"Tar Sands Crude - a Toxic Threat to Texas?" - Dallas

Dallas Sierra Club September General Meeting:

TransCanada's proposed Keystone XL project is designed to carry unrefined tar sands oil 1700 miles from Alberta, Canada southward through several states including Texas to be refined and shipped from Port Arthur.  Tar sand crude threatens landowners and waterways throughout the US as it is highly corrosive and acidic compared to Texas crude.  Tar sands represent an unstable blend of bitumen (which looks like asphalt) which needs to be liquified with natural gas and other chemicals, which is then highly pressurized to travel through a single wall pipeline.

Currently, the US has NO guidelines for tar sands pipelines posing serious threats and damage to their communities and drinking water.  In Texas alone, the pipeline crosses rivers and streams more than 32 times. The U.S. State Department is now under tremendous pressure to grant the pipeline's permit. Learn more about how this pipeline puts US taxpayers at risk while allowing Canada and foreign buyers of oil all the reward.

Japan and Alaska Landscape and Wildlife Photos
Dan Leffel will present scenic landscape and wildlife images from his recent trips to Japan in winter of 2011 and Alaska in summer of 2011.  Dan has won numerous photography contests in the Dallas area, and is a frequent presenter to local camera clubs and organizations in the DFW area.

Dan Leffel has been an avid photographer for over 40 years, and has been pursuing photography full time since he retired 10 years ago from EDS.  His passion for photography includes shooting fine art, scenic landscapes as well as commissioned portraits and model portfolios in his studio.  Dan's photography has taken him on two 12 day rafting trips through the Grand Canyon, an 11 day rafting trip through the Alaskan wilderness, and on trips spanning North America to Antarctica.  He recently hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru and photographed Iceland.  He frequently photographs New England, the Colorado Plateau, the four corners area, all parts of California, the Canadian Rockies, and the Northwest.

Dan has earned first place awards in the Dallas Sierra Club photography contest and the Heard photography contest, as well as at many Plano Photography club competitions.  Dan's photography is marketed globally by the ageFotoStock company, based in Spain.  Before “retiring” from club competitions he won "Photographer of the Year" honors with the Plano Photography Club for the last three years he competed.

Everyone is welcome. You don't have to be a Sierra Club member.

Our General Meeting starts at 7:00 p.m. but come at 6:30 for snacks, information and fellowship.  Click over to our General Meeting page for more information and a map.