Washington DC/Nairobi, 8 June 2009 - The head of the United Nations Environment Program Calls for World-Wide Ban on Pointless Thin Film Plastic Bags. For full report, click on headline. For related story, click here. Volunteers help remove nearly 41 tons of marine debris along the southeastern coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. Photo courtesy of the NOAA Marine Debris Program.

"I have no problem with cattle grazing in riparian areas. However, I do have a problem with cattle pooping in riparian areas. The “expert” opinions which are now giving tacit approval to contaminating water with cow pies are defying the fundamental science of eutrophication. This is mildly Orwellian. One wonders how the vegetation in riparian zones actually survived and flourished before the introduction of cattle to Canada. " C. Hugh Arklie (Who is Hugh Arklie?) "I am a chartered accountant now working in the philanthropic sector. I am in my final year of an Environmental Studies degree program at the U of Winnipeg. For many years I have observed and participated in local environmental issues. One of my biggest frustrations is how the public service serves industry more and more, and the public less and less. "Otherwise I am just a private citizen acting on my own when I feel compelled to point out that the Emperor is sometimes naked. This is the case wi

Johann Hari: The Independent - UK - The uprising In the Amazon is more urgent than Iran's - it will determine the future of the planet. Click on headline for more.

By Dara Colwell, AlterNet. Jn. 18, 2009. Every man-made fiber we wear, sit on, cook with, drive in, is a by-product of the petroleum industry -- all of which could be replaced by hemp . Hemp photo by L.P.

June 26, 2009 - CBC A farm accident in southern Saskatchewan has claimed the life of Paul Beingessner, known as a passionate advocate for farmers... Please also Read related story here. Read Paul's articles on the blog, "The View From Out Here"

Jun 26,'09 By RICK CALLAHAN Associated Press Writer The organic dairy industry was thriving when Allen and Jean Moody bought a 200-acre Wisconsin dairy farm in 2006 and joined the ranks of farmers churning out milk raised without growth hormones, pesticides or other chemicals. Click on headline for full story.

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION By: Laura Rance - 20/06/2009 Given the last 40 years of Prairie history, it was a bit ironic for the Railway of Association of Canada to come up with a rail freight greenhouse-gas calculator a while back to help promote the efficiencies of moving stuff by rail. Click headline for full story. An abandon railway bridge in Ontario - photo courtesy of The Paisley Advocate

June 26, 2009 - Dr David Suzuki and Dave Robert Taylor Protecting our planet is no longer seen as a fringe activity. Most people now consider themselves to be environmentally aware and are taking steps to help. Caring for the environment has become mainstream – it’s the “new normal”. And that’s refreshing! Click on headline for full story.

By Rod Nickel - Reuters news service SASKATOON, Saskatchewan (Reuters) - Canadian farmers oppose the introduction of genetically modified wheat until market conditions change, a Canadian Wheat Board survey has found. Click on headline for full story.

Science News ScienceDaily (June 24, 2009) — While cancer touches the lives of many humans, it is also a major threat to wild animal populations as well, according to a recent study by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Click headline for full story.

ScienceDaily (Apr. 22, 2009) — Rivers in some of the world's most populous regions are losing water, according to a comprehensive study of global stream flows. Click on headline for full story. The Colorado, one of the rivers in question. Photo courtesy "The Sustainability Ninja"

Staff - the Co-Operator - 6/16/2009 4:28:00 PM Please click on headline.

Polly Cook - the Ecologist - 19th June, 2009 In the Brazilian town of Santarem, one brave priest is the only thing standing between multi-national grain trader Cargill and the rest of the Amazon. Click headline for full story.

Globe and Mail - Climate change heavyweight Al Gore has delivered that message to 500 business elite in Copenhagen, where a critical world meeting on the crisis is scheduled for late this year. Click on headline for full story.

by Larry Powell While mixed messages seem to be emerging about the wisdom of grazing cattle near rivers, streams and lakes, experts say, not so. Courtesy of Water's Edge Courtesy of the Upper Assiniboine River Conservation District Above - The pretty and the ugly sides of riparian management. For years, the Government of Manitoba and Conservation Districts have promoted the idea of keeping livestock away from these so-called "riparian areas." Financial incentives, grants and even tax breaks have been offered to producers who keep their cattle away from shorelines. The Lake of the Prairies Conservation District, (LPCD) for example, is now offering ranchers along waterways such as the Shell and Assiniboine Rivers, up to $5,000 each if they take certain steps. They'll be eligible for up to $3,000 if they install "offsite" (away from shorelines) watering systems and additional incentives for building fences to keep their livestock back, or repai

When it comes to buying nature-friendly wood, two stamps of approval vie, with vast forests at stake. Which will win out? Big timber firms back the one critics call greenwashing. A Tyee special report. (Just click on headline.) By Christopher Pollon Published: June, 2009

- by Larry Powell Battle lines are drawn again between environmentalists, the Government of Manitoba and a subsidiary of an American logging giant over the same issue which flared up in the mid-'90s; the pollution abatement equipment at the wood products plant of Louisiana Part of LP's log inventory. photo by Larry Pacific Canada Ltd. in the Swan Valley of western Manitoba. That equipment has been shut down since early this year. That's because the provincial government granted "LPs" request to do so, at least temporarily. The environmental group, "Concerned Citizens of the Valley," fought long and hard when "LP" first opened its plant in 1995, to force it to install the equipment in the first place. Now, several years later, is that struggle going to prove to have been in vain? Members of "Concerned Citizens" have regrouped to make sure it will not. Manitoba has instructed its Clean Environment Commission to hold a "h

----- Original Message ----- From: Johnson, Cathy (CON) Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 9:11 AM The dates for the public meetings regarding Louisiana Pacific Strandboard Plant Air Emissions have been set. For more information on the place and time and registration procedures just click on headline. Cathy Johnson Secretary, Clean Environment Commission 305-155 Carlton St. Winnipeg, MB R3C 3H8 (204) 945-7091 www.cecmanitoba.ca

ScienceDaily (June 12, 2009) — Caribou and reindeer numbers worldwide have plunged almost 60% in the last three decades. Click on headline for full story. Also please read a related story by clicking on the "endangered species" category of this blog. Reindeer. Photo courtesy of U.S. National Park Service.

News Release - June 13 - '09 -------------------------------- In light of the current outbreak of H1N1 influenza, or Swine 'Flu, the Green Party of Manitoba is calling for an immediate halt to the development of any new confined animal feeding operations, or "CAFOs," in the province. Large numbers of hogs and chickens are fed in these facilities, also referred to as "factory farms." The Government of Manitoba has allowed the development of many such operations, especially in the southeast and central areas. While it has placed a freeze on any new developments in these regions, vast areas of the province are still eligible for new ones. It is a style of industrialized agriculture which has for years, drawn growing concern from around the world. The Green Party leader, James Beddome says, "The preponderance of scientific evidence implicating such operations in the spread of serious infectious diseases, is just too convinci

By Milagros Salazar - Interpress Service LIMA, Jun 8 (IPS) - There are conflicting reports on a violent incident in Peru’s Amazon jungle region in which both police officers and indigenous protesters were killed. Click headline for details. Natives set up a road block at the entrance of the Amazonian town of Yurimaguas, northern Peru. Peruvian lawmakers have voted not to ease restrictions on lumber harvesting in the Amazon rain forest, days after it sparked clashes between police and indigenous protesters, killing dozens of people. (AFP/Ernesto Benavides)

The Guardian UK - Business as usual in China would lead to 2.7C rise by 2050 even if all other countries slash emissions... Click headline for the full story.

Published on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 by Inter Press Service by Jaideep Hardikar. Click on headline for complete story. Please also read related story.. http://earthkeeperfarm.blogspot.com/2009/05/corporate-agriculture-to-blame-for.html Fawzan Husein for the New York Times

Press Release - Concerned Citizens of the Valley. NDP Conservation Minister Stan Struthers and the Manitoba Clean Environment Commission (CEC) have agreed to restrict the ability of the public to ask questions and cross examine the government and the Louisiana Pacific Corporation at the upcoming CEC investigation into the "LP's" plant at Minnitonis, Manitoba (Photo by Larry) shutting down of the pollution controls at the company's OSB mill in the Swan River Valley. The Terms of Reference from the Minister to the CEC called for an investigation and a public meeting. This process would allow the CEC panel members to question or cross examine any presenters, such as the government or LP consultants, but it would not allow the public to do this. Further, it is not known whether the public can bring forward as presenters their expert, knowledgeable spokespersons to identify the many contradictions and perceptual screens that confuse the whole issue. The government

University of Portland, May 3rd, 2009 - by Paul Hawken Courtesy of Common Dreams For full address, just click on headline. Paul Hawken, (l.) author and actor.

Manitoba Co-Operator Staff - 6/2/2009 To read full story, just click on headline...