"Tar sands oil is the dirtiest form of energy in the world. It has no place in President Obama's plans for a clean energy economy," said Sierra Club US Dirty Fuels Campaign Coordinator Pat Gallagher.

On February 19, 2009 President Obama travels to Canada on his first presidential visit abroad. He will face pressure from the Government of Canada to support production of Alberta tar sands oil.

Leading up to Obama's visit, environmental groups will conduct a wide variety of outreach, including running newspaper ads, launching a new website, and asking Americans and Canadians to sign letters and petitions to Prime Minister Harper and President Obama.

"Both Canada and the United States must begin to make the transition to a green energy economy from our current economy based on dirty fossil fuels such as coal and tar sands oil" said Stephen Hazell, executive director of Sierra Club Canada. "We are delighted by President Obama's commitment to make that transition."