Protest Germanys support for tar sands

[auroraglacialis]

Avaaz - Germany: stop Tar Sands today!

It seems that Germany is blocking a Europe-wide legislation that would basically ban the import of oil from tar sands.

In 24 hours, Europe could pass a directive that would introduce strict pollution controls and stop the flow of deadly tar sands oil into the EU. But Germany is blocking this crucial law -- now only we can save it.

Tar sands oil destroys forests, lakes, and emits 25% more carbon pollution than other oil. But for Canada it is a money making bonanza, and the government and big oil companies are ferociously lobbying Europe to open the flood gates to this black gold. Right now Germany is close to caving, but if we can pressure Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen to put people and the planet before oil profits, we can win!

The Fuel Quality Directive vote is on a knife's edge and it all comes down to us. We only have 24 hours to take action -- let's send a flood of messages now urging our government to be green champions. Click below to send a message and forward this to everyone:

Avaaz - Germany: stop Tar Sands today!

Tar sands fuel could not be any more destructive -- Canada has cleared millions of acres of pristine forests and displaced indigenous communities to extract it, all the while emitting cancerous heavy metals and sulphur to refine the dirty oil. It’s so filthy that even the US doesn’t want it -- their Environmental Protection Agency says refining tar sands causes 82% more carbon pollution than regular oil, and President Obama just halted plans for a cross-border pipeline.

Now Canada and the oil companies are looking for new markets to reap the fruits of their $379 billion tar sand investment. The EU’s proposed Fuel Quality Directive would set a binding 6% climate pollution reduction target for Europe’s transport fuels by 2020. But Canada wants the EU to ignore tar sands emissions -- hoping if they can slip it into Europe others are likely to do the same. The UK, France, Italy and Spain are doing dirty deals with Canada while Germany is on the fence.

Europe's global environmental leadership is on the line and our climate ambitions are shockingly being undermined by Canada, who has withdrawn from the Kyoto Protocol! Norbert Röttgen will join a European Commission vote in 24 hours -- let's show him that German voters expect him to stop tar sand pollution and vote for strong controls. Take action now and send this to everyone!