What’s Changed on the Ground Since the Mount Polley Mine Disaster?

THE TYEE

Highland Valley Copper Mine, Logan Lake, BC

Not enough, say critics, who call for a judicial inquiry into the state of mining regulation in BC. Story here. 

Imperial Metals: drop your mine project in BC's Clayoquot Sound. PLEASE SIGN PETITION!

+SumOfUs

The company responsible for the worst mining disaster in Canadian history wants to build a new open-pit copper mine in the heart of the pristine rainforests of Clayoquot Sound. PLEASE SIGN!

Clayoquot Sound - Vancouver Island. Photo by Adam Jones, Ph.D.

Follow China’s example, shut down ivory factories and shops, UN agency urges countries

UN News Centre

Applauding the Chinese Government’s closure of many of its ivory factories and retail outlets, the United Nations environment wing has called on other countries and territories to follow China’s example and improve the survival prospects for elephants across the world. Story here. 

An Asian elephant in a park in India. Photo credit - Wikipedia.

Donald Trump’s attack on fresh water should be a wake-up call for Canadians

The Hill Times

The recent release of the Canadian budget is a real opportunity for our current government to send a message to the rest of the world - that, despite the current political climate, we take our environment seriously. Story here.

Lake Superior, Minnesota. EPA photo.

Site C Dam Threatens Canada's Largest World Heritage Site: UNESCO

Sierra Club BC

Wood Buffalo National Park. Photo credit: UNESCO -  Vincent Ko Hon Chiu 

Canada has failed to protect its largest World Heritage Site. Based upon a process initiated by Sierra Club BC, UNESCO visited the Peace River Valley in the fall of 2016 to investigate how the Site C dam endangers Wood Buffalo National Park. UNESCO strongly criticizes Canada for exposing the park to danger. Story here.

St. Boniface residents say metal shredder is polluting air, harming health

CBCnews

Province says neighbourhood is safe, but residents and environmental researcher disagree. Story here.

Welcome Them Home.

Sierra Club Canada Foundation.

Larry

I'm devastated to report that the licence for oil and gas drilling has been approved in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and there’s not one thing whales can do to stop it.

We're not giving up and neither are they.

At this very moment – mile by mile, heading north – they’re coming back.

Over the next few weeks, blue whales will be making their way back to Canadian waters.

It’s a brave and often perilous journey.  But they do it because their ancient DNA tells them to come north, as they have for millennia.

While some of these whales have been south this winter, you and I have been working to keep their northern waters safe.

More than 700 North American bee species are headed for extinction. (Video)

World Meteorological Day celebrates importance of clouds for weather, climate and water

UN News Centre

A "thunderhead" in Manitoba, Canada. PinP photo.

Clouds inspire art and thought, but few natural phenomena are as important to weather, climate or water, the United Nations meteorological agency today said, launching a digital cloud atlas to celebrate World Meteorological Day. Details here.

Stop Trump's Massive Cuts to the EPA. Give to Friends of the Earth!

Dear Larry, Stop Trump's attacks on the EPA. Give $15 or more today! If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately: Express Donate: $15 Express Donate: $25 Express Donate: $50 Or, donate another amount Donald Trump is aiming to cut the EPA by more than 30%. He’d slash more than 3,000 staff. And he’d starve the agency of the resources it needs to protect our air, water, and climate. Attacking the EPA is one of Trump’s top priorities in his budget proposal. But his plan has to go through Congress. That means we can still stop these cuts to the EPA -- but we need your help! Help stop Trump’s massive cuts to the EPA: Give $15 to Friends of the Earth Action today! If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately: Express Donate: $15 Express Donate: $25 Express Donate: $50 Or, donate another amount

Aerial photography of northern Ontario's Ring of Fire

     Canadian

Geographic

Photo credit - Garth Lenz, Canadian Geographic.

The James Bay Lowlands contain both environmentally crucial peatlands and one of the largest potential mineral reserves in Canada. Story here.

How Protecting Native Forests Cost a Southeast Asian Activist His Life

YaleEnvironment360

Logging in Malaysia. Photo credit: Stephen Codrigtonn

Malaysian activist Bill Kayong fought to save native forest lands from logging and oil palm development. Like a troubling number of environmental campaigners around the world, he paid for it with his life. Second in a series.

Millions of single-use plastic soft drink bottles sold every year, report shows

theguardian

A survey of five of the six biggest soft drinks firms found just 7% of throwaway plastic bottles are made from recycled materials. Story here. Story here.

A mute swan makes the best of a polluted world. 

Photo Credit - Wikimedia Commons.

Humans face a shocking, chemical-induced reproductive crisis

treehugger

Endocrine disrupting chemicals in our environment have damaged male sperm, most of which are now misshapen and unable to swim properly. Story here.

Plastics like this contribute to the problem. 

The top 10 threats to the most biodiverse place on planet Earth

The Guardian

Manu national park in Peru threatened by roads, oil/gas operations, narco trade, gold-mining, logging and ‘human safaris’ Story here.

In North America, there are also species in decline, 
like this Bobolink on the Canadian prairies. PinP photo. 

UNESCO issues warning about Wood Buffalo National Park due to dams, development

NEWS 1130

An United Nations agency has issued a warning about the environmental health of Canada’s largest national park. Story here.

Gros Beak Lake, Wood Buffalo Park.
photo by Ansgar Walk

Planet in Peril - a Video Newscast.

Preventable diseases threaten the world's children. Melting ice caps and rising sea levels loom on Earth's horizon. Please watch!

Let's Stop Plastic Pollution (Video)

In Honduras, Defending Nature Is a Deadly Business

YaleEnvironment360

Berta Cáceres fought to protect native lands in Honduras — and paid for it with her life. She is one of hundreds of victims of a disturbing global trend — the killings of environmental activists who try to block development projects. First in a series.

Scientists Say Canadian Bacteria Fossils May Be Earth’s Oldest

The New York Times

They are microscopic artwork: tiny tubes and long filaments, strange squiggles etched into some of the most ancient rocks known. Details here.