying three stacks at the expansion site of Shell's Scotford upgrader here to expose more of the climate crimes of the tar sands.

Activists from Canada , France , Brazil and Australia scaled an under-construction upgrader to lock down to the structures. Two have been detained.

Live streaming video at www.greenpeace.org/stoptarsands

"Greenpeace is occupying the upgrader in the heart of what many affected land owners call 'cancer alley' to continue exposing the climate crimes associated with producing dirty, dangerous and destructive tar sands oil," Melina Laboucan-Massimo, Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner from outside the Shell plant. "We are sending out a global climate SOS because we need help, we need climate leaders willing to forge a new green path for our planet not more dirty oil politicians ready to sacrifice our future."

Today's action at the Shell upgrader expansion is the third Greenpeace has undertaken in Alberta to expose the climate crimes of the tar sands. The Shell upgrader is part of the energy-intensive process for producing dirty oil from tar-like bitumen. It takes 3 to 5 times more energy to produce tar sands oil than it does to produce conventional oil. Planned tar sands projects will increase dirty oil production from 1.3 million barrels of oil per day to between three and five million barrels a day. That will increase greenhouse gas emissions to as much as 140 million tonnes a year, about the current level of Belgium .

This week the Harper government again tried to undermine a United Nations process for strengthening efforts to fight climate change. At a working group meeting in Bangkok , officials said the Harper government wants to change the baseline for measuring greenhouse gas emissions to 2006 from the accepted 1990 for "domestic political purposes." The Harper government has already refused to honour commitments to reduce emissions from 1990 levels under the Kyoto Protocol.

"The tar sands represent the bleak future that awaits the world if we refuse to listen to science and fail to make significant commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions," said Mike Hudema, Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner. "It's time for world leaders to stop gambling with people's lives. It's time to stop the tar sands."

In December, the most important climate negotiations ever will take place in Copenhagen , Denmark . At this United Nations Climate Summit, world leaders must agree to urgent measures to prevent climate chaos. The continued development of the tar sands undermines international climate action.

Through its KYOTOplus campaign, Greenpeace Canada is working to convince the Harper government to become a leader at the United Nations climate conference in Copenhagen .

At the time of this release, 17 activists remained in place.

High res photos and video will be on our site shortly at gallery.greenpeace.ca

For further information: Jessica Wilson, Greenpeace media and public relations officer, [phone]; Mike Hudema, Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner, [phone]; Melina Laboucan-Massimo, Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner, [phone], from outside the Shell plant; Brian Blomme, Greenpeace communications coordinator, [phone], from outside the Shell plant