Comment by an Albertan:
OMG I hadn’t seen the image – it is so offensive, don’t even have the words. The rcmp are wrong – it is not consensual – Greta didn’t consent to it.
RCMP = Royal Canadian Mounted Police, but not so royal anymore.
Comment by a citizen in Saskatchewan:
How would Canadian judges rule if this was rape of a child that went to court? They’d have to let the rapist off of course because obviously it’s not his fault the child has braids. By wearing and thus flaunting them she drove the man to “extreme intoxication akin to non-insane automatism.”
Comment on Reddit Mar 3, 2020 by JcakSnigelton:
“High-jacking top comment to ask if there has been support to the rumour that Doug’s partner and co-owner, Don, is a member of the local RCMP, which may have influenced the Red Deer investigator’s determination that the graphic did not constitute distribution of child porn?
It would seem that many law-abiding citizens disagree.”
Comment to an article below:
Misogyny and destruction of the earth are two sides of the same coin.
Comment from an Albertan:
The disgusting “irony” of their company name – X Site just occurred to me.
Bastards. This is still bullshit. They have no clue.
It is so prevalent in the patch, most don’t even recognize it when they see it.
I agree. In my view, this X-Site decal promotes rape of a child, a famous child working diligently, passionately and compassionately trying to protect life on earth for all. Reading the many comments by Canadians supporting the decal, liking it, thinking it funny has sickened me, it’s terrifying and galling.
At age eight, I was repeatedly raped by a married Christian pedophile who drew similar drawings of himself with me. He’d draw the rape first, show me his drawing then he’d rape what he had drawn, huge hairy hands around my throat to stifle my screams.
Creating/distributing any message of rape against a child is not funny, it’s no joke and not innocent, and is so typical oil patch.
The company General Manager, Doug Sparrow, denied involvement, but not after first supporting it. And now he gives a feeble apology. Why? Did CAPP and his clients order him to because the industry was taking an enormous reputation hit?
My apologies to Ms. Thunberg and her loved ones for this Alberta horror shit show, with more abuse by our rape-enabling thugs, the RCMP – as expected, finding the decal fine while themselves trespassing on my private property to try to scare me into dropping my lawsuit and on unceded Indigenous lands, arresting and violently removing women from their homes and land.
I uploaded the image because of our RCMP failing women and children – yet again.
This is Alberta’s oil patch:
I feel angry and repulsed by Alberta’s abusive, abuse-enabling, oil addicted people and the pollution and rape enablers: our courts, AER, RCMP and politicians.
The Man Whose Art Was Stolen For The Greta Sticker Is “Disgusted” & Wants To Sue, “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.” by William Turvill, March 03, 2020, Narcity
… [German] Canalla said he became aware of the sticker when one of his social media followers sent him a message to alert him to the situation. The image is in fact plagiarized from one of his tattoo designs.
“I couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” he said. “Because normally I’m used to people ripping off my work to make T-shirts and tattooing and stuff. But this was like too much.” …
‘We will do better’: Alberta company apologizes for explicit Greta decal by The Canadian Press, Mar 2, 2020, Edmonton Journal
An Alberta energy services company says its management accepts full responsibility for a decal the business distributed bearing its logo beneath a sexually suggestive cartoon appearing to depict 17-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.
“This does not reflect the values of this company or our employees, and we deeply regret the pain we may have caused,” X-Site Energy Services said in a statement on its website Monday.
The sticker had a black-and-white drawing of a female figure’s bare back with hands pulling on her braided pigtails. The name “Greta” was written below. The company’s logo was under the drawing.
The image unleashed a torrent of outrage after it began circulating online Wednesday. It prompted condemnations from Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, provincial cabinet ministers and members of the House of Commons.
“We are taking action to condemn this image and its publication and are committed to recovering and destroying the decals we distributed,” X-Site’s statement read.
“Management accepts full responsibility and, effective immediately, has made organizational changes to reflect this.”
A call to Doug Sparrow, who was listed as X-Site’s general manager last week, went straight to voice mail and he did not immediately respond to a message seeking further clarification. X-Site’s 24-hour dispatch number was directed to Sparrow’s voice mail. An email to Sparrow was not immediately returned.
In August 2016, a tattoo artist in Argentina posted on his Instagram feed an identical drawing to the one used in the decal. German Canalla’s drawing didn’t have the word “Greta” written on it.
He said he didn’t give permission for his drawing to be used and he’s angry. Oh Alberta! Stealing logos by KKKenney’s super ignorant waste of 30 Million dollars War Room, and steal to make X-Site’s abusive decal. Galling and pathetic.
“Most of my work is about erotic situations, sex and (bondage, discipline, sadism and masochism),” Canalla wrote in an email Monday.
“My primal idea is consent, respect and above all, love. What they did is archaic, retrograde and misogynist. I’m ashamed of what they did with my work.”
- Greta Thunberg says graphic sticker shows ‘we’re winning’
- Explicit Greta sticker linked to Alberta company draws outrage
Michelle Narang of Rocky Mountain House said last week that a friend sent her a picture of the decal and told her they were being handed out at job sites.
She said the image was so jarring and hurtful that she cried.
Narang said she called Sparrow on Wednesday and he told her he was aware of the stickers being distributed and that he stood by them. Narang said Sparrow told her: “She is not a child. She is 17.”
Sparrow later denied responsibility in an interview with Calgary radio station 660 News.
“It’s not from X-Site or any employee. Someone has done this. That’s all I know,” he told the radio station.
X-Site’s statement does not make clear who made the decals, whose decision it was to hand them out and what the “organizational changes” entail.
It adds that “other parties” have been making more images with X-Site’s logo, but did not elaborate.
“These have nothing to do with our company, and we ask for everyone’s help in taking them and the original decal out of circulation and hope people will stop republishing these images.”
X-Site said it is discussing a code of conduct with its employees and that it will hold sessions on respect in the workplace with all staff.
“We have let our employees, our families and our customers down with this careless action. But just as we are committed to help reduce our industry’s environmental footprint, we are committed to learn from and correct our mistake,” it said.
“We will do better.”
The RCMP reviewed the decals, but determined that, while “distasteful,” they did “not meet the elements of child pornography.”
Thunberg has made headlines for her passionate pleas to world leaders to take tougher action on cutting greenhouse gas emissions and for inspiring large climate marches around the world.
“They are starting to get more and more desperate,” she said Saturday of her critics on Twitter. “This shows that we’re winning.”
Here is the company’s full statement posted on its website:
Do I believe X-Site’s apology is sincere? No. It’s also too late and came after the company lied.
Most comments to the Edmonton Journal & Calgary Herald posting of above article are too vile (in Alberta’s typical misogynistic abusive Way) to add here, a few decent ones:
Alan Molander
LMAO a little girl with pigtails just took Doug’s lunch money.
Grace Isaak Reply to Lorna Blanchard
What most of the commenters here do not see is not only the belittling of a very brave lady, but the belittling (again) of women. Why must a political stance be sexualized?
Martin Friese
Pretty difficult to take this statement at face value 5 days after this Sparrow clown denied having anything to do with it. Here’s hoping people are wise enough not to hire them and the market takes care of it. Clearly that’s all this apology is about: saving his company.
Martin Friese Reply to David joe
Sparrow’s initial response when someone messaged him about sexually exploiting a child was “She’s not a child”. He is responsible and since he’s the general manager it’s unlikely he’ll fire himself.
***
RCMP say no criminal offence in graphic decal by 660 News, Feb 28, 2020 1:00 pm MST
Police say they have finished an investigation into a graphic decal depicting a well-known climate activist.
Red Deer RCMP conclude the decal doesn’t meet the requirements for child pornography nor does it depict a non-consensual act.
Police don’t believe it constitutes a criminal offence and won’t be commenting further.
The decal in question made the rounds on social media earlier this week. The sticker depicts the sexual assault of teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg with the logo of an oil and gas services company at the bottom.
One woman who works in the oil patch said the sticker is being misconstrued.
Suntanna Jack, a contractor who has worked with X-Site Energy Services defends the sticker saying the General Manager of the company, Doug Sparrow is being unfairly dragged through the mud.
“It didn’t have anything to do with the image of a woman, never mind a girl and I know Doug has absolutely no inclination to think that way of any person.” Suntanna Jack needs reading glasses, or new ones.
Jack alleges there are worse decals throughout the oilsands, some more graphic and obscene than the one depicting Thunberg.
Sparrow has denied his company had any involvement with the decals.
X-Site’s social media pages and website have been taken down since the decal surfaced.
A tweet in response:
Definitely Not JC @NotJCinCalgary Replying to @MHNJeremyAppel and @RCMPAlberta
We investigated thoroughly and determined that this was a case of “boys will be boys”
Greta sticker that drew outrage in Alberta not child pornography: RCMP by The Canadian Press, February 28, 2020, Calgary Herald
RCMP in central Alberta say a decal that appears to show a well-known teenage climate activist in a sexual act is not child pornography.
The decal bears the logo of X-Site Energy Services below a cartoon figure seeming to depict 17-year-old Greta Thunberg of Sweden.
The company’s general manager, Doug Sparrow, has denied having anything to do with the stickers.
A concerned citizen had called the Mounties and reported the sticker as child pornography.
The general investigative section of the RCMP in Red Deer says it consulted with police experts in the sexual exploitation of children.
It concluded the decal does not include components needed to consider it child pornography nor does the decal depict “a non-consensual act that would be a direct threat to the person.”
“Alberta RCMP do not believe it constitutes a criminal offence,” a police statement said Friday. “As such, Alberta RCMP will not be commenting any further on this investigation.”
The sticker has a black-and-white drawing of a female figure’s bare back with hands pulling on her braided pigtails and the name “Greta” written below.
A torrent of online outrage was sparked when Michelle Narang of Rocky Mountain House, Alta., posted the image on social media Wednesday night. She said she cried when she saw it.
“The visual is jarring,” Narang said Thursday. “It hurt. It hurt on so many levels.”
The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers said it finds the decal completely unacceptable.
“This kind of behaviour is not representative of Canada’s oil and natural gas industry, service companies who work in the industry, or the province of Alberta,” YES IT IS! THAT’S THE PROBLEM, IT’S ALSO IN OUR MISOGYNISTIC AND RACIST LEGAL AND JUDICIAL INDUSTRY IN CANADA. Notice how CAPP added “natural” to their quote? There’s nothing natural, and everything toxic and invasive, about industry’s frac’d gas. Stacey Hatcher, an association vice-president said in a release Friday.
“The industry holds human rights and social integrity in high regard FRAC SHIT! That’s a big lie. The oil and gas industry bribes, divides, and physically and emotionally harms families and communities everywhere they operate. And intentionally rots innocent brains of children. and we must speak up when we see behaviour so contrary to our values.”
IF TRUE, WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG FOR CAPP TO MAKE A STATEMENT? WAITING FOR THE RCMP TO SWEEP IT UNDER THE OIL PATCH RAPE RUG, AS USUAL?
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, Status of Women Minister Leela Aheer and politicians from all stripes have also denounced the graphic. …
Comment to the article above:
Larry Gammon: Good, let’s be done with this Greta nonsense once & for all!
NONSENSE? How would you feel Larry, if that decal was of you when you were 17 about to be raped by Doug Sparrow, or gang raped by his entire X-Site crew? Or if that child in the decal was your daughter or son?
Below tweet by Michael Dunn, Feb 27, 2020:
Yes, it is.
A few more tweets, out of order:
Ann@freakindelight Replying to @DrJayDrNo
This is a water management company, not an oil company. They provide a service to the oil companies and therefore depend on contracts. I think we need to look up all the companies who use this service and let them know this is not acceptable. Central Ab and Northern BC
Leela Sharon Aheer @LeelaAheer, Alberta Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women, MLA for Chestermere-Strathmore
The graphic in this article is completely deplorable, unacceptable and degrading. This is not what our province stands for. Whoever is responsible should be ashamed and apologize immediately. I stand with Albertans against this horrendous image. #ableg
Shaun Howell @shaunhowell Replying to @LeelaAheer
It may not be what Alberta stands for but its exactly what it is…this is the Alberta I grew up in and left because of…this is Alberta, deny it all you want but your own governments policies keep encouraging it.
StopLying #Please@jsinvr Replying to @LeelaAheer
The RCMP need to investigate. These were incitements to rape a child. An apology is irrelevant. It takes a deeply disturbed group of ppl to imagine, design & print such graphics.
Jeff Manchak@jmanchak Replying to @DrJayDrNo
… Taking a step back, how the hell did we get here? How has the world got to the point where we can think something like this is ok? It’s demoralizing…
Silicon Hanna Inc. @SiliconHanna Replying to @LeelaAheer and @nateglubish
There’s a historic connection between resource extraction and “toxic” masculinity. I’ve experienced it working in oil and gas. At several companies. Sadly. So have many others.
David Hamer@DavidHamer_1951
Please don’t re-post the vile image of Greta Thunberg apparently being distributed by Doug Sparrow, General Manager of X-Site Energy Ltd. in Alberta. But let’s all contact the company today – here they are:
Dirty Lefty Snowflake@sudburyleft Replying to @agtbloodrayne and @ARsudbury
As long as I’ve been alive, Alberta has had some of the most hateful people I’ve seen in Canada. It’s a shame, it’s such a beautiful place yet filled with so much hate.
Esmé Comfort@esmecomfort
That is a completely inappropriate response to the protest. I am disgusted and saddened by this. How would your mothers, daughters, female cousins, co-workers…every woman who sees this, how would they feel?
Sameer Singh@SinghingSam
Wonder how the Wexit folks will respond to this. Hint: they won’t.
Marlin McTavish@marlin_mtavish
OMG NOOOOO!! so wrong!
evelyn bloemendaal@keighlanolivia
Well thus is disturbing. Seems to me @MichelleRempel had an issue with PM with is outing if the situation
Korina Crown@ramenisasalad
Absolutely disgusting behaviour.
Ciara@Ciara38356528
Absolute shocker
Bradford@lidexpressions
Atrocious. Someone or a few should be sacked!
Sheila Turchyn@sturchyn
Unbelievable and frightening. What kind of people think this is ok?
nancy malachowski@nancymalachowsk
clear example of misogyny. Untolerable! Should be charged for menacing harassment.
Listen@listen49 Replying to @bymichaeldunn and @MichelleNarang
Exactly what is wrong in AB #MMIW
Wil Henderson@WKRPinCanada Replying to @bymichaeldunn and @MichelleNarang
Seems like their website is gone too
Or its crashed from so many people using it to send them an email
YEGlifer@YEGlifer
I’m sure the War RoomTrade mark sign is right on it. I’m being sarcastic of course; they’d never call out one of their own.
GeeWhiz@EdTheKat
If they did, it would be with a smirk and a wink
Wayne C@kicker6741
Thanks for sharing. Especially like the click here to submit a job application. Should be an opening for general manager today. #AlbertaStupid
Susan Skinner@SusanSkinnerNV
He answered the phone last night. I asked him why he thought it was acceptable to spread child porn. He grunted and I ended the call. He needs to be charged with distributing child porn and hate speech.
Sandy Phimester@SandyPhimester Replying to @bymichaeldunn and @MichelleNarang
That’s a thing with them, there are other Greta being raped memes out there and you’ll see them from time to time in the Wexit groups. Fucked up.
Bob SAMPSON@BobSAMP07764609 Replying to @bymichaeldunn and @MichelleNarang
You want to know why people outside Alberta dislike Albertan’s and lack sympathy when we are struggling. This is why! It might not represent all the oil industry but it represents a lot of them. #stayclassyalberta
Suzy@suzynotes
Don’t forget the #racists too.
Midseason FreddyGem stone@Maple_Hyperion Replying to @bymichaeldunn and @MichelleNarang
I have done a lot of work around Rocky, and elsewhere in the patch. This is standard practice. Men are always gone working, the kids grow up to be shitheads, and the cycle repeats itself. 100% chance this guy is also a Nazi. It’s unbelievably common in AB.
ClydeGronk@clydegronk
This is because people refuse to better themselves with education and look beyond their borders to see their is a real world outside of their created one
Angela*Brown@ABrownFalcon
Yes, ignorance and entitlement. A pathetic combination with deplorable results.
Stephen Best@BestStephen Replying to @bymichaeldunn @MichelleNarang
This decal/sticker was approved of by not only the graphic designer but also the client and its staff, the printer and its staff, and all the people who displayed it. That’s indicative of a culture were raping women (in this case a girl) is fodder for amusement.
DarbyCar@DarbyCar
When a guy says “It’s only a joke,” ask him to explain what is funny about it.
Erin Prefontaine@erinPre Replying to @bymichaeldunn and @MichelleNarang
The statistics are: 1 in 3 women are raped or sexually assaulted in Alberta – including children. The statistics related to sex trafficking in man camps is MUCH higher and then there is the issue of #mmiwg
Suzy@suzynotes
That is terrible! Do you have any stat source links?
Lottie “#ShutDownCanada” Blix@lottieblix Replying to @bymichaeldunn and @MichelleNarang
This is it. This was the final straw. I gotta get the fuck out of this province forever.
Cara @mindofme
The more people leave, the less resistance these jerks will have 🙁 remember those who have to stay behind and fight
Casey Mac Flag of Lesotho@WordOfCase
Hard to be surprised. You can be sure there’s worse stuff we aren’t seeing.
Monika Wenzel-Curtis@WenzelCurtis Replying to @bymichaeldunn and MichelleNarang
This is a hate crime. I will be calling them as well as the police today. Why has no one taken action? Are we just complacent to comment and move on?
Undercaffeinated Centrist@PurlAj
Considering how rarely police prosecute actual rapes, I’m not optimistic.
Jennifer Behan@BehanJennifer
I read this article yesterday!! I think I’ll send it to the company email as well…no one has mentioned in the comments that she is also disabled, not just 17! People need to be better than this, and held accountable. Thank you for making it public.
c.b.@catsagogo Replying to @bymichaeldunn and @MichelleNarang
https://twitter.com/jkenney/status/1068582203225890816?s=19
Jason Kenney@jkenney Nov 30, 2018
Justin Trudeau says pipelines must go through a “gender based analysis” because male construction workers have “impacts.”
Darned right they do. They build things, create wealth, pay taxes, take care of their families.
But this trust fund millionaire thinks they can’t be trusted https://twitter.com/Canadabuster/status/1068213670834917376
Remember this.
Quote Tweet
Heidi Belleau@HeidiBelleau
All the conservatives were SO OFFENDED anyone would DARE imply there is a sexual violence issue in the oil patch
lol k
Normen Nescio Shamrock@coolxenu Replying to @bymichaeldunn and @MichelleNarang
@katy_merrifield
are you proud of this @jkenney supporter? What would you say to him about his company stickers? ableg #cdnpoli
Saje333@Saje3331 Replying to @bymichaeldunn and @MichelleNarang
I just called and shamed him. EVERY SINGLE WOMAN IN ALBERTA SHOULD DO THIS. The fuckwad has daughters and I am shocked he would allow this. This is horrid and needs to be dealt with. @jkenney This is on you and your fake energy centre! CALL HIM OUT PEOPLE. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
Tracey Dyck@Wx_Dyck
No account any longer, I guess.
ADP ChickenWine glass@AdPowPow
It was there a few minutes ago. He seems to have taken down his account.
Corey McE@CoreyMce
I texted him ask him if he liked being a pedophile since she is only 17 no response yet
Lori Hutchings Flag of Canada@LoriHutchings1 Replying to @bymichaeldunn and @MichelleNarang
Disgusting & shameful. This is @jkenney & @JasonNixonAB‘s new Alberta. So awful… notmyAlberta
Just Me@HotShotAndy Replying to @bymichaeldunn and @MichelleNarang @CBCNews @CBCEdmonton @ctvedmonton @GlobalEdmonton @globalnews @edmontonjournal @calgaryherald @Edmontonsun @calgarysun @RedDeerAdvocate @ryanjespersen
RMH company supports and laughs about rape of 16 Y/O girl who stand up for her beliefs.
Amithist Dragon@Amithist_Dragon Replying to @bymichaeldunn and @MichelleNarang
@CBCEdmonton @GlobalEdmonton
this is the oil patch that people hate. The one that makes fun of raping a 17 year old girl.
Greg Axani @g_axani
As someone living in AB, it is not surprising that this was made. The amount of hate people have in this province for Greta is reprehensible and totally misdirected. Lots of the hate is fuelled by the #UCP @jkenney @WBrettWilson and others.
Julie Ali @JulieYAli Replying to @bymichaeldunn and @MichelleNarang @CBCIndigenous @CBCNews @calgaryherald @edmontonjournal @globeandmail @theprovince @VancouverSun @NatObserver @nationalpost
Ignorance on full display in Alberta.
Victoria Dee@DeetoriaDee Replying to @bymichaeldunn and @MichelleNarang
Except this is the oil patch. This mentality is common. This is beyond gross.
Kevin@KpHeaney Replying to @bymichaeldunn and @MichelleNarang
The only part I disagree with? This IS, the oil patch, and at least a third of Alberta believes this way, and much worse.
FACEBOOK FUROR Local oil and gas company denies responsibility for controversial “Greta” decal by Sheldon Spackman and Troy Gillard, Feb 27, 2020, Red Deer News Now
The general manager of a Red Deer-based oil and gas services company claims they have no involvement with a controversial decal that features his company’s logo.
Images of the decal circulating online show his company’s name, X-Site Energy Services, on a cartoon rendering of teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg in a sexually submissive position.
Doug Sparrow tells rdnewsNOW the decal was not made or endorsed by either himself or any employee of his company. He alleges that an unknown third party has posted it to Facebook.
Sparrow says he has sent multiple requests to Facebook to have images of the decal removed, but that so far they have not responded.
Red Deer-based Velocity Graphics, who has done work for X-Site Energy Services in the past, issued a Facebook post Thursday afternoon saying they had no involvement with the Greta decal.
Sparrow has received hundreds of calls and emails about the decal and has shut down his Facebook and Linkedin pages because of the negative feedback.
Some people are disagreeing with Sparrow’s claim he knows nothing about the decal, however.
Michelle Narang of Rocky Mountain House says she called Sparrow Wednesday night after a friend was given one of the decals while at a job site.
“I made sure that I phoned the company before I posted it to social media because I thought in my mind ‘Maybe it is a third party?’ Anybody can make a decal and stick a logo on it. So I made sure before I made any rash post. Then I phoned them myself,” she tells rdnewsNOW.
Narang says she asked Sparrow if he was aware of the stickers with his logo depicting the rape of Greta Thunberg were being circulated.
“He indicated that it was his company campaign which he was quite supportive of,” she explained. “Doug responded ‘Well, she’s not a child, she’s 17, and that’s not really what we meant anyway.’
“Yesterday, he’s very proud of it. He stood by it. Now, he’s denying it,” she claims.
A picture that appeared on the company’s Instagram account showed a piece of equipment belonging to the company that had the words “THE GRETA ECO EDITION SUPERHEATER, IT GETS SCREAMING HOT!” pasted into the photo. Both the picture and Instagram account were deleted on Thursday.
A photo posted Feb. 7, 2020 that appeared on the Instagram account for X-Site Energy Services. Both the picture and account have since been deleted. rdnewsNOW has reached out to Sparrow for further comment and have yet to hear back.
In the meantime, Narang says she’s not concerned about the heat she’s receiving over going public with the matter.
“I’m getting threats of a defamation of character. I shared his own marketing materials and his own Facebook. They want to sue me? Have at it.”
Narang feels the decal itself is not indicative of the oil and gas industry she supports strongly.
“Alberta and the oil and gas industry, and the leaders within it, need to condemn this type of messaging. This is not our narrative. We cannot allow this to carry on.”
Alberta RCMP have been made aware of the decal and say they are looking into it.
Leela Aheer, Alberta’s Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women Minister, tweeted that she considers the image to be “completely deplorable, unacceptable and degrading.”
“This is not what our province stands for,” she tweeted. “Whoever is responsible should be ashamed and apologize immediately. I stand with Albertans against this horrendous image.”
7 Comments to article above:
Holly M
It’s pretty obvious they not only knew about it but they also supported it and most likely are 100% responsible for it. If I owned that company I would have fired the gm before he had a chance to talk about it because he’s only made them look more and more guilty. How does someone with such a low IQ become GM of any company?
Attia Rante
Typical redneck behavior we expect from Alberta.
SK Moore
Disgusting and they should reap their just rewards.
Karleen Bardal
I believe this qualifies as a ‘hate crime “against women. Disgusting, but then this is Red Deer, which disappoints anyway. Burning effigies of the PM. A disgusting lot of pigs, in poop.
Rachel Aube
Sounds like a bunch of bull – because when you were phoned and interviewed about it your reply was “she’s 17 now she’s not a minor”… RAPE OF ANYONE OF ANY AGE IS STILL RAPE YOU DUMB IDIOT – Hope your company goes under!
Terry Lewis
How low can people go! Truly amazing, this really the type of people that are in Alberta’s oil patch? I wonder if this is the beginning of a whole new disrespect for it ?
Fetu Peni
If this is true why did they take down their website?
Alberta oilfield company draws fire for sexually graphic ‘Greta’ image, Illustration ‘completely unacceptable,’ says energy minister by CBC News with files from The Canadian Press, Feb 27, 2020, CBC News
Alberta’s premier and two cabinet ministers have joined a chorus of condemnation levelled at a Red Deer oilfield company over a sexually graphic image that surfaced this week on Facebook.
The illustration, published Wednesday, shows a female figure — viewed from behind and apparently naked — with long, braided hair being pulled back by a pair of hands. The name “Greta” is written across her back, an apparent reference to 17-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.
Directly below the image is the logo of the oilfield company X-Site Energy Services.
Thunberg drew criticism from supporters of the oil and gas sector when she made a series of appearances across Canada last year, which included a climate rally at the Alberta legislature.
The image, which CBC News has chosen not to republish, has been widely denounced on social media.
Alberta’s minister for the status of women, Leela Aheer, called the graphic “completely deplorable, unacceptable and degrading.”
“This is not what our province stands for,” she wrote on Twitter. “Whoever is responsible should be ashamed and apologize immediately. I stand with Albertans against this horrendous image.”
Premier Jason Kenney tweeted in response: “Thank you for denouncing this odious image and the message it sends.”
On her Twitter account, Alberta Energy Minister Sonya Savage called the graphic “completely unacceptable” and echoed Aheer’s call for an apology.
Visual is ‘jarring’
X-Site general manager Doug Sparrow declined a request for an interview when contacted by CBC News.
Sparrow did not return messages seeking comment from The Canadian Press, but told Calgary radio station CFFR he has received hundreds of complaints, though his company wasn’t involved. Then why was the image posted on the company’s Instagram account and why did the general manager first express support for it?
“It’s not from X-Site or any employee,” Sparrow told the radio station. “Someone has done this. That’s all I know.”
Michelle Narang of Rocky Mountain House, Alta., first posted the graphic on her Facebook page Wednesday evening. She said a friend who works in the oil and gas industry texted her a photo of the decal and told her an X-Site employee had been handing them out.
“The visual is jarring,” said Narang, who has two teenage daughters. “It hurt on so many levels.”
Narang said she was reluctant to share the image because she didn’t want to give the energy sector another black eye.
“In Alberta, especially, we are fighting so hard for an industry that means so much to us, and to have that sort of sabotage from within — you can’t do that.”
Narang said she has been heartened by industry workers speaking out against the image. She said she called the RCMP to report the decal as child pornography.
RCMP Cpl. Ron Bumbry said officers are aware of the image and “will be following up.”
A Red Deer graphic design company that has produced decals for X-Site in the past said it had nothing to do with the image.
“I thought it was disgusting,” said Serina Roker, production manager for Velocity Graphics.
Comments on social media linking Velocity to the image prompted Roker to issue a statement, denying they produced it. She said the company will not work with X-Site in the future.
“False accusations like this can really damage a company,” said Roker.
In early February, X-Site said on Instagram it had named its high-efficiency heater The Greta.
CBC UPDATE Feb 28:
On Friday, Red Deer RCMP said it had completed its investigation into the decal.
“In consultation with police officers whose expertise includes the sexual exploitation of children, Red Deer RCMP determined that the decal does not meet the elements of child pornography,” RCMP said in a news release. “Nor does the decal depict a non-consensual act that would be a direct threat to the person.”
Alberta RCMP do not believe the decal constitutes a criminal offence, police said.
A Red Deer graphic design company that has produced decals for X-Site in the past said it had nothing to do with the image.
Greta Thunberg sticker depicting sexual assault linked to Alberta oil company draws outrage by Lauren Krugel, The Canadian Press, Feb 27, 2020, The Globe and Mail
An Alberta woman says she has complained to the RCMP about a decal bearing an energy services company’s logo below a cartoon depicting what appears to be the sexual assault of 17-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.
The sticker has a black-and-white drawing of a female figure’s bare back with hands pulling on her braided pigtails. The name “Greta” is written below. Under the drawing is the logo of X-Site Energy Services.
The company’s general manager, Doug Sparrow, did not return messages seeking comment from The Canadian Press, but has denied having anything to do with the stickers to other media outlets.
Michelle Narang of Rocky Mountain House, Alta., said a friend who works in the oil and gas industry texted her a photo of the decal and told her an X-Site employee was handing them out.
Narang, who has two teenage daughters, said as soon as she saw the image, she sat down in a chair and cried.
“The visual is jarring,” Narang said Thursday. “It hurt. It hurt on so many levels.”
Narang said she called the RCMP to report the decal as child pornography.
RCMP Cpl. Ron Bumbry said officers are aware of the image and “will be following up.”
A torrent of online outrage was sparked when Narang posted the image on social media Wednesday night.
Sparrow told Calgary radio station CFFR that he has since received hundreds of complaints, but his company wasn’t involved.
“It’s not from X-Site or any employee. Someone has done this. That’s all I know,” he told the radio station.
Sparrow’s voicemail at X-Site was full on Thursday and an email to him bounced back as undeliverable. Messages left with other employees and an email sent through X-Site’s website were not immediately returned. Calls to 24-hour dispatch numbers went to voicemail.
A sales contact listed on X-Site’s website said he no longer works with the company, but that Sparrow had told him earlier Thursday that the stickers did not come from Sparrow.
Alberta’s minister for the status of women, Leela Aheer, called the graphic “completely deplorable, unacceptable and degrading.”
“This is not what our province stands for. Whoever is responsible should be ashamed and apologize immediately. I stand with Albertans against this horrendous image,” she wrote on Twitter.
Premier Jason Kenney tweeted in response: “Thank-you for denouncing this odious image and the message it sends.”
Thunberg has made headlines for her passionate pleas to world leaders to take tougher action on cutting greenhouse gas emissions and for inspiring large climate marches around the world.
She joined thousands in a march through downtown Edmonton in October. Oil-and-gas industry supporters showed up, but they were vastly outnumbered by the climate marchers.
Narang said she was reluctant to share the Greta image because she didn’t want to give the energy sector another black eye as environmental opposition stalls development in an economically vital industry.
“In Alberta, especially, we are fighting so hard for an industry that means so much to us and to have that sort of sabotage from within – you can’t do that.”
Narang said she has been heartened by industry workers speaking out against the Greta image.
“People have this picture of an oil-and-gas worker and what they think the industry is and what they think the industry represents – and this is not it.”
Carla Peck, PhD Rainbow #ally @cpeck3
There is an image circulating on social media that I don’t want to promote but that deserves to be called out. I don’t want to spread it further. TW: It depicts sexual violence on a child and was posted on an Albertan business as a “joke” about a young climate change activist.
The image is disgusting, violent, and makes me sick to my stomach. You won’t have trouble finding it if you look for it. If, after viewing the image you’d like to contact the business to express your concerns, you can do so here: https://x-site-energy.com/contact-us
That the person or people who created and posted the poster believe they have the social license to do so is a grim condemnation of the effects of Trump-style politics in Alberta and beyond.
Max Fawcett@maxfawcett Replying to @cpeck3
I have yet to see any of the oil and gas industry’s leaders step up and denounce it. I would like to see that.
eric denhoff@EDenhoff
Maybe ask Brett Wilson, who literally has an opinion on everything. If he denounced, would be helpful.
Carla Peck, PhD Rainbow #ally @cpeck3
I wouldn’t give him the time [of] day even if he paid me all of his Dragon millions.
Dr. Andy Holt@DrAndyHolt Replying to @cpeck3
As @LiseGot has highlighted, the preparation and dissemination of the image are indictable offences under Canada’s child pornography act. Minimum 12 months in jail.
***
Sticker shock: Decals of train driving through protesters is just a joke, Alberta man says by Omar Mosleh with files from The Canadian Press, Feb. 27, 2020, Toronto Star
An Alberta man said decals he was selling depicting a train running over protesters are intended merely as a source of amusement.
Matt Bussey made the decals, which depicts a train with the words “Alberta Strong” and stick figures scurrying around it to avoid being struck. One of the figures is falling under the train while another appears to have been tossed in the air after being struck.
On Thursday, an Alberta woman says she complained to the RCMP about a decal bearing an energy services company’s logo below a cartoon depicting what appeared to be the sexual assault of 17-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. The company’s general manager, Doug Sparrow, did not return messages seeking comment, but has denied having anything to do with the stickers.
Bussey, who works at an Edmonton body shop, said he wasn’t initially planning on selling the train decal until he posted the one he made for himself and the post “blew up.”
“Honestly I found it funny and that’s about it,” Bussey said. “It’s just purely entertainment.”
He decided to print more and post them for sale for $5 after several people commented asking where they could purchase one.
On Thursday afternoon, a Facebook user with the name Penny Ramone said they were reporting the decal to police as a death threat. The post was either removed or made private shortly after.
Bussey said he’s not encouraging violence.
“It’s a joke. … Some people are offended by everything and you can’t tiptoe around everything because some people are going to be offended,” he said.
He added he’s not making any money off the decals.
Bert Crowfoot, founder and CEO of the Aboriginal Multimedia Society of Alberta, posted the decal on Facebook on Thursday and was surprised to see it get hundreds of shares and numerous comments. He found the decals a problem.
“I was really disappointed. … I see them blowing through and killing and injuring people that don’t agree with his point of view,” Crowfoot said.
He said as a media person, he typically shares posts he sees without commenting. He said he shared the post to encourage discussion, but he saw the conversation getting heated and decided to delete it.
“Look at the result of it. What he may have thought started off as a joke, it didn’t end up as a joke. I had to delete it because of all the negative comments going back and forth,” Crowfoot said.
He wasn’t surprised by the decal’s sentiment and said he’s disappointed overall in the state of race relations in Canada.
“If you really want to find out what the average person’s views on Indigenous people are, wait until something like a blockade and … read the comments,” Crowfoot said.
“You get depressed reading all the negative stuff from both sides,” he added.
He said he believes the anger needs to be toned down on both sides of the conversation.
“I honestly believe we need to sit down, have a coffee … and just share our views,” Crowfoot said.
‘It’s 2020. We should be a lot farther along. And we’re not.”
Refer also to:
How prevalent is racism (and misogyny) among Canadian lawyers & judges?
“Oil Patch” and “the patch” = the oil and gas industry.