Saturday, December 12, 2009

Youth and Indigenous People Escalate Protests Inside the UN

BY JOSHUA KAHN RUSSELL | Rabble.CA - DECEMBER 10, 2009

Echoing the words of Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed (We will not...

Climate Justice - Take Action for People & the Planet

Council of Canadians reporting from Copenhagen...

MANITOBA HAS PLAN TO REDUCE PLASTIC BAG USE: BLAIKIE

Manitoba News Release
............................................................

December 8, 2009

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Manitobans Asked For Input To Guide Action to Protect Environment

Manitobans are being asked for their views on the best way to reduce the impact of plastic bags on the environment, Conservation Minister Bill Blaikie announced today.

"We want to hear what Manitobans think and we want to work with shoppers, vendors and bag manufacturers," said Blaikie.

Manitoba was the first province in Canada to ban plastic bags in liquor stores and the second to set targets for packaging.

Plastic bags are regulated as service packaging under the Packaging and Printed Paper Stewardship Regulation, passed in December 2008. The Guideline for Plastic Bags under the regulation establishes a target to reduce the use of plastic bags by 50 per cent within five years.

Next spring, Multi-Material Stewardship Manitoba (MMSM) will launch a new industry program to manage packaging and printed paper including plastic bags. To meet the reduction target, the guideline requires industry to undertake measures to reduce demand for plastic bags and encourage use of reusable bags.

Manitoba's current multi-material recycling system diverted more than 70,000 tonnes of household recyclables this past year.

To strengthen plastic bag management and complement MMSM's planning, the public and interest groups are invited to participate in consultations that will focus on the following proposals:

- plastic carry-out bags sold and distributed in Manitoba contain a minimum of 25 per cent post-consumer recycled material, increasing to 50 per cent within five years;

- all larger stores that distribute plastic bags have take-back programs for recycling plastic bags;

- all plastic bags sold or distributed in Manitoba be imprinted with a message reminding users to recycle or reuse the bag; and

- all compostable or biodegradable plastic bags sold or distributed in Manitoba be required to meet national or international standards and be certified as such.

"All Manitobans have a responsibility in protecting our environment," said Blaikie. "Your views will help to shape the new packaging program as it rolls out."

Information related to the consultation is posted here.



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Global Protests Demand Action on Climate Change

COPENHAGEN (AFP) - Hundreds of thousands of activists across...

Friday, December 11, 2009

Can Wind Power the World?

Thu May. 19, 2005 - Mother Jones

Two Stanford researchers have put out a new scientific study suggesting that the potential for wind-driven energy is actually many times....

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Canada's Trade Trumps Environment

Winnipeg Free Press - By: Frances Russell - 9/12/2009
AB tarpond, courtesy beautifuldestruction.ca

Canada should be setting climate change policy...

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Activist Naomi Klein Calls for Disobedience at Copenhagen

Dec.9-'09 Guardian.Co.UK

Klein labels the climate summit as the worst case of disaster capitalism, ever...

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Greenhouse Gases Imperil Health, E.P.A. Announces

NY Times - John Broder - Dec. 7-'09

l.p.photo
WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency has paved the way for regulation of carbon.....





EPA to Strengthen Oversight of Pesticide’s Impact on Children and Farmworkers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 8, 2009 EPA

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to strengthen…

(Editor's note: Perhaps our Canadian regulators could listen and learn....l.p.)

Monday, December 7, 2009

Tarsands Adding Carcinogens to Athabasca River: Study

CBC - De 7'09
A study of water quality at 60 sites along the Athabasca River and its tributaries makes it clear...
Climate demo - Regina SK
Summer - '09 (l.p. photo)

Hog Industry on the Ropes

by Elecia Chrunik - THE SASQUATCH - Dec/Jan '09

The Canadian hog industry is in trouble. Supply is...

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

CANADA'S                                                                                                                                ...