Does the 'ethical oil' campaign effectively promote the oilsands?

The ethicaloil.org campaign is seeking to clean up the image of Canada's oilsands by comparing the project with crude production from less ethical regions of the world.

Ethicaloil.org delivers graphic comparisons between what it calls 'conflict oil' from oppressive regimes and oil from Alberta's oilsands. (Ethicaloil.org)"The choice that exists is between ethical oil from Canada and conflict oil from politically oppressive countries," says Alykhan Velshi, the creator of the website.

In the comments of the story, some people applauded the campaign for promoting Canadian oil over oil from countries ruled by repressive governments.

"That is what I have been saying all along. Buy oil from Canada and contribute to our economy rather than oil from countries that sponsor totalitarian regimes and terror to achieve their goals,' said Lenin-McCarthy.

"Finally someone who is willing to put into print to which many have spoken but not promoted," wrote FranksAndBeans.

In the CBCNews.ca story, Federal NDP environment critic Megan Leslie said debating whether Canada's oil is relatively more ethical misses the point. Canada should be working to move beyond fossil fuels toward renewable sources of energy, she said.

"Unfortunately it appears that Megan Leslie is the one missing the point," wrote Concerned C.

"The point is that in the short and medium term future we will still need to use oil, and we should be getting that oil from the oil sands, and not using blood oil from the Middle East, Nigeria, Libya, etc." said Concerned C.

Some of the commenters on the story were disappointed in the campaign, including one person who appears to support the oilsands project.

"This is disappointing. The Oil Sands industry should not have to lower itself to this kind of sensationalistic and offensive garbage. Leave that trash to the likes of Green Peace and other eco-nuts," said Logics1.

Most of the opposition to the campaign, though, was from those who oppose development of the oilsands altogether.

"This is the most egregious case of green washing we have ever seen, ever. The worst part of it is how it finesses highly racist representations of Africa, the Middle East and First Nations people in with it," said bakunin.

"Arguing there is ethical oil is like arguing there is an ethical heroin. It's not the process. It's the product. Fossil fuels are driving global warming. It doesn't matter if its oil from Nigeria or coal from the Appalachians," wrote John__Bennett.

Does the 'ethical oil' campaign effectively promote the oilsands? Let us know what you think



(This survey is not scientific, it is based on readers' responses.)