This post was brought to you by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers via sheblogs. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.
Thanksgiving – a holiday synonymous with food and family. In my household, the buzz begins shortly after the beginning of October: who’s hosting? How shall we give thanks? What’s on the menu? Who’s making the cranberry sauce?
And then, before we know it, a flurry of activity takes place…
Preparing and placing make-ahead food in storage containers. Cleaning the home from top to bottom. Strategically placing spice-scented candles throughout the first floor, and pulling out last year’s gold-painted pumpkins. Replacing the soap in the guest bathroom. Sorting through a handful of my favourite CDs, settling on Sam Smith. Putting away the boys’ crayons and diecast cars, with a warning issued to keep the place tidy. Finding the roasting pan from its hiding place in the pantry. Grabbing a pen and notebook to list out exactly what must be done to make this get together a success. Forgiving myself in advance if it doesn’t go exactly to plan.
Wondering about the words in bold above? They’re all things that have been derived from crude oil in some way. In fact, for the majority of Canadians, petroleum is an essential part of our quality of life. We rely on it to make gasoline for cars, trucks, buses, trains, boats and planes. And, as previously demonstrated, it’s necessary for making our Thanksgiving celebration go off without a hitch.
So, other than reaping the benefits of products and services that are made from crude oil, why should we care? Well, for starters, Canada has the third largest oil reserves in the world, with 97% of those reserves in the Oil Sands. This translates to 168 billion barrels with the potential of over 100 years of production. In fact, over 800,000 jobs could be created in the next 25 years alone. Hence, if you are Canadian, and enjoy your current quality of life, you need to understand just how dependent we are on a booming oil industry.
This Thanksgiving, perhaps petroleum will be the furthest thing from your mind. And that’s okay. Just as long as we all realize how we are impacted, day in, day out, by its presence, and how it is an integral part of our lives, our holidays, our celebrations.
For more information about the Oil Sands industry visit oilsandstoday.ca.
This post was brought to you by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers via sheblogs. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.
It is amazing to think just how many things in our lives and homes depend on the petroleum industry.
I agree Flora, it’s almost mind boggling.
Well said Lena! We take too many things for granted in our life.
Hear hear!
Yes, I can appreciate the oil industry – my husband is a construction worker – 12 hour days to provide and sustain his family. Words are powerful and essential to again reiterate how lucky as Canadians we really are. Love your post – but sounds so similar to my plans for upcoming Thanksgiving – wishing you and yours a great day/meal/conversation.
Eva Mitton-Urban
Thank you Eva, I so appreciate your comment. Happy Thanksgiving to your family as well!
Our dependence on oil is definitely worth reflecting given the detrimental environmental effects of the oil industry. It’s not an inevitable situation as is clear by looking at other countries.
Thanks for your comment, Victoria. You’re right – we have to balance our wants vs. our needs, for the good of our environment.
And many of my cosmetics have by-products (scary but true), components of my laptop and other electronics(which I’d never want to go without)…
I acknowledge and am grateful for the comfortable life mining of all kinds provides me.
That’s just it – realizing that our lives are comfortable because we are dependant on this industry.
It’s amazing how dependent we are on oil, no matter how hard we try not to be
This is true… because it makes our lives better. Hard to deny that.
Living in Alberta, I see the necessity, but I also know there are many things that large oil companies can do better. There are so many factors to look at, and so much information to take in. It’s definitely not a black and white issue. I wish people would do more research before denouncing (or approving) before making decisions on issues such as these.
Thank you for the feedback Lee-Ann, I appreciate it!
Those statistics about Petroleum are scary.
wow scary is right i would have never knew ! thanks for sharing
i love love love decorating
we cant live without the petroleum industry.
Those statistics about Petroleum are really scary when you stop and think about it !
It’s too bad we can’t predict the price of oil because now millions of people have been affected by the price drop. So some people have lost everything in Alberta.