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Showing posts from February, 2011

Meat? Maybe Not! (Video)

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Links Between Longer Ragweed Season and Climate Change Confirmed

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ScienceDaily (Feb. 25, 2011) — Studies by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists have confirmed, in some parts of North America, including Saskatchewan, ragweed season now lasts longer. The pollen contributes to the development of Hay Fever, especially in children.  Full story here.

Electricity Use, Coal Consumption, and Public Health


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ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES - Feb 26'11                                                   Power pylons.  A PinP photo Balancing benefits and risks as global demand rises. Full story here.

Is Climate Change Making Food Less Safe?

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Rachel Shulman EatDrinkBetter Feb 25 '11 New evidence suggests that climate change is already putting the safety of our food at risk, and that things are only going to get worse. Full story here. "Mutant" strawberries. l.p. photo

Winning Letters on Ethics and Tar Sands

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Environmental Defence Feb 24 '11 We held a contest for the best letter to new Environment Minister Peter Kent on ethics and tar sands. Here are the winners and some other favourites. You can still take action by sending a letter to Minister Kent here.

Climate Change. Wild Weather. There IS a Connection!

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Edmonton Journal February 22, 2011  A report in the scientific journal Nature has for the first time linked a specific weather event to human induced climate change.  Read more here.

Alberta's Herds of Woodland Caribou are in Trouble Across Their Range

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EDMONTONJOURNAL.COM FEBRUARY 21, 2011 Biologist says only habitat restoration will save species.  Read more here.

Planet-In-A-Nutshell. An Animated Video Series. HERE'S THE FIRST!

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Many Months Later, Gulf of Mexico Bottom Shows Little Sign of Recovery, but Many Dead Critters

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By Seth Borenstein, The Associated Press | The Canadian Press – Sat, 19 Feb '11  WASHINGTON - Oil from the BP spill remains stuck on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, according to a top scientist's video and slides that she says demonstrate the oil isn't degrading as hoped and has decimated life on parts of the sea floor. Full story here. It all began early last year when the rig,  Deepwater Horizon, (above), exploded.

Chevron Thumbs its Nose at the Court & Ecuador Itself Over the Profound Harm it Has Inflicted on the Amazon Rain Forest & its People

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DESMOGBLOG - 14 February '11   EDITOR'S NOTE: Once again, a despicable, soulless corporation. made possible through despicable, soulless investors, pits itself against ordinary people. WILL WE LET IT WIN? l.p.   Read full story here.

Ozone Layer’s Future Linked Strongly to Changes in Climate, Study Finds

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ScienceDaily (Feb. 17, 2011)    The ozone layer, the thin atmos pheric band high-up in the stratosphere that protects living things on Earth from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays faces potential new challenges.  Full story here.  

"Home" a Breathtaking Panorama of our Troubled Earth. Watch the Trailer Here.

Watch the full video here. ‪ We are living in exceptional times. Scientists tell us that we have 10 years to change the way we live, avert the depletion of natural resources and the catastrophic evolution of the Earth's climate. The stakes are high for us and our children. Everyone should take part in the effort, and HOME has been conceived to take a message of mobilization out to every human being. For this purpose, HOME needs to be free. A patron, the PPR Group, made this possible. EuropaCorp, the distributor, also pledged not to make any profit because Home is a non-profit film. HOME has been made for you : share it! And act for the planet. Yann Arthus-Bertrand, GoodPlanet Fundation President

Chevron Must Pay!

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Alternet - Feb. 19'11 An Ecuadorian judge ordered Chevron this week to pay $8.6 billion in damages for polluting the Amazon rainforest from 1964 until 1990. Incredibly, Chevron is known to refuse to pay such damages, even when a court orders it to do so! Read story here. 

The Body That Oversees Broadcasting in Canada, the CRTC, Drops Plan to Weaken Truth in Broadcasting Regulations

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February 18, 2011 — The Wire Report   OTTAWA—CRTC chair Konrad von Finckenstein says the Commission will not proceed with changes it had been considering, to its prohibition on false and misleading news. von Finckenstein says it's because the Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations, which had been pressing for the changes, will no longer persue the issue. The move follows a groundswell of protest and petitions which gathered tens of thousands of names in opposition to the idea. Many saw the proposed changes as a way to help prepare for the arrival of an American-style TV network in this country which skeptics have dubbed "Fox News North." Read full story here. Please aslso read: "Is Canada About to Descend Into An America-Style Abyss by Cheapening Our Broadcast Regulations?"

Permafrost Melt Soon Irreversible Without Major Fossil Fuel Cuts

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Stephen Leahy - Inter Press Service UXBRIDGE, Ontario, Canada, 17 Feb   Thawing permafrost is threatening to overwhelm attempts to keep the planet from getting too hot for human survival.  Read full story here.

Pipelines Carrying Oil From the Canadian Tar Sands Pose Serious Risks

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By Keith Schneider - Nat. Resources Defence Council  - OnEarth Magazine -  "A Survival Guide for the Planet" - Fe. 16 '11 NRDC photo. Just after dawn on July 26, 2010, homeowners along Talmadge Creek near Marshall, Michigan, awoke to the chemical stench of raw fuel. Full story here. Read Larry Powell's contributions to OnEarth magazine here.

TransCanada Runs Deceptive Ad Pushing Controversial Oil Pipeline

Friends of the Earth - Feb 17-'11 Canadian company misleads public, asserts pumping dirty Canadian tar sands oil into U.S. would reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil.

CBC Manitoba Thinks Nothing Can Be Done About Climate Change! Larry Writes Yet Another Letter-to-the-Editor

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Larry Powell I made what I thought was a reasonable request of CBC Manitoba the other day. I asked it to start including atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide (C02), in its weather casts. After consulting with John Sauder ( CBC photo - r. ), their extremely competent "weather guy"(John is Manitoba's only broadcast meteorologist), a CBC spokesperson told me, "no." Why? Because it might be "inflammatory!" The CBC further explained that, wind chill factors and UV levels, which they report regularly, were things upon which their listeners/viewers "can actually take some immediate, personal action." The implication in that response is that there is nothing we can actually do about climate change! That, I found, was the most chilling part of all. Apparently, we can no longer choose to drive smaller cars, take the bus, live close to work or just visit the Mayan Riviera every other year. By way of background, I'm someone who re

Reporting CO2 Levels on the Radio Might be "Inflammatory:" CBC

Below is the CBC's response to my request (please read - "'PLT' Publisher Asks for Help in Raising Awareness of  Global Warming") to report atmospheric C02 levels during their weathercasts. ======= Greetings Mr. Powell,   Through consulting with our meteorologist, we have determined that it would be inappropriate for us to consider a regular reporting of CO2 levels as a part of our regular weather reports, for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is simple time economics in a weather-cast.  Moreover, while the concerns may be great about the rising levels of CO2, an inclusion of this number in regular reports might be perceived and received as inflammatory, compared say to the UV levels or wind chills about which a listener can actually take some immediate personal action.   This subject is, however, something we are going to follow up on in terms of a story for one of our local radio programs.  We thank you for your interest and invite you to

"PLT" Publisher Asks for Help in Raising Awareness of Global Warming

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 Below is a message I sent today to Marilyn Maki, (lower r.) a weather specialist and radio host at CBC in Winnipeg. Keep watching this space for her reply! l.p. ===== Marilyn Maki, Host, Radio Noon, CBC Manitoba. Dear Marilyn, As a weather specialist, you will be aware that the science of climate change is now well-proven. Human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, mainly carbon dioxide (CO2), are still on the increase. And so are the earth's mean temperatures and the incidences of severe weather events. Considering the gravity of this situation, I would ask you to consider the following: Would you, at least periodically, report current CO2 levels in the atmosphere, as part of your weather casts?   As you will also be aware, those levels have, for some time now, been well above 350ppm. That's the level considerd by the world's leading climatologist, James Hansen, to be safe for human habitation. I would submit such a service would be at least as important as,

Is Canada About to Descend Into An America-Style Abyss by Cheapening Our Broadcast Regulations?

Below is my submission to the Canadian Radio, Television & Telecommunications Commission. That powerful body seems poised to grant the wishes of a parliamentary committee by loosening the rules governing truth and accuracy in broadcasting. (Anyone detect the heavy hand of Stephen Harper in all of this? Naaaaa!) l.p.  ====    1.    Dear CRTC - I am a journalist specializing in stories about the environment, especially global warming. Your proposed changes concern me deeply because, among other things:     2.    I fear they will provide yet another channel for climate skeptics/opportunists and fraudsters to peddle their lies and deception over a phenomenon which is real, which is happening now and which is posing a clear and present threat to this planet, not only for us but future generations, as well.     3.    I also fear these changes would shamefully cheapen the noble profession of Canadian journalism with its long-accepted high standard of checks and balances on the truth a

48 Hours to Save Canadian Journalism?

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COMMENT: Patti wrote: "This is just one in a long list of abuses and audacities that this PM and his government have perpetrated. How long are we going to stand for it? No credible opposition to challenge the abuses and no populace knowledgeable enough to vote this criminal and his party out."  Dear friends across Canada, Public protections against false and misleading news coverage could be destroyed by the CRTC -- paving the way for "Fox News North" to spread false information to the Canadian public that supports their political agenda. We have just two days to raise a national outcry and urge the CRTC to protect Canadian journalism!

Chevron Gets Dinged - Heavily!

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Chevron is guilty.  Tell CEO John Watson:  Clean up Ecuador NOW! Dear friend, Yesterday marked a historic day for corporate accountability. A judge in Ecuador found Chevron guilty of massive oil contamination in the Amazon rainforest and ordered the company to pay over $8 billion to clean it up. The verdict is the culmination of an 18-year struggle by the Indigenous and rural Ecuadoreans — the real heroes of this epic fight — who first sued Chevron to force the company to clean up its oily mess back in 1993. The battle is won, but the war for corporate accountability is far from over. Chevron has vowed to appeal the decision , and it’s all too clear that the company intends to never pay for its oil pollution in the Ama

Oil Pipeline From Canada Stirring Anger in U.S. Great Plains

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By David Goldstein | McClatchy Newspapers - Feb 14 - 2011 WASHINGTON — Crude oil from western Canada began flowing through a controversial pipeline in Kansas last week. Read more here.

PolluterHarmony - the #1 Matchmaking Site for Polluters - "Now in Canada"

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Will Global Warming End Up in Court? A Climate Scientist Sues a Skeptic for Libel

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February 8, 2011 - By JOHN COLLINS RUDOLF - New York Times. A prominent Canadian climate scientist is suing a leading climate skeptic for libel, arguing that an article published online in January contained false and malicious claims. Read the rest here. Andrew Weaver, climate scientist Tim Ball , Climate Skeptic

Severe Drought Threatens Wheat Crop in China, World’s Largest Producer

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Climate Progress - Feb 9, 2011 FAO also warns floods and heavy rains in Southern Africa "threaten food security." Reuters - A Chinese farmer on dry farmland  in Shandong Province, in January.

Kids on Junk Food Diets Have Lower IQs - Study

Alternet - Feb 12 - '11 Healthy diets build healthy kids, right? Apparently,..

Global Warming Melts Siberian Permafrost - a Greenpeace Video

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Climate Change to Worsen Severe Water Shortages in US Southwest

by Brian Merchant, Treehugger 02.11.11 We're already well aware that….

Energy Independence Goes Awry: Why the Ethanol Boom May Turn US Conservation Land into Corn Fields

AlterNet / By Jill Richardson Feb '11 Given America's enthusiasm for ethanol production, on e might assume ethanol is a miracle fuel, sent from heaven to lead the way to independence from oil. Please also read: "Bursting the Ethanol Bubble" by Larry Powell

Major Betrayal of Organic Food Movement - What the Relentless March of the Biotech Industry Means to North Americans

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Dr. Mercola Interviews Ronnie Cummins - Feb 14, 2011      If You Eat Organic Food, You Have Just Been Betrayed

A "Must-See!" Bill Mahr's Latest Video on Climate Change!

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Environment Minister Peter Kent Claims Climate "Plan Is Working" and Canadians Are "Proud" of Tar Sands

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Naom Chomski on Climate Change. (Video) A Liberal Hoax?

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My MP Helps Nix a Bill That Would Have Protected Farmers From GMO Crops. Letter-to-the-Editor

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Dear Editor, I see my new Member of Parliament, Robert Sopuck  (Conservative Party - Dauphin-Swan River-Marquette - above.) has already made his mark on the political landscape. He voted with the rest of his Conservative Party and many Liberals last night to defeat an NDP private members' bill. The thrust of Bill C-474 was pretty simple - protect farmers by requiring “an analysis of potential harm to export markets before the sale of any new genetically engineered (GMO) seed is permitted." In other words, new GM seeds would actually be examined to make sure other countries would want to buy them. (This, of course, is something an honest, competent government should have been doing anyway.) Had it passed, the bill almost certainly would have prevented the GM flax fiasco of 2009. Canadian farmers paid a heavy price in that year (and since) when unwanted GM contamination damaged their export flax markets. It might have also saved many organic farmers in this country fro

GMO Bill Struck Down in Ottawa

By Colleen Kimmett February 9, 2011  A private members' bill that would have added a layer of scrutiny….

Mexico, Cradle of Corn, Finds its Noble Grain Under Assault

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By Tim Johnson | McClatchy Newspapers GUELATAO, Mexico — Yank the husks off...

Greens Urge Manitoba to Become "GE-Free"

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The USDA Approves Another Controversial GE Crop

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Enough is Enough: Tell President Obama to Stand Up to Monsanto Dear Larry, Is This the Monsanto Administration or the Obama Administration? Demand President Obama Stop Approving Monsanto's Crops! Is the Obama Administration becoming the Monsanto Administration? A few days ago, the USDA approved the planting of genetically engineered (GE) sug

Catastrophic Weather Events Are Becoming the New Normal -- Are You Ready for Life on Our Planet Circa 2011?

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AlterNet / By Bill McKibben - Feb '11   For two decades now we've been ignoring the impassioned pleas of scientists that our burning of fossil fuels was a bad idea. And now we're paying a heavy price.

Climate Benefits of Natural Gas Overstated?

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Natural gas production has skyrocketed in the U.S. and elsewhere lately. And one big supposed benefit of this energy source is that it creates a lot fewer greenhouse gas emissions than coal. However, new research from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that these climate change claims may have been greatly overstated - as ProPublic reports reports here.

Save Uncontacted Tribes From Loggers - Watch the Video - Sign the Petition!

USDA Hits Organics Again, Approves Monsanto’s GMO Sugar Beets

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Jeremy Bloom Feb 7 - 2011 - Planetsave   EDITOR'S NOTE: Once again, Monsanto's puppet, Ag Secretary Vilsack, pisses on the courts and gives the corporation what it wants.  Barack! What were you thinking? l.p.

Shell Cancels Plans to Drill in Arctic!

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Planetsave - Feb.6 '11 Shell announced that they’ve...

An Appeal to Farmers! From Yukon Farmer, Tom Rudge

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Please send around and read his great letter to Members of Parliament.   Date: February 4, 2011 1:46:08 PM GMT-05:00 Subject:  My future and Bill C-474: Your future too? There is a vote in Parliament on genetic engineering this Wednesday February 9 that could help support the future of my farm. Below is the letter I sent to Michael Ignatieff , Wayne Easter and my Member of Parliament, Larry Bagnell.  I've asked them to support Bill C-474 this Wednesday and I hope my MP also speaks up in the debate on February 8. I urge all farmers who have a concern about genetically engineered crops or who already have negative experiences with GE crops   to send a letter to your MP as well.  Now is the time  to tell our politicians how genetic engineering has already cost us or could harm our businesses and our families.  Bill C-474 would support Canada's farmers by requiring that “an analysis of potential harm t