Posts

Showing posts from 2016

Canada May Move to Protect Declining Monarch Butterfly as Endangered Species

Image
Centre for Food Safety PinP photo.  The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada released a report today recommending that the monarch butterfly be protected as an endangered species due to population decline and ongoing threats to the butterfly’s epic migration. Previously, in Canada, the monarch was classified as a species of special concern; now the minister of the Environment and the Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council have nine months to decide whether to add the butterfly to the endangered species list. Story here.

In historic move, China announces ban on ivory trade by end of 2017

Nation of Change More than 20,000 elephants were killed for their ivory last year, leaving only about 415,000 remaining. Story here.

Global Cheetah Population 'Crashing,' Raising Risk of Species Extinction

Image
CommonDreams Just 7,100 cheetahs remain around the world. Story here. U.S. Fish & Wildlife photo.

Growing mega-cities will displace vast tracts of farmland by 2030, study says

the guardian Cropland losses will have consequences especially for Asia and Africa, which will experience growing food insecurity as cities expand. Story here.

Scientists are trying to save the climate from toxic cow burps

Image
The Washington Post Earth has a cow problem. Story here. USDA photo

El NiƱo on a warming planet may have sparked the Zika epidemic, scientists report

The Washington Post In a world characterized by rising temperatures, deforestation and other human influences on the environment, the spread of infectious disease is a hot topic. Many recent studies suggest that environmental changes can affect the transmission of everything from malaria to the Zika virus — and it’s increasingly important to understand these links, scientists say. Story here.

Nearly 3,000 US Communities Have Lead Levels Higher Than Flint: Reuters

CommonDreams Advocates hope new investigation will spur action from community leaders, as aid and attention have been slim. Story here.

UN: Huge emissions cuts needed to meet Paris climate goals

CTV News The world is nowhere near on track to achieve the ambitious temperature goals adopted in the landmark Paris Agreement on climate change, the UN said Thursday in a sobering report that warned of a human tragedy unless governments stepped up efforts to fight global warming. Story here.

Arctic drilling ban reveals crucial difference between Obama and Trudeau on climate

Nation of Change Prime Minister Trudeau continues to cling to an ideological and dangerous assertion that his government has no responsibility to restrict fossil fuel supply in the middle of a global climate crisis. Story here.

My Latest Letter. Will it Make You Angry? I Hope So! (But Not at Me!)

Image
by Larry Powell It’s like a nightmare in slow-motion. Just when you think Trump has made the worst possible choice for his cabinet, he announces another who’s even worse. 

'It's their backyard': Inuit voice essential in Arctic climate studies, scientists say

CBC news Residents' knowledge of the fastest warming place on Earth fills gaps in scientific data. Story here.

California Forests Failing to Regrow After Intense Wildfires

 inside   climate  news Huge, destructive fires are more common with climate change, and the loss of regeneration threatens to exacerbate global warming. Story here.

A Drive to Save Saharan Oases As Climate Change Takes a Toll

environment360 From Morocco to Libya, the desert oases of the Sahara's Maghreb region are disappearing as temperatures rise and rainfall decreases. Facing daunting odds, local residents are employing traditional water conservation techniques to try to save these ancient ecosystems. Story here.

Shameless: Public lands handed over to the coal industry

Image
EarthJustice This attack on wild forest land is just one example of the kind of threats  we will face in the next four years. Our public lands are under attack. Help us fight back! Help us fight back using the most powerful tool available—the law—and your tax-deductible gift will be matched $1-for-$1. Dear Larry, Christmas came early for Arch Coal this year. On Monday, the Obama  administration opened up 20,000 acres of wild Colorado forest to  bulldozing for coal mining. This was a shameful giveaway of our public lands, but we stand prepared to fight back. 

A Changing Climate Hits Coffee Harvest on The Slopes of Kilimanjaro.

environment360 Rising temperatures and changing precipitation are taking a toll on coffee farms worldwide, including the plantations around Mount Kilimanjaro. If the world hopes to sustain its two billion cup-a-day habit, scientists say, new climate-resilient species of coffee must be developed. Story here.

Snow in the Sahara? Desert hit with snowfall for the first time in 37 years

comonews.com It's not the first place that comes to mind when you think of having a white Christmas. Story here.

North Pole to warm to near melting point this week: 50 degrees above normal

Mashable It's happening again: The temperature at the North Pole is projected to spike to around the melting point, or 32 degrees Fahrenheit, on Wednesday into Thursday, despite the complete lack of sunshine that far north in December. Story here.

Killer Whales Pose Newest Threat to Kinder Morgan Oil Pipeline

Image
Bloomberg Kinder Morgan Inc. will have to address the fate of one more group before completing its Trans Mountain pipeline expansion: killer whales. Story here. A pod of killer whales off Vancouver Island. Photo by Winky.

U.S., Canada ban offshore drilling in Arctic waters

CBCnews U.S. President Barack Obama uses 1950s-era law called the Outer Continental Shelf Act. Story here.

More than 700 factories temporarily shut as Beijing grapples with smog

CBCnews Country's 1st pollution alert of winter lasts until Wednesday. Story here.

NOAA Issues 'Jaw-Dropping' Assessment on 'Unprecedented' Arctic Warming

Common Dreams Latest Arctic Report Card finds that region's temperatures continue upward climb twice as fast as global temperature increase. Story here.

Antibiotic resistance will hit a terrible tipping point in 2017

Image
NewScientist A major menace looms over us. In 2017, many more people could begin dying from common bacterial infections. Story here. A "confined animal feeding operation."  Wikimedia Commons photo.

THE 3RD GLOBAL CORAL BLEACHING EVENT – 2014/2016

SEAVIEW NOW PREDICTED TO LAST UNTIL AT LEAST THE END OF 2016 – BY FAR THE LONGEST EVENT IN RECORDED HISTORY. Story here.

Humans have now carved up the Earth’s wilderness into 600,000 little pieces

Image
The Washington Post Scientists Thursday provided a global quantification of one of the most pervasive, but least recognized, ways that humans are marring the coherence of the natural world — by building endless numbers of roads. Story here. A logging road in the UK.  Richard Webb

Aimed at Refugees, Fences Are Threatening European Wildlife

environment360 A flood of migrants from the Middle East and Africa has prompted governments in the Balkans to erect hundreds of miles of border fences. Scientists say the expanding network of barriers poses a serious threat to wildlife, especially wide-ranging animals such as bears and wolves. Story here.

First Nations chief at heart of oilsands resistance says he's no environmentalist

NATIONAL                OBSERVER First Nations chief at heart of oilsands resistance says he's no environmentalist.  Story here.

Rare Arabian leopards forced out by frankincense harvesters

New Scientist The habitat of one of the world’s rarest and most elusive big cats is shrinking fast, with the latest pressure coming from frankincense collectors. Story here.

Mounting Evidence Shows Eating Less Meat = Healthy People, Healthy Planet

EcoWatch A new systematic review of dietary patterns and sustainability published in the latest edition of Advances in Nutrition provides additional evidence that diets lower in animal-based foods and higher in plant-based foods are better for the health of people and the planet. STORY HERE.

Australia's epically stupid plan

AVAAZ They're trying to put a toxic coal complex next to the magical Great Barrier Reef! It’s a crazy plan, but we’ve got a chance to stop it. PLEASE SIGN PETITION!

Corals tie stronger El NiƱos to climate change

Science Over the last 7000 years, El NiƱos waxed and waned. Then, during the 20th century, with global warming taking hold, their intensity began to climb. The trend is likely to continue, boding ever more destructive El NiƱos . Story here.

Don't let Scott Pruitt rip up our environmental protections!

Friends of the Earth Pruitt's record on the environment is terrible. And as head of the EPA, he'll be able to roll back our protections for the planet -- from the Clean Power Plan to rules on pollutants like methane. Please Donate!

Thousands of snow geese die in Montana after landing on contaminated water

the guardian Huge flock of migratory birds landed on acidic waters of an open pit mine where employees attempted to scare them off. Story here.

Conservationists declare victory for wildlife as EU saves nature directives

the guardian EU president abandons plan to overhaul flagship birds and habitats directives following a huge public campaign. Story here.

Extreme tornado outbreaks are getting worse, but why?

SCIENCE: The number of tornadoes pounding the United States during the most extreme outbreaks has roughly doubled over the past 50 years, a new analysis shows. But the study also yields a big surprise: The increased severity of such tornado outbreaks, at least at first glance, doesn’t seem to be related to climate change. STORY HERE.

Health Canada Will Take Dangerous Bee-Killing Pesticide Off The Market

Image
Friends of the Earth Health Canada’s PMRA has announced imidacloprid, one of the oldest and most widely used neonicotinoid pesticides,  is being taken off the market .  A Manitoba honeybee colony.  PinP  photo.   It’s been found in just about every water body and it’s considered harmful to aquatic species and to creatures such as birds dependent on the aquatic species. Unfortunately, the PMRA is proposing a long 3-year phase-out. With your help, we want to accelerate this phase-out. PinP: Oddly enough,  Health Canada did not even consider risks to pollinators in this re-evaluation. That will happen in a separate "risk assessment."    Health Canada Release The environmental assessment showed that, in aquatic environments in Canada, imidacloprid is being measured at levels that are harmful to aquatic insects. These insects are an important part of the ecosystem, including as a food source for fish, birds and other animals. Based on currently available info

Over 2,000 scientists urge Trump to respect ‘scientific integrity and independence’

The Washington Post Call it the opening shot in a brewing war over scientific integrity in the future Trump administration. Story here.

The Fusarium-Glyphosate Connection - How an Amazingly Successful Weedkiller May Have Yet Another Dark Side. (Video)

Image

Corporate Giants' "Sustainable" Palm Oil Revealed as Sham

Image
CommonDreams NestlĆ©, Kellogg's, Procter & Gamble, Unilever and others are linked to child labor and forced labor in Indonesia. Story here. A vast palm oil plantation in Indonesia.  Photo by Achmad Rabin Taim.

Prime Minister Trudeau, We Will Do What It Takes To Stop New Pipelines

350.org Make Trudeau Listen; go here.

First Nations, environmentalists vow 'long battle' on approved Kinder Morgan pipeline

CBCnews Kinder Morgan, business groups cheer announcement as 'defining moment' for Canada's energy industry. Story here.

Join the fight against Donald Trump's attacks on our environment.

Friends of the Earth President Trump will be the greatest threat to the environment in living memory. To stop him from destroying the planet, we must join together and fight back. PLEASE DONATE NOW!

Loss of sea ice, changes to tundra: Study says Arctic faces 19 tipping points

NATIONALOBSERVER An international report says the Arctic is perched on the edge of fundamental social and environmental change as it faces 19 tipping points ranging from loss of summer sea ice to the slow creep of shrubs and trees across the tundra. Story here.

Grassy Narrows residents eating fish with highest mercury levels in province

thestar.com New analysis using provincial data reveals that mercury in an average meal of walleye from Clay Lake is 15 times the daily intake limit for adults. Story here.

'We are in shock': historic Bolivia drought hammers homes and crops

theguardian The country’s worst drought in 25 years, spurred by poor management, El NiƱo and climate change, has reservoirs drying up and hospitals struggling. Story here.

Species On The Move

Image
Inside Climate News As climate change impacts habitats around the world, species are on the move, trying to adapt — and survive. Story here. Wild turkey. Photo by  MONGO

An Open Letter to the Premier of Manitoba.

Dear Premier Pallister: from John Fefchak. I have concerns and am speaking out for the despair of Lake Winnipeg and our precious water sources in Manitoba.

Save BC's Ancient Temperate Rainforest. PLEASE SIGN!

A Portrait of a Man Who Knows Nothing About Climate Change

New York In his interview with the New York Times , Donald Trump expressed more flexibility on climate change, which he has previously called a hoax created by China . That is the good news. The bad news is that Trump’s lack of commitment to the cause of climate-science denial is rooted in a comprehensive failure to grasp the issue. Story here.

ALUS Canada to launch New Acre Project

Manitoba Co-Operator Donor dollars will be matched with individual projects they choose. Story here.

Building a greener future

nature climate change The built environment will play a key role in determining future emissions, so it is essential that low-carbon infrastructure and design are implemented. Story here.

'Shockingly Stupid' Attack on Science: Trump to Eliminate NASA Climate Research

CommonDreams President-elect plans to entirely slash climate science in favor of deep space exploration. Story here.

Global sea ice has reached a record low – should we be worried?

NewScientist It’s an internet sensation. An alarming graph showing the global area of sea ice falling to unprecedented lows for this time of year has gone viral. Story here.

WATCH BERNIE SANDERS CUT A CORPORATE REPORTER DOWN TO SIZE FOR A STUPID QUESTION...

Image

Take the Pledge to Help End BC's Grizzly Hunt

The North Pole is an insane 36 degrees warmer than normal as winter descends

The Washington Post Political people in the United States are watching the chaos in Washington in the moment. But some people in the science community are watching the chaos somewhere else — the Arctic. Story here.

The tragic reason seabirds keep mistaking ocean plastic for food

The Washington Post Each year, millions of tons of plastic waste end up in the ocean, where it often goes straight into the bellies of hungry birds, sea turtles and other marine animals. This is a big concern for scientists, who are still investigating the possible consequences for the marine ecosystem — but until now, researchers weren’t completely sure why so many animals were mistaking the plastic for food in the first place. Story here.

Thousands of Dead Orangutans

Image
Orangutans are being shot, starved, and burned into extinction by ruthless palm oil plantation expansion. We’re demanding that PepsiCo stop fuelling the demand for  irresponsibly sourced palm oil, which is killing the orangutans.  Will you chip in CA$2? DONATE CA$2 NOW DONATE CA$5 NOW DONATE CA$10 NOW OTHER AMOUNT Dear Larry, Thousands of orangutans in Borneo are killed every year --  shot, starved, and burned to death as their rainforest home is destroyed.  Unless action is taken to protect them, they will likely be extinct in ten years. It's all because of a ruthless effort by the palm oil industry to deforest as much of the island as possible to make room for their destructive palm oil plantations. As their habitat burns, orangutans go hungry. Many starve, while others leave the forest in a desperate search for food and are then often shot by palm oil plantation workers. The only way that orangutans will be saved is if big food cor

Tell President Obama: Stop the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Image
  Dear Larry, Tell President Obama: Stop the Dakota Access Pipeline! As you read this, thousands of Indigenous Peoples are camped along the banks of the Missouri River in North Dakota. They’re fighting to protect their land and water from the construction of the Dakota Access oil and gas pipeline. And it’s up to the President to decide.

Protect the Bees! PLEASE SIGN!

Image
  Dear Larry, Tell the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Protect the rusty-patched bumblebee! It’s been a long and disappointing week. Donald Trump was elected to be our next President. Our planet is in real trouble. But even as we face the prospect of a Trump White House, there are still many ways you can help protect the planet. Right now, one of our crucial wild bees -- the rusty-patched bumblebee -- is on the brink of extinction. And you can help save it!