Oh No Canada in the news…

Think Progress November 13, 2013

Censored In Canada, Artist Brings Her Anti-Tar Sands Message To The U.S.

Think Progress Excerpt: Recently Canadian PM Harper said that Canada “won’t take no for answer” on Keystone XL, stating, “this won’t be final until it’s approved and we will keep pushing forward.”
This type of rhetoric combined with recent reports of suppressing climate science and doing a bad job of protecting the environment have made the Harper administration look both unwilling to compromise and out of touch with public sentiment, giving activists like James a window of opportunity.
James’ posters are displayed on D.C. bus stops along Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues near the White House and the Capitol. Crowd-funding on Indiegogo paid for the posters. Additional funding for the ad buy came from National Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, and the National Wildlife Federation.
“What most Americans don’t realize is that the Canadian government is so ‘pro-oil’ that they are actively working to silence people who talk about climate change and the negative impacts of the expanding tar sands and the Keystone XL,” James wrote Climate Progress in an email. “The idea that I should not be talking about climate change, or doing art about it, is so ludicrous and so wrong — I mean it is a serious infringement on my right to free expression.”

Full article: Censored In Canada, Artist Brings Her Anti-Tar Sands Message To The U.S.

Mom’s Clean Air Force November 12, 2013

Artist, Franke James To Moms: Keep Speaking Up!

“When it comes to tackling climate change and the controversial Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, Canadian Franke James doesn’t mince words — or pictures. As both an artist and author, she has combined her right-brain talents with her left-brain determination to raise awareness about the impact that burning fossil fuels has on our planet… Lately, I’ve been inspired by the posters Franke designed and put up around Washington, D.C., where I live. The posters highlight why the Keystone XL pipeline is such a bad idea. I caught up with Franke following an appearance she made at the National Press Club in D.C. to talk about her current effort to pressure Canadian leaders as well as those in America to stop the pipeline in its tracks.”

Full interview: Artist, Franke James To Moms: Keep Speaking Up!

Inside Climate October 28, 2013

Artist Blacklisted by Canada Over Criticism of Climate Policy Takes Show to U.S.

‘American policymakers need to understand just who they will be doing business with if they approve the Keystone,’ says environmental artist Franke James. “The Canadian government’s efforts to silence environmental and scientific voices is wrong.”

“Through October and most of November, James’ poster art criticizing Harper and the Keystone XL will be displayed at Washington, D.C. bus stops along Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues near the White House and the Capitol. The five-figure ad-buy was paid for by three U.S. environmental groups—Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club and National Wildlife Federation—as well as through crowd-funding.

“Earlier this month James and other Canadian environmentalists who oppose the Keystone met with Democratic Congressional staffers and State Department officials. She also gave a speech at Georgetown University about using art to fight the erosion of laws and freedoms.”

Full Story: Artist Blacklisted by Canada Over Criticism of Climate Policy Takes Show to U.S. By Katherine Bagley, Inside Climate

SLIDESHOW: 6 Posters by Franke James, Canada’s Blacklisted Climate Activist Artist

The Hill October 25, 2013

Anti-Keystone XL poster campaign hits Washington, D.C. – The Hill

Anti-Keystone XL pipeline posters blasting Canada’s oil sands and carbon pollution have cropped up on the streets of Washington, D.C.

The posters are a part of a two-month ad campaign by Canadian environmentalist Franke James.

One poster shows an eagle drenched in crude oil and tar perched on the U.S. Capitol in front of a red and white striped background. Words on the poster read, “No Keystone XL.”

Another poster reads, “Do not talk about climate change — it is against Canada’s policy,” with an image of Canada’s parliament buildings dropped into the tar sands.

“Ironically, being told not to talk about climate change by Canada’s (Harper) government was the inspiration for my “Oh No Canada!” show in D.C,” James said in an email to The Hill. “We need to talk about climate change, not look the other way and pretend it’s not happening.”

Full Story: Anti-Keystone XL poster campaign hits Washington, D.C.

Huffington Post October 23, 2013

‘Canada Is The Dirty Old Man’ Posters Hit Washington, D.C. (PHOTOS)

Click to see slideshow

“Anti-oilsands posters calling Canada a “dirty old man” have hit the streets of Washington, D.C., the latest salvo in an ongoing public relations war over the oilsands.

“Do not talk about climate change,” reads one poster featuring an image of Parliament Hill. “It’s against Canada’s policy.”

…

Another poster features a quote, “Canada is the dirty old man,”… citing an article from The Guardian arguing Canada has a poor environmental track record.

The posters — which have also appeared in Ottawa and Halifax — are the work of Canadian artist Franke James, who published a book earlier this year alleging that the federal government cut her funding for a European tour because of her anti-oilsands opinions.

Full Story: ‘Canada Is The Dirty Old Man’ Posters Hit Washington, D.C. (PHOTOS)
Buy your own Oh No Canada! posters

Yahoo Daily Brew October 23, 2013

Canada portrayed as ‘dirty old man’ in U.S. anti-oilsands posters

“For Prime Minister Stephen Harper, it’s probably a pin-prick compared with the thermonuclear bombshell Sen. Mike Duffy dropped in the Senate expenses scandal, but a Toronto artist is also exacting revenge against the government she believes wronged her.

“Franke James has launched a poster campaign labelling Canada a “dirty old man,” and depicting Harper as a flasher after Ottawa cancelled funding for a planned tour of her artwork in Europe, according to the Huffington Post. James claims the 20-city tour was quashed because she’s spoken out against oil sands development.

“The posters have shown up in Ottawa, Halifax and, perhaps most significantly, Washington, D.C., where the U.S. government where a debate is raging on whether to approve the Keystone XL pipeline that would ship Alberta oil sands crude to Gulf Coast refineries.

“The Toronto Star reported last spring that Franke uncovered a 2011 email from Foreign Affairs and International Trade, explaining why government funding for her show was cancelled…

“The artist’s work dealt mostly with climate change, and was advocating a message that was contrary to the government’s policies on the subject,” the email said, according to the Star.

“Her first counterblow was a book about her experience: Banned on the Hill: A True Story about Dirty Oil and Government Censorship. The book included information James obtained under access-to-information legislation, such as that email.

“As a Canadian citizen, to know that the government is interfering in private business is really shocking. It’s undemocratic,” James told the Star at the time. “If art has to agree with government policy, then art is government propaganda.”

“The next step was an Indiegogo campaign to crowd-source $5,000 to fund her poster campaign and an advertisement in the Hill Times, Ottawa’s political weekly, the Star said. The campaign was over-subscribed….”

Full Story: Canada portrayed as ‘dirty old man’ in U.S. anti-oilsands posters

OSOCIO October 22, 2013

“These anti-Canada posters appearing in the United States are the work of a Canadian”

“The poster above is just one of a series that has been mysteriously appearing in Washington DC.

They’re the work of Franke James, a Canadian activist author and artist. She calls it an “anti-tarsands art show,” and it features some pretty harsh imagery, including a cartoon of Canada’s Prime Minister as a flasher.

“Canadians’ right to free expression is being quietly eroded by a pro-oil government insistent on promoting tar sands and silencing anyone who might interfere with those plans,” said Franke James in her press release. “Rather than the friendly neighbor to the north, Canada has become the dirty old man.”

Ms. James has bought transit shelter ad space, and her posters will run through November at 7th & Pennsylvania NW, 10th & Pennsylvania NW, 8th & Pennsylvania SE, 7th & Constitution NW, and 15th & Constitution NW.

COMMENTS ON OSOCIO

“Franke James is one of my environmental heroes. She pokes holes in the puffery surrounding Canada’s shocking record of trashing this beautiful land in the name of economic gain. I hope people will see these posters, think about what they are saying, and protest.” Cathryn Wellner | 24-10-2013

“Franke’s position is more representative of the view of the majority of Canadians than the current Canadian Government, i.e.. The Harper Gang.” Bill Davidson | 24-10-2013

“There are many in Canada that are distraught regarding our current government’s attitude towards (rather lack of) safeguarding the environment. Franke speaks on behalf of many of us who want a better world for our children, and a government that listens and seeks out consensus rather than shutting down the opposition, scientists, First Nations, and concerned citizens.” Greg Duval | 25-10-2013

“For harsh imagery, Tom, have a look at an aerial view of the tarsands . Worse than harsh imagery actually —it’s what the real deal looks like. but still doesn’t factor in the consequences of tarsands mining, which include a corruption of the athabasca river, resultant health problems for adjacent first nations’ communities, a headlining carbon footprint and a degradation of independent representative governance in canada. Hey, Tom—meet harsh.” dan murphy | 25-10-2013

“Franke James is a brilliant Canadian artist whom the Canadian federal government tried to muzzle for her stand against climate change and against unbridled development of the Canadian tar sands. The Canadian government under PM Stephen Harper is hell bent on tar sands development, which renowned climatologist James Hansen claims will mean “game over for the planet.” As a Canadian, I am so delighted with the Ms. James’s work, which is witty and perspicacious.” Robert McBryde | 25-10-2013

“I am really proud of what Franke is doing and wish I could help her cause more. Canada’s government and Mr. Harper are not helping the environment – they are wrecking it – any which way they can. Way to go Franke.”
Lucy Dyment | 25-10-2013

Full Story: These anti-Canada posters appearing in the United States are the work of a Canadian by Tom Megginson, Osocio

PostMedia October 22, 2013

“Anti-oilsands posters showing up in Washington, D.C.”

“A new poster campaign has launched in Washington, D.C. to discredit Canadian oil, as the promised Keystone XL pipeline to American markets nears approval.
The latest poster shows an image of Stephen Harper wearing an oil barrel and a long jacket. “Canada is the dirty old man,” the text above Harper reads.

…

“The poster series is the work of Franke James, a Canadian author and activist. Three of the six posters have already appeared on bus shelters across Washington. The three remaining will roll out across the city before the end of October.

“Canadians’ right to free expression is being quietly eroded by a pro-oil government insistent on promoting tar sands and silencing anyone who might interfere with those plans,” Franke James said in a release. “Rather than the friendly neighbor to the north, Canada has become the dirty old man.”

Full Story: Anti-oilsands posters showing up in Washington, D.C. by William Wolfe-Wylie, Canada.com (Also published in the Edmonton Journal and Calgary Herald.)

PostMedia October 11, 2013

“Canadian environmentalists paint catastrophic picture of oilsands for U.S. lawmakers”

WASHINGTON — Five prominent Canadian environmentalists told Washington lawmakers this week that the Keystone XL pipeline will lead to such a huge growth in oilsands’ carbon emissions, it will help tip the world into catastrophic climate change.

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“The current trajectory for the growth of the tar sands is consistent with the International Energy Agency’s prediction of a six-degree (Celsius) growth in the temperature on the planet,” Tim Gray, executive director of Environmental Defence Canada, told reporters Friday at a news conference. “That is a catastrophic scenario.”

Full Story: Canadian environmentalists paint catastrophic picture of oilsands for U.S. lawmakers by William Marsden, Postmedia News

Globe and Mail October 11, 2013

“David Suzuki slams Harper science policy in Washington speech”

“There is a systematic attack on science and democracy taking place in Canada, and the Harper government isn’t even trying to hide it,” Mr. Suzuki said. “But scientists cannot and will not be silenced, not when we are facing an irreversible climate catastrophe like the tar sands.”

Franke James, a Canadian artist whose stark posters are appearing on a handful of Washington bus shelters in a small, crowd-funded effort intended to counter Ottawa’s multimillion-dollar pro-Keystone XL campaign, said few Americans “realize that Canada is censoring and muzzling all sorts of people.” She said “most Americans think of Canada as the friendly neighbour to the north,” but the “truth is far different, (because the Harper government is) sacrificing human rights to oil company profits.”

Full Story: David Suzuki slams Harper science policy in Washington speech by Paul Koring.

CBC October 11, 2013

“David Suzuki tells U.S. not to trust Harper’s Keystone XL promises”

Environmental activist David Suzuki was among a group of Canadians in Washington, D.C., today to urge U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration to reject the Keystone XL pipeline, telling Americans that Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper can’t be trusted when it comes to climate change promises.

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Canadians aren’t getting the scientific-based evidence they need to make big decisions, Suzuki said. “This is, I think, a critical crisis for Canada.”

In an interview after the talk, Suzuki said the government’s claim that Canada is leading the world in fighting climate change can’t be taken seriously, based on how it has undervalued the importance of science. He said Americans should know what’s going on in Canada, particularly because of the steady stream of Harper cabinet members who visit Washington and advocate for the pipeline to be approved.

Full Story: David Suzuki tells U.S. not to trust Harper’s Keystone XL promises by Meagan Fitzpatrick.

EcoWatch October 11, 2013

Canadian Scientists Expose Their Government’s Tar Sands Obsession at DC Briefing

As the Canadian government launches a $24 million pro-tar sands advertising campaign, Prime
Minister Stephen Harper digs his heels in by saying he “won’t take no” for an answer on the Keystone XL pipeline.

“The Harper government will stop at nothing to ruthlessly promote tar sands expansion,” said Tzeporah Berman, Canadian author and resource development activist, and panel member at today’s briefing. ”We have witnessed a steady erosion of rights and a concerted attack on critical environmental legislation, all as part of a plan to turn our economy towards tar sands. Democratic opposition is no longer tolerated in Stephen Harper’s Canada.”

“There is a systematic attack on science and democracy taking place in Canada, and the Harper government isn’t even trying to hide it,” said scientist Dr. David Suzuki. ”But scientists cannot and will not be silenced, not when we are facing an irreversible climate catastrophe like the tar sands.”

“Canadians’ right to free expression is being quietly eroded by a pro-oil government insistent on promoting tar sands and silencing anyone who might interfere with those plans,” said panel member Franke James, a Canadian artist. “Rather than the friendly neighbor to the north, Canada has become the dirty old man.”

Full Story: Canadian Scientists Expose Their Government’s Tar Sands Obsession at DC Briefing.

Macleans October 11, 2013

“Suzuki to Obama admin: Don’t trust Harper, he’s like Bush”

The Canadian activists described their trip as an attempt to counter the message frequently delivered in Washington by the governments of Canada and Alberta, which have emphasized the fact that Canada has committed to the same greenhouse gas emissions targets as the United States: a 17 per cent reduction by the year 2020.

They said the pipeline was a critical enabler over future expansion of the oil sands, and therefore incompatible with those goals.

“It’s like saying you’re going to lose weight by eating more,” said Danny Harvey, a geography professor at the University of Toronto, and an author of IPCC reports on climate change. “If you look at what the government wants in expansion [of the oil sands], we’d have to reduce emissions by 22 per cent in six years. That just can’t be done. There is no plausible way we could come close.”

The group also included Franke James, a Canadian artist, who says her climate-themed art show was cancelled in Europe after objections from the Canadian government. She has created a series of large posters criticizing the Canadian government and the pipeline project that are being displayed around downtown Washington,

The activists’ trip came just as the Canadian government prepares a 2-year $24-million international advertising campaign aimed at shoring up the image of the oil sands in the United States and elsewhere.

Full Story: Suzuki to Obama admin: Don’t trust Harper, he’s like Bush by Luiza Ch. Savage.

Toronto Star October 7, 2013

“Franke James goes to Washington”

Franke James is about to do the very thing she says the government tried two years ago to prevent: take her art and message abroad.

Tuesday the Toronto artist and activist is leaving for Washington, D.C., armed with her signature protest art, this time taking aim at the Tar Sands and the Canadian government’s position on the Keystone XL pipeline.

The original artwork, which will be showcased as six different bus-stop advertisements, combines James’ passion for art, environmental issues and concerns over the state of freedom of expression in Canada.

…

But now, Washingtonians will get a taste of James’ special brand of speaking up. The ads will be displayed in the city until the end of November; one is already in place, two more by next week.