118 lines
5.0 KiB
Markdown
118 lines
5.0 KiB
Markdown
# Water Freedom
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!!! quote "Tap Water Reality"
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"Nothing says freedom like having to boil our tap water while oil companies use millions of liters for free"
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[Call Grant Hunter, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas](tel:7804272391){ .md-button }
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[Email Minister of Environment](https://influence.freealberta.org/campaign/water-protection){ .md-button }
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[Call Jason Nixon, Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services](tel:7806436210){ .md-button }
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[Email Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services](https://influence.freealberta.org/campaign/water-access){ .md-button }
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## Why Should Water Be Free?
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Because somehow we've arrived at a point where bottled water costs more than gas. Revolutionary concept: maybe the thing we literally need to survive shouldn't come with a price tag?
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### Our Current "Freedom" System
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!!! example "The Alberta Water Experience"
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1. We check our water advisories
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2. We buy bottled water
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3. We ignore the plastic waste
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4. We watch rivers get polluted
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5. We buy more bottled water
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6. We pretend this is normal
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## What Real Water Freedom Looks Like
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- Clean tap water (yes, even in Indigenous communities)
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- Protected watersheds (not just profit watersheds)
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- Public water fountains (that work in winter)
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- Maintained infrastructure (pipes shouldn't be optional)
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- Water conservation programs (because droughts are real)
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### But What About Water Rights?!
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!!! info "Plot Twist"
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Nobody's saying we can't use water. We're just suggesting that maybe corporations shouldn't get it for free while communities have to boil theirs.
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## The Economic Freedom Argument
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When we have clean, free water:
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- Public health improves
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- Local businesses thrive
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- Communities grow
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- We save billions on bottled water
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- Our environment thanks us
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### What We're Missing
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- Universal clean water access
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- Modern water treatment
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- Protected aquifers
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- Water conservation education
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- Fair water distribution
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!!! tip "Pro Freedom Tip"
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If we think free clean water is radical, remember that corporations get millions of liters for pennies while charging us $2.50 for 500ml.
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## The Real Cost of Our Water Crisis
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Our current system costs us:
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- $300/year in bottled water
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- Countless boil water advisories
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- Environmental degradation
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- Public health issues
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- Our basic human dignity
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### The Better Way
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Imagine if we had:
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- Clean tap water everywhere
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- Protected water sources
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- Modern infrastructure
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- Fair distribution
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- Actual conservation policies
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!!! warning "Reality Check"
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Our freedom to choose between different brands of bottled water isn't actually freedom - it's just expensive submission to corporate water control.
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## The Bottom Line
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Water freedom means having access to clean, safe water without having to mortgage our future or destroy our environment. It means understanding that water is a human right, not a commodity to be bought and sold.
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!!! note "Let's Get Moving"
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Ready to flow toward real freedom? Let's share this with our fellow Albertans - especially those who think pristine water is just for premium subscribers.
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---
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## Sources & Evidence
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### Tailings Pond Crisis
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- Oil sands tailings ponds now hold **1.5 trillion litres of toxic waste** - an area larger than Vancouver
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- Over **6,000 tonnes of toxic naphthenic acids** are added to tailings yearly
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- Tailings contain benzene, lead, mercury, arsenic, nickel, and other carcinogens
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- Source: [Environmental Law Centre - Tailings Ponds Report](https://elc.ab.ca/post-library/future-of-alberta-tailings-ponds-recommendations-2025/)
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- Source: [The Narwhal - Oilsands tailings](https://thenarwhal.ca/alberta-oilsands-tailings-drinking-water/)
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### Kearl Mine Disaster
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- In 2023, **5.3 million litres** of industrial wastewater leaked from the Kearl mine
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- A second tailings pond had been leaking for **9+ months** before discovery
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- Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation sued the Alberta Energy Regulator over handling of spills
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- Source: [Mongabay - Kearl Mine Spill](https://news.mongabay.com/2024/07/a-year-after-toxic-tar-sands-spill-questions-remain-for-affected-first-nation/)
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- Source: [CBC News - Kearl mine spill](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/kearl-oilsands-mine-spill-1.6789234)
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### Indigenous Water Crisis
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- Multiple First Nations communities remain under **boil water advisories**
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- Elevated cancer rates documented in downstream Indigenous communities
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- Federal government announced $12 million over 10 years to study health impacts (after decades of concern)
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- Source: [Indigenous Watchdog - Water advisories](https://www.indigenouswatchdog.org/)
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- Source: [Canadian Medical Association Journal - Oilsands health impacts](https://www.cmaj.ca/)
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### Groundwater Contamination
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- Groundwater contamination from oil and gas operations affects communities
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- Industrial users allocated water ahead of community needs
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- No comprehensive water sustainability strategy exists for Alberta
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- Source: [CPAWS Northern Alberta - Tailings](https://cpawsnab.org/our-work/oil-sands-tailings/)
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