Why Corporations, Emerging Powers and Petro-States Are Snapping Up Huge Chunks of Farmland in the Developing World

By Scott Thill, AlterNet. Posted August 11, 2009.

In the past six months, big players in the global economy have grabbed 50 million acres of arable land, from Africa to Southeast Asia.
Click headline for more.

Northern Saskachewan Lakes at High Risk From Alberta Acid Rain Emissions

Saskatchewan Environmental Society

August 10, 2009 Photo courtesy of Saskatchewan Tourism

New monitoring data on rainfall in northern Saskatchewan and recently published research on the acid sensitivity of northern Saskatchewan soils show the urgent need for federal and provincial action to control Alberta oil sands pollution, the Saskatchewan Environmental Society said today.

“If regulations to control acid pollution from Alberta’s oil sands are not put in place soon, many of Saskatchewan’s northern lakes will be seriously damaged in the decades to come” said Peter Prebble, Director of Energy and Water Policy with the Saskatchewan Environmental Society. “There are two important new pieces of evidence pointing to this conclusion” said Prebble. First, precipitation so acidic that it is classified by Environment Canada as “acid rain” is now falling on the La Loche region in northwest Saskatchewan. Second, recent work by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment shows clearly that northern Saskatchewan has the most acid sensitive soils in Canada. This means our lakes and forests in northern Saskatchewan are incredibly vulnerable to Alberta’s growing acid pollution.”

Prebble said the latest provincial government data for precipitation in La Loche shows rainfall and snowfall in that area to have an average pH of 4.96 with many individual readings below that number. Environment Canada considers pH readings below 5.0 to constitute acid rain.

“The majority of the acid precipitation falling on the La Loche region is coming from oil sands plants in neighboring Alberta” said Josef Schmutz, conservation biologist and Saskatchewan Environmental Society Board Member. “Those operations are releasing vast amounts of sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere – more than 200,000 tonnes per year. The prevailing winds for much of the year are from west to east with the result that approximately two thirds of these pollutants make their way into Saskatchewan.”

“Southern Saskatchewan soils have sufficient alkalinity to neutralize acid rain. In contrast, boreal forest soils in northern Saskatchewan do not” Schmutz said. He observed that oil sand operations are being constructed closer and closer to the Alberta-Saskatchewan border. “This environmental threat imposed on Saskatchewan by Alberta must be taken very seriously” he said. “Oil sands activity in northeast Alberta is multiplying rapidly and is not being adequately regulated. Unless strict regulation is put in place, acid rain emissions will increase because oil sands production is scheduled to triple over the next 15-20 years.”

The work done for the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) reveals that parts of the La Loche region have already exceeded their critical load for sulphur and nitrogen. Long time SES Board Member Ann Coxworth described this as “troubling news” because “when critical load is exceeded, significant harmful effects to the natural environment begin occurring.”

Coxworth said the time has come for Saskatchewan to insist on a regional cap on sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxide emissions. “A regional cap would set a limit on how much pollution can be produced by all the oil sands plants in Alberta, plus any that develop in Saskatchewan. The cap should be set in the context of the new knowledge we now have. If this is not done quickly, many lakes in northern Saskatchewan are at serious risk” Coxworth said. “One need only look at the experience of Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes to realize there are great economic and environmental costs associated with acid rain pollution. In Ontario alone, 48,000 lakes have suffered acid rain damage” she said.

“Saskatchewan should also ask the federal government to help regulate Alberta’s oil sands industry” said Coxworth. “Ottawa is free to regulate on matters relating to pollution across provincial boundaries. It’s time for the Government of Canada to step in to protect Saskatchewan.” she concluded.

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For further information contact:
Peter Prebble Tel. (306) 665-0085
Ann Coxworth Tel. (306) 665-1915
Joe Schmutz Tel. (306) 966-2410 or 382-8964

Winnipeg Spraying for Dutch Elm Disease

Last Updated: Friday, August 7, 2009 - CBC
The City of Winnipeg has begun treating American Elm trees on private and public property with the chemical Dursban to control elm bark beetles, the carriers of Dutch Elm Disease.
Click headline for more.
Eds. Note - Nine years ago, (2000), after the most extensive assessment of any chemical in its history, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decided that Dursban may be more dangerous to people than once believed. It removed use of the pesticide, also known as chlorpyrifos, from products sold over-the-counter there.
A "sister" pesticide, Lorsban, containing the same active ingredient and with similar chemical properties, became a nightmare for a Manitoba family when it was sprayed on a nearby crop.
l.p.

Warming Oceans Starved of Oxygen

ISIS Press Release 10/08/09

Global warming is depleting oxygen from the ocean waters and threatening the survival of fisheries and the entire marine ecosystem.

Click headline for more.

Severe Global Warming Will Render Half of World's Inhabited Areas Unliveable, Expert Warns

David Adam in Copenhagen - guardian.co.uk

Parts of China, India and the eastern US could all become too warm in summer for people to lose heat by sweating, expert warns.

Click headline for more.

Baby Emissions Fuel Global Warming

The Guardian - Estimates of the carbon legacy of bringing a child into the world suggest that the green choice may be to stop at two kids.

Click headline for more.

Organic Consumers Association Responds to Faulty and Misleading FSA Food Study

* Press Release
Organic Consumers Association, July 30, 2009
Straight to the Source
CONTACT: Ronnie Cummins/Alexis Baden-Mayer

Click headline for more.

Wind Turbines Cause Health Risks

Manitoba Wildlands newsletter - 07 August 09

New research exposes the health risks of wind energy turbines including heart disease, vertigo, panic attacks, migraines, increased heart rate and sleep deprivation.

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COMMENT:
Hi Larry
While browsing your page and links I noticed an article about Wind Turbine Syndrome, and Dr. Nina Pierpont.
There seems to be many doctors who disagree with Pierpont, and the basis for her arguments.
Anyhow, I live in Prince Edward County, Ontario, which seems to be the Ontaro hub of NIMBYism with regard to wind energy development, here.
Many in our local group helped groom the final version of our position on this issue.
http://www.countysustainability.ca/WindTruth.htm)
Thought you might be interested.
That is quite an extensive web page you run! Well done.
Don Chisholm

The Climate Battles Present -

NEW ENERGY VS. TARSANDS SHOWDOWN IN REGINA

Regina SK. Aug. 6 '09 - by Larry Powell

Protesters from far and wide converged
on Regina this week, demanding climate
justice on the occasion of the Premiers'
("Council of the Federation") meeting here.

Targets at the rally, in front of the Saskatchewan legislature, were this province's headlong rush to promote nuclear energy; and the Alberta tar sands, the dirtiest energy project on earth! Organizers of this and various other protests and rallies around the city during the week, included Greenpeace, the Sierra Club and Council of Canadians.

"Premiers Stelmach" (above l),and "Wall," (above r) and "Prime Minister Harper," wage shameless war against Mother Earth by denying climate change and refusing to do anything about it.

A First Nations activist (r) urges the crowd to

demand climate justice, support indigenous
rights and the closure of the tarsands!

A young member of the "Pedal for the Planet" group, (l) shows the rally eyeglasses he hopes will correct the short-sightedness of the Premiers and a special book to help them understand our climate crisis and to take it seriously!


It was a day for the young, the not-so-young and the in-between.

Author's note- I didn't get to take copious notes at this event. But here's a quote which stood out for me...

"It's wrong to undermine the habitability of our planet!" Amen to that! l.p.

(Photos by me.)

Is Organic Food Healthier? A Food Expert Responds

By Marion Nestle, Huffington Post. Posted August 4, 2009.
When it comes to nutritional value the study says no -- but the research fails to look at pesticides, the environment and animal welfare.
Click headline for more.

Photo by L.P.

Organics Yield no Nutritive Gain - Study

Please read comment & links after this story.
Manitoba C0-Operator 7/31/2009-An independent British review of organic foods compared to conventionally-grown foods has found "no important differences" in the nutritive content, or in any additional health benefits for organics.

Photo by the Telegraph

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COMMENT; Johanne said...

Not everyone agrees that the FSA is so neutral in its study about organic food. The french coverage on Canada's national radio, Radio-Canada, left no doubt about the validity of this study. A little more reading from people who know better is very revealing:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1203343/JOANNA-BLYTHMAN-A-cancerous-conspiracy-poison-faith-organic-food.html

http://www.theecologist.co.uk/News/news_analysis/295416/organic_food_fsa_study_leaves_bad_taste_in_the_mouth.html

http://www.examiner.com/x-3975-Knoxville-Green-Living-Examiner~y2009m7d31-FSA-organic-food-report-is-misleading

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/5942078/Ignore-the-FSA-It-is-still-better-to-buy-organic.html

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