The government of Canada and that of Alberta are attacking science, journalism and civil society to protect the tar sands oil extraction from criticism.

This includes calling Greenpeace "extremists", firing and gagging scientists, spying on environmental groups, and deporting journalists.

We think of oil wells as occupying a small spot on the ground. We don't realize that extracting tar sands involves massive deforestation. It seems to be a kind of strip-mining.