Global Day of Action: Occupy Our Food Supply

Feb 24, 2012 by Common Dreams

Food justice advocates rise up to confront corporate control of our food system. Details here.

Back to the Start (Video)

            Coldplay's haunting classic "The Scientist" is performed by country music legend Willie Nelson for the soundtrack of the short film entitled "Back to the Start." The film, by film-maker Johnny Kelly, depicts the life of a farmer as he slowly turns his family farm into an industrial animal factory before seeing the errors of his ways and opting for a more sustainable future. Both the film and the soundtrack were commissioned by Chipotle to emphasize the importance of developing a sustainable food system.

Does Big Oil Now Have Some Science on its Side? Hardly!

by Larry Powell

It's hardly surprising that Big Oil is already brandishing the latest scientific study on the Alberta oil-sands as a weapon in its crusade to peddle bitumen to the world. 

The study was done by a noted Canadian climatologist, Andrew Weaver and a colleague at the University of Victoria. 

This is the part Big Oil likes.

If all of the oil-sand's reserves considered "economically viable" were developed, the resulting rise in global temperatures would be "almost undetectable," when compared to massively larger, global deposits of coal.

But there are other parts of the study you won't hear Big Oil quoting. 
 

For example, what if all of the tarsand's reserves known to be there, (known as "oil-in-place and seven times larger than Saudi Arabia's) are developed, over time?  In that case, Earth's temperature would rise up to ten times as much as in the last scenario! And that would represent almost half of the man-made warming the planet has already experienced over the past 100 years!

Surely, that would be detectable!

While total oilsands development might seem unlikely, given improved technologies and the almost messianic bent of this and (heaven forbid), future governments to exploit the resource, surely it is not imposssible, either. 

To quote from the study;

"Greenhouse-gas emissions resulting from expanding oil-sands production are Canada’s fastest-growing emissions source, and have the potential to contribute significantly to anthropogenic climate change. This is accentuated by the fact that the oil sands are more energy-intensive to produce than conventional crude oil — and have a greater ‘well-to-wheel’ carbon footprint."

"If North American and international policymakers wish to limit global warming to less than 2 °C, they will clearly need to put in place measures that ensure a rapid transition of global energy systems to non-greenhouse-gas-emitting sources, while avoiding commitments to new infrastructure supporting dependence on fossil fuels."

One of the report's authors, Prof. Weaver, said this in a recent, online video: "The tar sands are an interesting example of end-to-end environmental degradation, whether it be excessive use of water, toxic sludge that affects eco-systems, or greenhouse gas emissions."

After carefully reading the study myself, I remain convinced (as do these scientists) that untrummelled development of the tar sands is still just wrongheaded. 

But my main message to honest activists everywhere would be this: Let's show the world we are not like the cranks or vested interests we all reject - that we can actually learn from the science we are presented with.  

It is therefore time to redouble our efforts to slay the ugly elephant in the room - coal. 
l.p.

Andrew Weaver on Tar and Climate

Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline Could Hurt Canadian Economy

(Source - Wikipedia) A report put forth by economist and former Insurance Corporation of BC CEO, Robyn Allan, in early 2012, states that this proposed pipeline could actually hurt non-oil based sectors of the Canadian economy. Allan stated in the report that the project's success depends on continual yearly oil price increases, by about $3/barrel. She also stated that an increase in oil prices will lead to "a decrease in family purchasing power, higher prices for industries who use oil as an input into their production process, higher rates of unemployment in non-oil industry related sectors, a decline in real GDP, a decline in government revenues, an increase in inflation, an increase in interest rates and further appreciation of the Canadian dollar." 

Coal the True Climate Change Bad Guy, Analysis Shows

Globe & Mail Feb 19-'12

One of the world’s top climate scientists has calculated that emissions from Alberta’s oil sands are unlikely to make a big difference to global warming and that the real threat to the planet comes from burning coal. Details here.
PLT: Quite a shocker for those of use who, like myself, have been fighting the tar sands, tooth and nail. While this hardly turns the tar sands into "clean, alternative energy," I believe we should all begin paying more attention now to finding better ways of producing energy we now produce from coal (and fracking) here in Canada!

Manitoba's Green Party Leader Takes Newspaper to Task for Misleading Editorial

From the Blog of James Beddome, Leader, Green Party of Manitoba.

GOOD NEWS! The Manitoba Government is finally going to follow the lead of the other 6 provinces in Canada which have put in place bans on the aesthetic or non-essential use of pesticides. This is a first step that Greens have been calling for, for years.     Full story here

All Sizzle, No Steak - (an HONEST View of the State of our National Parks)

Dec '11 Alternatives - Jeff Gailus

LAST JUNE, I returned to Banff National Park after a long absence. Details here.

PLT: Jeff's article, which actually appeared in "Alternatives" late last year, has proven timely, if not prescient, in pointing out the chasm between the hype of Parks Canada and the reality when it come to the condition of our national parks. Now, Harper & his minions have pushed through a scandalous scheme for an icefields "lookout," involving the blasting out of the side of the mountain, once again illustrating the misplaced priority of this government to attract even more tourists rather than protect natural ecosystems. 
(Those damn mountains. They do get in the way of the scenery, don't they? This photo I took of the Columbia Icefield this past summer - above - where the lookout will be built - shows just how lousy the view is without something concrete and steel to stand on! Sarcasm intended.)

Town Council in Terrace, BC Does the Right Thing - Opposes Pipeline!

Terrace Daily Online Feb '12

Terrace citizens have reacted strongly to Terrace City Councils decision to oppose the Northern Gateway Pipeline project. Details here.

Supporters of the Canadian Wheat Board Launch Another Court Fight

Canadian Press - 02/15/2012

WINNIPEG - Supporters of the Canadian Wheat Board have launched yet another court challenge. The Friends of the Canadian Wheat Board filed Tuesday a class-action lawsuit in Federal Court asking the court to restore the board and give farmers $17 billion in damages. Details here.

Monsanto Set to Appeal French Poisoning Verdict

Feb 15, 2012 Manitoba Co-Operator

U.S. agribusiness giant Monsanto said Tuesday it will appeal a French court ruling that found it responsible for the poisoning of a farmer who inhaled a weed killer, in the first such case to reach court in France. Details here.
Please also read: "Canada Fiddles While Concerns Fester Over 'Roundup'"