Museum’s tar sands funding pollutes Snow exhibit, says snowperson

(Le français suit)
Snowpeople are now distancing themselves from controversial tar sands funding of the Museum of Civilisation from the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP). This morning a Snowperson protested the funding arrangement with a sign saying ‘CAPP pollutes snow’.

The Council of Canadians, Ecology Ottawa, and the Polaris Institute organized the action to raise concerns about the $1 million contribution to the museum from CAPP, and were on site sharing leaflets with museum visitors. The organizations argue that while CAPP includes tar sands producers that literally pollute snow, air and waterways in Alberta, increased corporate sponsorship threatens to pollute precious cultural institutions like the Canadian Museum of Civilization.

“We’re concerned that the Canadian Association of Petroleum Polluters and their members are using this sponsorship to white-wash their dirty tar sands projects,” said Ben Powless, a Pipeline Community Organizer with Ecology Ottawa. “Here in Ottawa we’re opposed to TransCanada's Energy East pipeline, which threatens our waterways and health the same way CAPP’s other activities are impacting communities in Alberta.”

CAPP member Imperial Oil made headlines in 2011 when documents revealed they had exerted pressure to change energy exhibit content at the Canadian Museum of Science and Technology that they felt treated the industry to negatively.

“Tar sands producers are desperately seeking the social licence that partnerships with prestigious cultural institutions can bring,” says Andrea Harden-Donahue, Energy and Climate Campaigner with the Council of Canadians. “Frosty is a friendly reminder that money can’t erase the destruction happening at the hands of CAPP members.”

The Museum of Civilization, located on the shores of the Ottawa River, part of the Rideau River ecosystem under threat by TransCanada’s Energy East pipeline.

Join the campaign to stop the Energy East tar sands pipeline:
http://ecologyottawa.ca/campaigns/tar-free-613/www.canadians.org/energyeast

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L’ACPP pollue la neige

L’exposition Neige est financée en partie par l’Association canadienne des producteurs de pétrole(ACPP). L’ACPP représente des corporations qui produisent environ 90% de tout le pétrole et le gaz naturel au Canada. Ils sont aussi responsables de toutes ces publicités qui prétendent que tout est beau dans les sables bitumineux.

Des études scientifiques indépendantes confirment que les producteurs de pétrole des sables bitumineux contaminent la neige, l’eau et l’air à un rythme alarmant. Le musée est situé sur les rives de la rivière des Outaouais dont le bassin versant est menacé par le projet d’oléoduc de Transcanada qui vise à transporter 100 million de litre de pétrole par jour dans des tuyaux vieux de 40 ans.

Le financement corporatif du Musée des civilisations menace de polluer nos espaces publics avec des intérêts liés au profit. Rejetons la tentative de l’ACPP de tenter d’acheter une licence sociale pour l’expansion irresponsable des sables bitumineux et des pipelines.

Joignez la campagne pour arrêter le projet d’oléoduc Énergie Est:
http://ecologyottawa.ca/campaigns/tar-free-613/
www.canadians.org/energyeast