Leaked G20 Documents: Canada Won't Cut Extra Subsidies for Fossil Fuels

Clare Demers - Pembina Institute

Despite the Harper….

EDITOR'S NOTE: Shame on you, Harper! You are doubtlessly the worse Prime Minister my country has ever known! l.p.

Louisiana Calls on BP to Fund Mental Health Programs

by Sasha Chavkin - 
ProPublica, July 1, 2010

As Louisiana officials….

Whale Killing - We Were Heard!

Dear friends,

We did it! The proposal to legalise whale killing went down in flames in Morocco -- and our campaign helped to tip the balance.

In a few short weeks, we built the biggest whale-saving petition in history, signed by an extraordinary 1.2 million of us worldwide, and delivered it directly to key delegates at the International Whaling Commission meeting. In the end, the 24 year old whaling ban was upheld.

The pro-whaling lobby tried to use political favours to win a so called 'compromise' that amounts to a quota for hunting whales, but as tension grew in the closed-door talks, our massive petition became a top story on the BBC’s world news, and we worked with friendly negotiators and other allies to put pressure where it was most needed and draw greater global attention.

The Australian environment minister Peter Garrett received our petition for like-minded governments in front of the world's media and said “Thank you very much Avaaz. It is a great pleasure to be here and accept this petition ... I believe the people of the world’s voices need to be heard. I certainly hear them today."

The U.S. delegation greeted us saying -- “Avaaz! We saw your billboard at the airport!” and delegates were overheard excitedly discussing our giant real-time petition counter outside the meeting as it blew far past the million mark.

After the meeting, one European negotiator told us: "We've managed to keep the ban in place...I've been checking the petition online. I was very impressed by how fast the numbers are rising and seeing people signing from across the world.”

This is an important victory for whales -- and for global people power -- together we demonstrated that international decisions can be shifted by a little bit of well-placed effort from a lot of people everywhere.

But winning this battle won’t guarantee the whales’ safety yet -- Japan’s “scientific” whaling fleet is already sailing out of harbour through IWC loopholes to kill hundreds of whales.

To win for good, we’ll need to campaign to strengthen and reform the IWC, and to mobilise in countries with pro-whaling governments like Japan -- where the Cabinet knows Avaaz and we have changed environmental policy in the past.

We can do it if enough of us chip in just a small amount a week. We’ve now reached 6,000 regular donors -- if we get to 10,000 we can start funding campaigning in Japan and other key nations now. Click here to become an Avaaz sustainer and make it happen:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/whales_reportback_6/?vl

Over its short lifespan, our movement has exploded through a simple democratic idea: that people power can stand up and win against powerful special interests. Whether it be protecting whales, countering corruption, supporting authentic democracy movements or fighting for a global climate deal, we are coming together to bridge the gap between the world we have and the world most people everywhere want.

Now, if enough of us chip in just a small amount for Avaaz’s member-funded campaigning, together we’ll have the strength to win even more victories. Click here now to donate --

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/whales_reportback_6/?vl

With hope,

Ricken, Alice, Paul, Mia, Ben, Luis, David, Graziela, Milena and the whole Avaaz team

---

Avaaz.org is a 5.5-million-person global campaign network that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people shape global decision-making. ("Avaaz" means "voice" or "song" in many languages.) Avaaz members live in every nation of the world; our team is spread across 13 countries on 4 continents and operates in 14 languages. Learn about some of Avaaz's biggest campaigns here, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

This message was sent to earthkeeperfarm@yahoo.ca. To change your email address, language, or other information, click here. Want to leave this list? Click here to unsubscribe.

To contact Avaaz, please do not reply to this email. Instead, write to us at www.avaaz.org/en/contact or call us at +1-888-922-8229 (US).

'Balanced' Ecosystems Seen in Organic Agriculture Better at Controlling Pests, Research Finds

ScienceDaily (July 1, 2010)

There really is...

Editor's note: "See interesting footnote below from the Organic Food Council of MB. l.p.

Late Blight Update

There have been three additional confirmed cases of late blight in commercial conventional potato fields in the province this week. One case is in the central region, one in the western region and one is near Winnipeg. The Disease Severity Values (DSVs) for late blight risk have gone over the threshold values in many parts of the province, which increases the risk of infection. With widespread rains and very moist conditions, areas with low DSVs could also have localized high-risk spots (such as low spots, areas near tree lines, etc).

With the high moisture in fields in many parts of Manitoba, the risk of late blight is high. To help prevent late blight, organic potato and tomato producers in high-risk areas must follow a five-day spray schedule using approved copper products, making sure to always follow label directions. If the disease is found in an organic potato or tomato field, there is no cure and it is recommended that the plants be destroyed as soon as possible. Available options are flaming and/or disking to bury infected plants. Constant monitoring of susceptible crops in both commercial and home garden situations is essential to keep on top of late blight.

Deep-Sea Mining Adds to Fears of Marine Pollution

By Michael McCarthy, Environment Editor - the Independent - 2 July'10

Concerns about....

(photo from NOAA,

Ocean Explorer)

Oil Spill in Gulf Could Cause ‘Dead Zone’, Further Hitting Sea Life

June 29, 2010 - Financial Times

High concentrations of…

This image from NOAA

shows the dead zone in
the Gulf of Mexico.

Climate Change Complicates Plant Diseases of the Future

ScienceDaily (June 26, 2010) — Human-driven....

Keeping the Bees - Author Implicates Pesticides in Bee Deaths

Just click headline, scroll to bottom of page and listen to the CBC Radio Podcast with Laurence Packer!

There are over 19-thousand species of bees found all over the world, including two species that have been found near the edge of glaciers in the Arctic. It is estimated that bee pollination is key for about one-third of the world's food supply, either directly or indirectly. Bees play a vital role in the ecology of the planet, yet these unsung heroes of the natural world may be at risk.

Pesticides, fragmentation of habitat and climate change all pose threats to bees. And according to Laurence Packer, if they are in trouble, then so are we. Dr. Packer is a melittologist and a Professor of Biology at York University in Toronto.

In his new book, Keeping The Bees -Why All Bees Are At Risk and What We Can Do to Save Them, he writes about common misconceptions, some of the more exotic species he has encountered, and suggests simple ways ordinary people can help bees.

Obama Exercises Good Government, Makes BP Pay. Republicans and the Corporate Media Freak Out

AlterNet - June 25 - '10

Obama's hardline….

GM Alfalfa Ruling by US Supreme Court Has Sweeping Implications For Canadian Farmers and All Citizens

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JUNE 22, 2010

SASKATOON, Sask.—The US Supreme Court ruled this week that genetically-modified (GM) alfalfa cannot be planted or sold in that country. This ruling has very significant implications for Canadian farmers and all other citizens. Canada’s National Farmers Union (NFU) participated in an “amicus brief” to the US Supreme Court as part of this case.

The case, Monsanto v. Geerston Farms, marks the first time a GM crop case has been brought before the US Supreme Court. Ruling on a lower court decision, the Supreme Court upheld a ban on the sale and planting of Monsanto’s Roundup Ready alfalfa. The ban will remain in place until the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prepares a proper Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and until the USDA succeeds in officially “deregulating” the crop—a move that will be scrutinized and opposed (possibly in court) by many groups. Work on an EIS and possible deregulation will take at least a year, possibly much longer, giving farmers and others opposed to GM alfalfa time to gain a permanent ban. The US ruling also makes Canadian GM alfalfa commercialization less likely.

The proposed introduction of GM alfalfa in North America threatens Canadian agriculture and food in several ways. First, organic farmers will face risks and lost income. Experience with canola and flax in Canada and rice and other crops in the US shows that GM alfalfa, if approved, will contaminate our fields and seed stocks. Alfalfa plays a key role in organic farming systems and crop rotations. The introduction of GM alfalfa will make it difficult for some farmers to continue in organic crop production. It will make it more difficult to raise organic livestock. The threat (or reality) of contamination may close overseas markets for a wide range of organic (and conventional) crops. And the risk of rejected shipments will create unbearable financial risks for organic and conventional farmers alike. Several groups in Canada share the NFU’s concerns, including key players in the alfalfa seed industry.

Second, many Canadians choose alfalfa sprouts as a nutritious food. Most of those citizens want non-GM sprouts. The introduction of GM alfalfa will mean that all alfalfa-based foods will have some level of GM contamination.

Third, alfalfa is a main feed source for Canadian livestock—beef and dairy cattle, especially. NFU President Terry Boehm commented: “The alfalfa that goes into our beef and dairy cattle is turned into the beef and milk we serve our families. And if that alfalfa is genetically-modified, that makes a difference to Canadians.” The NFU was part of a broad coalition that won a multi-year campaign to prevent the use of genetically-modified milk-production hormones in Canadian dairy herds.

Fourth, alfalfa is one of the most widely grown crops in Canada, covering more than ten million acres. It is also a primary food source for the bees that make our honey, and that pollinate other food crops. “Introducing GM alfalfa will have a huge impact on the landscape, and on our ecosystems. No one has evaluated the effects of GM alfalfa on the environment. Canadians will not accept widespread environmental risk just so Monsanto can make large private profits,” concluded Boehm.
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For more information, please contact:
Terry Boehm, NFU President: (306) 255-2880
Darrin Qualman, NFU Researcher: (306) 652-9465

NDP's Food Report Urges Public Incentives for Local Foods

Manitoba Co-Operator - June 22 - 2010
The federal New Democrats' report...