The World's Dirtiest Oil: Learning From Michigan How Tar Sands Are Really Affecting Us

Between now and September 14, the iLCP, a group of internationally renowned photographers are taking part in a RAVE (Rapid Assessment Visual Expedition) in British Columbia's Great Bear Rainforest. Home to white spirit bears, ancient forests, and stunning marine biodiversity, it is one of the planet's most priceless treasures, but overseas oil interests wanting access to western Canada's tar sands, the second largest known oil reserves in the world, have put the region in threat, prompting the action of conservation groups and the iLCP. Throughout the expedition we'll be bringing you profiles, stories, statistics and photos to learn more about the region and why it's so crucial that we all work to protect it. Please follow along here on the iLCP blog, on Facebook and Twitter.

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"Tar sands. Canada’s gross gift to the Great Lakes. The core of a “pollution delivery system” to the most important fresh water ecosystem in the Western Hemisphere. Our region is the epicenter of refining for what has been called “the world’s dirtiest oil.”

That's a quote from a compelling article by Henry Henderson at the Natural Resources Defense Council. Henderson emphasizes the need for honestly addressing the recent Michigan oil spill and its effects. "Because if the First Nations tribes in Canada see the mess in Michigan, they will trust Enbridge even less than they do now (which is not much considering the problem the pipeline company is having in getting right of way for the project)."

Interested in learning more about the negative effects of tar sands? Read the full article here. You can also check out a photo gallery from the spill over on the Daily Green.