PLANET IN PERIL

The ENERGY MIX The era of expansion of tar sands/oil sands production may be over—at least for now. In light of price and delivery challenges, the Paris-based International Energy Agency forecasts that projects now being developed will be completed, but no new ones begun. Story here.

NATIONAL OBSERVER Alberta Premier Rachel Notley announced today that she is imposing a limit on oil sands emissions and phasing out all coal power usage in her province by 2030 in a major push to curb greenhouse gas emissions.  STORY HERE.

Government of Manitoba. Screen image from 'Crated Cruelty,  Canada's pork industry  animal abuse exposed' website.  A Mercy For Animals Canada  undercover investigation  t hat took place in  2012 looked into animal  abuse  at Puratone,  one of the nation's largest pork  producers located in Arborg, Manitoba. Hog producers will benefit from research on switching from gestation stalls to loose sow housing as a result of a pilot project underway at a Maple Leaf Foods barn near Steinbach, Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Minister Ron Kostyshyn announced today. 

Huffington Post  Russia's main investigative agency said Wednesday that it has dropped piracy charges against jailed Greenpeace activists and… Details here.