Watch a live stream of the debate here beginning at 6:30.

As the world runs out of cheap oil and faces the threat of a destabilized global climate, the oil industry and the big banks that support them are fighting for their lives.

Massive public relations campaigns funded by big oil "question" established climate science and try to put a positive spin on their dangerous projects as they scrape up the last remaining sources of dirty oil on the planet to feed our addiction. BP's disastrous deep sea drilling operation in the Gulf of Mexico is just one example of the current state of affairs. Canada is at the centre of the storm because the mixture of sand and oil deep under the Boreal forest has become one of the last remaining major potential sources for oil extraction.

In the last month alone, we have seen a series of touring public presentations and media appearances by oil industry insiders including the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, tanker safety officials and perhaps most interestingly Ezra Levant, an outspoken and controversial author from the Fraser Institute. In the past Levant has called for the dismantling of public health care and the Canadian Pension Plan. He wrote a book called "Fight Kyoto" which questioned the international consensus on the impact of climate changing greenhouse gases and encouraged Canadians to fight the implementation of the Kyoto protocol.

Now Levant has taken his mission to keep big oil at the steering wheel of the global economy to a whole new extreme. His new book entitled "Ethical Oil" makes the case for massive expansions of the tar sands and related pipelines and tanker traffic calling the oil sands "the most ethical oil on earth".

After watching Levant speak, I decided I needed to call him on the dangerous conclusions of his book. Not only are the oil sands an environmental disaster locally but his plan would risk the lives of countless people around the world already feeling the effects of climate change. On Facebook I publicly challenged him to a debate which he has accepted. Ezra Levant and I will be going head-to-head in a full-fledged debate here in Vancouver next Thursday, November 18th at 6:30 PM at the Rio Theatre, 1660 E. Broadway (at Commercial). It is a free event but any donation you wish to make would be appreciated and would help cover costs.

Interest in our debate has been overwhelming. If you would like to ensure a ticket to the debate send me an email and I will add you to the reserved ticket list. Please show up on time or your tickets will be released. If you are unable to attend, it is possible to watch the debate streaming live on the internet by visiting wildernesscommittee.org/debate

Canada has an important role to play in facing the challenge of climate change and moving beyond petroleum. Hopefully this debate will provide some perspective on the scope of the challenges we face.

Ben West | Healthy Communities Campaigner
Wilderness Committee