11位綠色和平組織人士於7月25日，進入「合成原油有限公司」（Syncrude Canada Ltd.）在麥克暮瑞堡北部經營的「極光油砂廠」（Aurora North Tar Sands facility）高舉旗幟，呼籲將尾砂池的排出口，改道至有毒污泥匯集處的排放口。
綠色和平組織的發言者表示，「組織成員在早上8點過後不久，就試圖要堵住排出口，但由於水壓很大，所以無法完全堵住。」
而同屬綠色和平組織的另外2位人士則在尾砂池旁，拿著旗幟高呼「世界最髒的油：停止排放油砂」。
但在行動人士還沒完全堵住第二個排出口時，Syncrude的警衛就上前逮捕拘留了11位參與者，並交給加拿大皇家騎警隊處理。然而對於這些示威抗議人士的處置方式仍是懸而未決。
Syncrud確定綠色和平組織人士是在未經允許的前提下，於25日進入極光油砂廠，且Syncrud相信他們是藉由破壞鎖上的閘門進入廠區。
Syncrud在一個聲明中表示，為了確保抗議人士的安全已護送他們到他處，並補充說道，該抗議行動並未引發環境問題，或是波及到油砂廠的營運狀況。
Syncrud確定綠色和平組織人士是在未經允許的前提下，於25日進入極光油砂廠，且Syncrud相信他們是藉由破壞鎖上的閘門進入廠區。
Syncrud在一個聲明中表示，為了確保抗議人士的安全已護送他們到他處，並補充說道，該抗議行動並未引發環境問題，或是波及到油砂廠的營運狀況。
「我們很萬幸沒有任何人傷亡，」Syncrud公司總裁暨執行長凱提納斯表示，「但對於開發油砂的環境問題，縱使我們很樂意進行討論與溝通，我們還是希望能夠透過合法且專業的管道來處理。」
參與此次油砂事件的綠色和平成員赫德馬﹝Mike Hudema﹞說道，「大型石油公司正在掠奪亞伯達省的天然資源，他們讓阿薩巴斯卡河 （Athabasca River）的淡水變成了充滿有毒污泥的巨大湖泊，不僅扼殺野生生物也毒害了當地居民。」
赫德馬說，「如今我們傳達訊息給這起環境犯罪的主事者，清楚表達了欲其終止油砂排放的行為。」
油砂耗用的水大過亞伯達省內任何一個用戶的使用量，且現行計畫已獲得許可，每年能從阿薩巴斯卡河抽取超過4億5000萬立方公尺的水，大約是每年卡爾加里城（Calgary）水資源使用量的2.5倍。
然而使用過後的水由於已遭到有毒化學物嚴重汙染，必須要儲存在含毒尾砂池中，而今尾砂池已巨大到從太空中都能看見了。
Eleven Greenpeace activists entered Syncrude's Aurora North Tar Sands facility north of Fort McMurray today, erecting a banner that transformed the opening of a tailings pond pipe into the "mouth" of a giant skull, spewing toxic sludge.
Shortly after 8:00 am, Greenpeaceers attempted to block the pipe, but the strength of the water pressure prevented the closure from being completed, said a spokesperson for the group.
Two other activists hung a banner reading "World's Dirtiest Oil: Stop the Tar Sands," on the bank of the tailings pond.
Before they could completely block the second pipe, Syncrude security took the 11 activists into custody and handed them over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Charges are pending against all the demonstrators.
Syncrude confirms that the Greenpeace activists entered the Aurora site today without permission. The company believes they gained access by breaking through a locked gate.
The protestors were "escorted to another area on the site to ensure their safety," the company said in a statement, adding that there were no environmental impacts or operational upsets as a result of the incident.
"We are thankful no one was hurt," said Syncrude President and CEO Tom Katinas. "While we encourage debate and dialogue about the environmental impacts of oil sands development, we do expect it to be conducted in a lawful and professional manner."
"Big oil companies are pillaging Alberta's natural resources, robbing freshwater from the Athabasca River to make giant lakes of toxic sludge that are killing wildlife and poisoning local communities," said Mike Hudema, a tar sands campaigner with Greenpeace.
"Today we brought our message to the perpetrators of this environmental crime with a clear message to
put the brakes on the tar sands," Hudema said.
The tar sands use more water than any other Alberta user. Current projects are licensed to remove more than 450 million cubic meters of water from the Athabasca River each year, about two and a half times the amount of water used by the city of Calgary each year.
After use, the water is so contaminated with toxic chemicals that it is stored in toxic tailings ponds so large that they can be seen from space.
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In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
