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30 Fairmont Park Lane S
Lethbridge, AB T1K 7H7
Phone: (403) 328-1704
Tuesday, June 24, 2014

The Editor
The Lethbridge Herald
P.O. Box 670
Lethbridge, AB, T1J 3Z7

Re: “Tutu should worry about problems in his own country

Dear Editor,

My first instinct with respect to Archbishop Tutu’s visit to Fort McMurray was similar to that of George Van Bostelen who suggested, in a letter dated June 14, that Tutu should worry more about issues in South Africa.

I thought there was one gem in Tutu’s messages. He was reported to have said “It is far better – it is cheaper – for people to be friends than enemies”. I thought that wisdom to keep in mind as we wished him a safe flight home.

On reflection I’ve come to see his participation in our business in a different light. We were subjected to previous oilsands related visits and events featuring James Cameron, Neil Young, David Suzuki and others. They loudly proclaimed development of the oil sand energy as detrimental to humanity and the planet. All spawned fawning commentary from the media.

There is a common chord. Chief Allan Adams of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN) was involved in all of these events. He sat on the podium with these interlopers at various media events, while his colleagues huffed and puffed about the evils of the oil sands. Chief Adams also provided evidence to the parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources on March 27, 2014. He clearly presented his positions on first nation’s involvement in the oil sands industry and generally supported development of the resource. Chief Adam’s First Nation ACDEN group of companies is said to be earning some $270-million in annual revenues from industrial contracts with oil sands producers.

I’m coming to the conclusion Chief Adams is using the naysayers to good effect. He comes across as the voice of reason with initiatives to make the best of oil sands development. With the seven generation forward looking perspective said to be a tradition of First Nation’s people, perhaps he can see through the fog of misinformation and envision a land transformed to a new purpose once the oil is gone.

Yours truly,


Duane Pendergast

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