PLANET IN PERIL

Larry -- Our coastlines, our drinking water, our national parks -- we love these things, and defending them is no easy task, especially in the era of the Harper Conservatives. The current government has been giving away our natural resources to foreign multinational corporations at an alarming rate, and has pushed for the reckless and unsustainable expansion of the oilsands and other high-polluting industries. But I have good news for you.

CLIMATE ACTION NETWORK NGOs have today welcomed Pope Francis’ strong moral case for people and leaders to tackle climate change delivered in today’s historic Papal Encyclical . Story here.

inside climate news One of the largest analyses of water quality of aquifers near fracking sites examined samples from 550 wells across the Barnett Shale near Dallas. Story here.

BBC News One of the UK's most threatened birds - the bittern - is returning to England and Wales, according to conservationists. Story here.

CLIMATEPROGRESS Commercial and recreational fisheries up and down the West Coast have been forced to close as a result of a massive toxic algal bloom, which scientists are describing as one of the largest in history. Story here.

Sustainable Pulse Pope Francis slams both GMOs and pesticides in a draft of his major environmental document that was leaked Monday. He has also called for the financing of independent and interdisciplinary research to study GMOs. Story here. ALSO, READ THE ENCYCLICAL LETTER,  LAUDATO SI’  OF THE HOLY FATHER,  FRANCIS ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME . HERE.