While everyone is freaking out about pipelines, Rio de Janeiro keeps pumping raw sewage into its water

The latest pipeline leak in Saskatchewan has many people expressing their concern over the effects that crude oil has on the environment. As with any leak, those opposing pipeline development use the news as fresh evidence in their attempts to convince the world that pipelines mean nothing but harm to society at large. This is, of course, despite the fact that any such leak or compromise in a pipeline’s structural integrity occurs in exceptionally rare circumstances. As Yogi Schulz pointed out, pipeline’s have a tremendous record for staying safe while contributing billions of dollars to the economy.

A typical hypocrisy among those advocating against pipeline development is their complete neglect with regards to other (far more damning) environmental contaminations taking place in other industries and other parts of the world. A great example of this is current state of affairs of Rio de Janeiro’s waterways. With the Summer Olympics only days away, there are striking data points that suggest environmental damage far worse than Husky’s pipeline leak in Saskatchewan.

The Associated Press published a report today outlining some the key findings on how toxic Rio’s water really is.

Here’s an excerpt from the article:

Just days ahead of the Olympic Games the waterways of Rio de Janeiro are as filthy as ever, contaminated with raw human sewage teeming with dangerous viruses and bacteria, according to a 16-month-long study commissioned by the Associated Press.

Not only are some 1,400 athletes at risk of getting violently ill in water competitions, but the AP’s tests indicate that tourists also face potentially serious health risks on the golden beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana.

The AP’s survey of the aquatic Olympic and Paralympic venues has revealed consistent and dangerously high levels of viruses from the pollution – a major black eye on Rio’s Olympic project that has set off alarm bells among sailors, rowers and open-water swimmers.

The article went on to say that tests on the water ways have shown “viral levels at up to 1.7 million times what would be considered worrisome in the United States or Europe.” At those concentrations, swimmers and athletes who ingest “just three teaspoons of water are almost certain to be infected with viruses that can cause stomach and respiratory illnesses and, more rarely, heart and brain inflammation – although whether they actually fall ill depends on a series of factors including the strength of the individual’s immune system.”

Surely the state of Rio’s water should cause even the most ardent anti-pipeline advocate to suspend their current crusade and take up a different one such as this.