Hottest Year In History Ends With Freak Climate Disasters

Alternet - Dec 31 2010
As greenhouse pollution continues to build...

Fiji Water Targeted by Class Action Lawsuit for Lying About Their Green Cred

Alternet - De 31 2010
Looks like Fiji Water has stepped in it...

Here's to a Safe, Peaceful and Green 2011!

To my readers,

May you and yours enjoy all the best of the season and the new year.

May 2011 bring more:

•  Love
• Joy
• Peace
• cleaner, greener attitudes
• citizens, politicians and industry leaders genuinely dedicated to a better world.

and less

• War
• Famine
• Hunger
• Disease
• Pollution
• Climate change

Sincerely,
Larry & Rowena
 ======

Amen and Amen. 

Thank you for all the reports and postings...sometimes it feels like you are talking in the dark, I am sure, but people are listening...and you must keep bringing things to our attention.  

Maggie

The Gulf of Mexico is Dying

De'10 By Dr. Tom Termotto - by concernedcitizensofflorida

A Special Report on the BP Gulf Oil Spill

It is with deep regret that we publish this report.


Please also read Dr. Termotto's open letter to President Obama.

Innovation of the Week: Climate Smart Seaweed Farming

By Matt Styslinger - De '10 - Worldwatch Institute

At the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in...

We are Facing the Greatest Threat to Humanity: Only Fundamental Change Can Save Us

Maude Barlow / Alternet

Quite simply, human-centered governance systems are not working and we need new economic, development and environmental policies.

The Serengeti Highway

Shared by: Jen M. - the Green Pages - on December 28, 2010 

Most of us will only ever see a lion...

Buffalo photo by 

 etravelphotos

Editor's comment: The Dominion of man over the natural world is nearing completion. Notice, one reason for the highway is to get at material needed to make batteries for hybrid vehicles, widely considered by modern society as a "green" endeavour! Sadly, our assault on Mother Earth will only cease when human populations themselves, through one means or another, are brought within sustainable proportions. l.p.

Sacrificing the Rainforest on the Altar of Energy

By Milagros Salazar * Inter Press Service

LIMA, Dec 27, 2010 (IPS/IFEJ) - The construction of five hydroelectric...

Tambopata, Peru. 

(Photo: k lichstig)

Temperature Rising

A Scientist, His Work and a Climate Reckoning
By JUSTIN GILLIS - De '10

MAUNA LOA OBSERVATORY, Hawaii — Two gray machines...

Ottawa Kept in Dark on Abnormal Fish Found in Tar Sands Rivers

Josh Wingrove - THE GLOBE AND MAIL De 17'10

EDMONTON— Hundreds of deformed fish found in...

'Dirty Oil' Anger Shocked Tories, Wikileaks Reveals

Allan Woods - Ottawa Bureau - theStar.com - De 23'10

OTTAWA—Canada was “too slow” to respond...

Editor's comment - A day late and a dollar short, wouldn't you say, Jim? l.p.

City of Brandon, Manitoba, Pulls Plug on Biodiesel Processor

By: Allison Dowd - 26/12/2010 - Winnipeg Free Press

BRANDON -- The City of Brandon is saying goodbye to its biodiesel...
 =====

Editor's comment: Is this bad luck, or a lack of will? l.p.

EPA Presents Plan on Greenhouse Gases. Can Next Congress Stop It?

Christian Science Monitor - Dec. 24 - 2010

The EPA set out a timetable Thursday for curbing the emissions of greenhouse gases from power plants and refineries. But Republicans have signaled their steady opposition, and a battle looms.

Green Party of Manitoba Calls for "Climate Accountability"

WikiLeaks: US Ambassador Planned "Retaliation" Against France Over Ban on Monsanto Corn

21 De'10 - by: Mike Ludwig, t r u t h o u t

The former United States….

Editor's comment: What do you suppose the present ambassador is saying in secret cables? Anything much different? l.p.

Cold Burn

Posted December 20, 2010 - George Monbiot

Yes, the extreme cold in the UK right now really could be a result of global warming.

L.A. Times Slams Fox Over Climate Scandal - 'Shouldn't Call Itself a News Organization'

AlterNet / By Joshua Holland

After several revelations of Fox's blatant bias, the rest of the corporate media may finally be catching on.

US Beekeepers Call for a Ban on a Pesticide Linked to Colony Collapse Disorder

Pesticide Action Network - North America - Thu, 2010-12-09

Larry"s comment. It simply never ends. Ever more & newer studies point to the undeniable role of pesticides in the deaths of honey bees. Yet nothing is done. Please sign the petition....
Here.http://action.panna.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5370 l.p.

How Ethical Are Ethical Funds? (Opinion)

"Conscientious" investments and the tar sands connection 

by Larry Powell

Beautiful Destruction photo.

I doubt that many investors with a social conscience would assume that the ethical funds they hold would be helping pay for such projects as the Alberta oil sands.

I certainly didn't - turns out, I was wrong!

All five of Canada's major banks lend money to tar sands operators. And all five are actually included in the portfolios of the many ethical investment funds in this country. As if that isn't enough, so too is at least one major corporation, Suncor Energy, which actually extracts the tar from the sands!

Ethical Funds lists Scotiabank, the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and Suncor Energy among its top ten holdings. The investment company adds, RBC, for one, "provides significant capital to the oil and gas and other smokestack industries."

Suncor describes itself as a "pioneer" and one of the biggest players in the development and upgrading of the Alberta oil sands. So far this year, the company has been producing, on average, more than a-quarter-of-a-million barrels of oil per day. 

Last spring, a US-based environmental group, Rainforest Action Network, (RAN), listed the five major Canadian banks; RBC, Toronto Dominion (TD), Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), Scotiabank and Bank of Montreal (BMO) as investors. At that time, RAN reported that investment totalled almost $50 billion (correct).

In a letter to RAN about a year ago, RBC confirmed it was "a financier of oil sands activity, although, at almost $17 billion, (correct) not currently the largest."

So just what is the concern here?

For years, critics have been pointing out the profound impact which development of the sands is having on the environment and the health of people, both regionally and globally. Some even describe it as the "dirtiest project on earth!" 

The Alberta-based Pembina Institute says, of all the provinces, Alberta was responsible for over half of the increase in all greenhouse gas emissions between 1990 and 2008 - about 52%! (The tar sands, of course, were operating, full-bore, during that period.) Pembina predicts that, given the projected growth of the sands, their already substantial emissions will nearly triple by 2020! The 25 year-old Institute researches and advocates for "sustainable energy solutions that will protect the earth's living systems - air, land and water."


Meanwhile, millions of hectares of pristine boreal forest are being bulldozed to make way for more and more tar sands plants. According to Greenpeace, this could soon amount to an area twice the size of New Brunswick!

 The National Academy of Sciences in the US reports that oil sands development has been contaminating  the Athabasca River watershed, downstream of the sands, to a greater degree than earlier thought. It warned that oil sands development was elevating levels of poisons in the Athabasca River and its tributaries that were "likely toxic to fish embryos."

Fish with large lesion caught in the Athabasca watershed.

Meanwhile, people living downstream of the oil sands, in the community of Fort Chipewyan, have been reporting high rates of cancer and other illness. George Poitras, a member of Mikisew Cree indigenous First Nation says, "My people are dying," and blames oil sands development.

What does the ethical investment community have to say?

I contacted Robert Walker, Vice President of ESG Services of Vancouver, to comment on this story. His firm manages several "sustainable" or "social investment" companies, including Ethical Funds.

As he puts it, "Every major bank in Canada has exposure to oil sands."

Ethical Funds lists "respect for the environment" and a pledge that "disadvantaged communities should not bear the brunt of adverse environmental impacts" among its "core values."

So just how does it justify this state of affairs?

In Walker's words, "Note that we do not describe the companies in our Funds as ‘ethical’. This is not our claim."

Walker recognizes that the companies in question have a chequered reputation in managing their social and environmental responsibilities. But he says his industry is constantly "engaging" and "pressuring" them to do better. It even hands out and publishes report cards on their performances in this regard. All this, he believes, will gradually help convince them to change their ways.

Walker believes banks like RBC can play "a pivotal role in encouraging their clients to tackle climate change."

He concludes, "We are at least partially responsible for progress that banks like RBC are making in this space." 

Despite these reassurances, it's not clear just what "progress" Walker can point to; whether his industry is, in fact convincing the banks to become better corporate citizens; or why, as he suggests, it would not be logical for the average investor to conclude - if these companies are embraced within ethical funds' portfolios - that they are, in fact, ethical!

In its defense, RBC does sponsor the "Blue Water Project," through which it promises millions of dollars to help protect watersheds and ensure access to clean drinking water. It's doubtful, however, any of that money has gone toward protecting the Athabasca watershed, the deterioration of which the bank has surely played a part, albeit indirect. 

So is the Blue Water Project an example of the bank's good intentions? Or hypocrisy?

If tar sands investment can be considered "ethical," I find it rather hard to imagine what would not!

If you believe, as I do, that our investment money should be going to less harmful and less polluting ventures than this, I'd urge you to do something about it, also. 

As a result of all of this, I have chosen to shift my modest investments away from those involving the tar sands and, into less harmful ventures.

I'd invite you to consider something similar!

         ======
Please also read: "Is Fracking Appropriate for Ethical Investing?"

Manitoba Will Likely Fail to Reach Greenhouse Gas Targets

Wpg Free Press - Dec 7'10

Manitoba's auditor general cast doubt Monday...

Editor's note: Is Anyone Surprised? l.p.

U.S. to Regulate Big Polluters, Leaving no Excuses for Canada’s Inaction

P.J. Partington — The Pembina Institute - Dec. 2'10

It would be hard to count….. 

Reuters photo

WikiLeaks Cables: Shell's Grip on Nigerian State Revealed

David Smith - guardian.co.uk - 8 De 2010

US embassy cables reveal top executive's claims that company 'knows everything' about key decisions in government ministries.

May You Shop 'til You Drop This Christmas! (NOT!) Video

Buy Nothing This Holiday Season

Worldwatch Institute- 2010-12-02

Super News! In 2010, more Americans went shopping the weekend after...

Satellite images of parking lots, like this one, show more and more shoppers as Black Fri. nears. Courtesy of Gizmodo.

Impervious to Learning

By George Monbiot, published on the Guardian’s website, 8th December 2010.

David Rose appears to have learnt nothing from his catastrophic mistakes before the Iraq war.

Federal Court Rules Feds Failed to Protect BC Killer Whales

Shared by: F. Los on December 8, 2010 - GreenPages
Vancouver - Conservation groups, represented by Ecojustice...

Article in The Lancet Takes Canada to Task for Asbestos Exports

The Canadian Press - 8/12/2010

MONTREAL - Criticism of Quebec's controversial...

The Peasant View of Cancún Talks: 'They Want to Turn the Air Into a Commodity'

John Vidal, environment editor - guardian.co.uk - 7 De '10

As the world's politicians gather, protesters march against the Cancún climate change summit's 'false solutions'

Clouds by l.p.

Climate Deal Failure Could Devastate World's Poor, IPCC Chief Says

By Stacey Feldman - Solve Climate News  Dec 5, 2010

Science provides "compelling logic" for decisive progress at UN climate talks. 

Tar Sands' Long Shadow

Manitoba Wildlands - 4/12/10

Canada Exports Dirty Oil and Dirty Energy Policies 

 

Beautiful Destruction photo

Manitoba Bird Flu Quarantine Widens, Hatchery Destocked

Manitoba Co-Operator De3'10
Another farm in….

Photograph by:  Brian Snyder, REUTERS

High Water Advisory Issued For Assiniboine River Watershed

Manitoba News Release - De. 3, 2010

Manitoba Water Stewardship's Hydrologic Forecast Centre has  issued a high water advisory for the Assiniboine River and its tributaries, from the Shellmouth/Russell area to Headingley, as a result of ice jams. 

Shellmouth Dam (above) in more normal times. Also see photo (below) just below the dam. Pics by l.p.

·         The Assiniboine tributaries and the main river remain well within their banks at most locations. However, due to the recent heavy snow followed by a sudden drop in temperatures, ice jams and flooding are occurring at various locations downstream of the Shellmouth Reservoir, Miniota and in the Brandon area. 

·         This local ice-jam flooding is expected to continue at locations on the main river and some larger tributaries like the Souris and the Little Saskatchewan rivers until the freezing process stabilizes in the next two weeks.

·         Communities in the Assiniboine Valley, especially in low-lying areas such as Russell, St. Lazare, Miniota and Brandon, should be aware that ice-related flooding could occur.

·         The Shellmouth Reservoir has been declining since late September when the outflow was 3,360 cubic feet per second (cfs). Today the flow is 1,600 cfs and the level of the reservoir is 428 metres (1,404.22 feet). The inflow into the reservoir is 1,570 cfs.  The outflow will be kept constant at 1,600 cfs for the next few weeks to ensure the reservoir is at an acceptable level before next spring.

·         Manitoba Water Stewardship is closely monitoring river and lake level conditions.

Weather - The weather forecast calls for clear periods for southern Manitoba and temperatures remaining in the -10 to -20 C range for the next five days. This should help reduce ice jams and related flooding.

The latest information on this advisory and other water levels is available here. www.gov.mb.ca/waterstewardship/floodinfo/index.html

- 30 -

Another Flood of the Century?

Winnipeg Free Press - By: Bruce Owen - 2/12/2010 

Heavy rainfall, snow lead premier to sound the alarm.

Flooding in the Red River Valley - 1997

Courtesy of the Gov't. of Manitoba

Cycle City, USA. How Portland Plans to Become the First World-Class bike City in America.

by Jay Walljasper - yes!  Nov 29, 2010

It’s become a cliché that Portland is America’s most livable...

EDITOR'S NOTE: As cities like Toronto and Winnipeg elect (& re-elect) loonies as their mayors, it's refreshing to note that there remain pockets of sanity somewhere on this continent!

I am reminded of a quote from H.G. Wells, who once said, "Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race." l.p.

US Federal Court Orders First-Ever Destruction of a GMO Crop

San Francisco, CA – November 30, 2010 – Centre for Food Safety.

Genetically Engineered Sugar Beet Seed Crop Must be Removed!
Finds Government and Monsanto rushed to illegally plant herbicide resistant crop.

Cdn. Biotechnology Action Network
Press Statement, December 1, 2010: Yesterday a US federal district judge ordered Monsanto's genetically engineered sugarbeet seedlings be uprooted. This is the first court-ordered destruction of a GE crop in the US. The decision (November 30, 2010) follows a challenge from farmer and environmental groups based on the risks of contamination. The judge noted that non-GE crops were at risk and that the US Department of Agriculture, by allowing September plantings, tried to circumvent his prior ruling that the sugarbeets were illegal, pending an environmental assessment.

Below is a letter from CBAN to Canadian sugar company Lantic, and a press release from US group Center for Food Safety which represented groups in the legal challenge.

********
LETTER FROM CBAN TO LANTIC:

Edward Makin
President and CEO, Lantic Inc.
4026, Notre-Dame Street East
Montréal, Québec, H1W 2K3
Fax: (514) 527 1318

RE: Request for Lantic to phase out GE sugar following US court-ordered destruction of Monsanto's genetically engineered sugarbeets

December 1, 2010

Dear Mr. Makin,

We are writing to bring your attention to the new court-ordered destruction of genetically engineered (GE) sugarbeet seedlings in the United States (November 30, 2010) and to ask that Lantic plant only non-GE sugarbeet seeds in 2011, reversing your 2009 decision to process GE sugar in Canada.

Lantic Inc. is currently the only Canadian sugar company that processes GE sugarbeet. This is an unacceptable situation for Canadian consumers.

In correspondence in 2009, CBAN warned Lantic that the the GE sugarbeets were highly controversial, were accompanied by many serious concerns, and would meet with widespread consumer opposition. We requested a meeting to discuss these issues and repeatedly provided information about the risks of GE sugarbeets to Lantic and to the Alberta farmers who grow sugarbeet for Lantic. Though this correspondence was met with silence from Lantic, we hope you will now pay sufficient attention to this critical issue in order to phase out your use of Monsanto's genetically engineered sugarbeet.

We request that you take urgent action to ensure that sugar in Canada is reverted to its previous non-GE status.  We trust that Lantic will want to avoid being isolated globally as the only producer of GE sugar. For your information, please find below a US press release describing the court decision in brief.

Sincerely, Lucy Sharratt, Coordinator, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network

Lucy Sharratt, Coordinator
Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN)
431 Gilmour Street, Second Floor
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K2P 0R5
Phone: 613 241 2267 ext.6
Fax: 613 241 2506
coordinator@cban.ca
www.cban.ca