Thursday, April 26, 2018

'Nowhere Is Immune': Researchers Find Record Levels of Microplastics in Arctic Sea Ice



EcoWatch 

North Polar flight with Air Berlin: Pole overflight (Photographer: Basti, Editor: Hedwig)
Scientists found record levels of microplastics in Arctic sea ice, a study published Tuesday in Nature Communications revealed. More here.

Monday, April 23, 2018

Common pesticide can make migrating birds lose their way, research shows


The Guardian
A ring-necked pheasant on the Canadian Prairies. Will they be next? PinP photo.

The experimental study is the first to directly show harm to songbirds, extending the known impacts of neonicotinoids beyond insects. More here.


In worst case scenario, the trees in big parts of Canada's boreal forest 'will probably die,' says federal scientist


National

Observer

A devastating wildfire near Fort MacMurray, Alberta, Photo by DarrenRD
Large portions of Canada’s vast boreal forest could be at risk of dying off by the end of the century, as climate change will dramatically aggravate the risk of wildfires, drought and insect infestations, say government scientists in a groundbreaking new study. More here.

RELATED: Only “Heroic Efforts” Will Spare Earth’s Mighty Boreal Forest From the Worst Ravages of Climate Change - Experts.

Sunday, April 22, 2018

Early rains expose risks for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, but worst ‘yet to come,’ warns UN agency



UN News

Rohingya refugees in a camp in Bangladesh. Photo by Zlatica Hoke (VOA)
The arrival of pre-monsoon rains in southern Bangladesh has revealed an alarming level of risks for Rohingya refugees, United Nations humanitarian agencies said on Friday, warning that they do not  have the funds needed to protect hundreds of thousands of desperate people once the rainy season begins in earnest. More here.

Pipeline Spills 290,000 Litres of Crude Oil Emulsion in Northern Alberta


DeSmogCanada
A pipeline owned by Paramount Resources Ltd. released an estimated 100,000 litres of crude oil and 190,000 litres of produced water near Zama City, in northwest Alberta, according to an April 11 incident report filed with the Alberta Energy Regulator. Details here.

Saturday, April 21, 2018

Exclusive: US official appeared to delay protections for endangered species at behest of oil group


TheGuardian
The energy-friendlly agenda inside Trump's iinterior department is revealed in rccords obtained by the Guardian and the watchdog groups, Documented and the Western Values Project.  More here.

Friday, April 20, 2018

Twenty environmental defenders have been killed so far in 2018






Thursday, April 19, 2018

'Beyond Comprehension': In Just Two Years, Half of All Corals in 'Forever Damaged' Great Barrier Reef Have Died


CommonDreams
Bleached coral. 
Global warming, researchers warn, "is rapidly emerging as a universal threat to ecological integrity and function." More here.

Saturday, April 14, 2018

Salmon farms are in crisis – here in Canada & elsewhere. Here’s how scientists are trying to save them

The Conversation
Fish farming in Greece. Photo by Jebulon
Salmon farming is facing a huge challenge in the form of a tiny pest. The parasitic sea louse is infecting salmon stocks worldwide, causing devastating losses for salmon farmers and increased prices for shoppers. But scientists are working hard to tackle this global problem, with a combination of new ways to biologically and mechanically remove the lice and to make the salmon more resilient to infection. More here.

I’m an expat US scientist – and I’m returning to Trump’s America to stand up for science


The Conversation
Donald Trump’s presidency has not been good for science or scientists. Since Trump took office 15 months ago, his administration has proposed to terminate many federally funded research programs and slash funding for others. Trump’s appointees are working to roll back environmental regulations and conservation policies. More here.

Friday, April 13, 2018

How to make global food systems more sustainable


TheConversation
Barley in western Canada. PinP photo.

Last October, movie director James Cameron and his wife Suzy Amis Cameron launched an organic pea protein operation in Saskatchewan. Once it is up and running, this facility will be the top producer of organic pea protein in North America. More here.

Health Canada probes claim that government officials helped pesticide company overturn a ban

CANADA'S                                                                                                                                ...