UN: Oil Spills Leave Widespread Ecological Damage in a Region of Nigeria's Crude-Rich Delta

By: Jon Gambrell, The Associated Press - 08/4/201

LAGOS, Nigeria - A region of Nigeria's oil-rich southern delta suffers widespread ecological damage as spilled oil seeps into its drinking water, destroys plants and remains in the ground for decades at a time, according to a United Nations report. Details here.

PinP Launches Formal Complaint About Former Ambassador & Tar Sands Bigwig, Derek Burney

by Larry Powell 

Below is a complaint I launched with the CBC Ombudsman, Kirk LaPoint (above).  

It arose from an interview on the CBC Radio program, The House. (Read "PLT" Takes Former Ambassador to Task for Bullshit Comments on the Keystone XL Pipeline") l.p.
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Kirk LaPoint, Ombudsman,
CBC.
Dear. Mr. LaPoint,

Please consider this a formal complaint about a program aired on "The House" on Sat. July 23rd, 2011.

In it, a former Canadian ambassador to the US, Derek Burney, strongly defended the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, which is scheduled to carry tar sands oil from Alberta, to the Texas Gulf Coast. Burney accused environmentalists opposed to the project of being "emotional" and "violent," although he was never challenged to give examples of what he meant.

It turns out,(according to Wikipedia) Mr. Burney is on the board of Trans Canada Pipelines, builders of the project. This, however, was never revealed during the interview. I consider this not only a serious lack of proper disclosure by the CBC and Mr. Burney himself, but a contravention of CBC's statement of Missions and Values with regard to the following;

a) "..correct any mistake when necessary." (I drew this matter to the CBC's attention in an email to The House, but it was never aired.)

b) "treat individuals and organizations with openness and respect..we treat them even-handedly."  (There was no follow-up, disclosing Mr. Burney's vested interest in this matter.)

c) "On issues of controversy, to ensure that divergent views are reflected respectfully."  (There was no follow-up interview with any environmental organizations in response to his accusations.)

I would ask you to use your good offices to convince the CBC, since I have failed, to make a public statement on "The House," clarifying Mr. Burny's vested interest in this matter and offering the right of response to a major environmental organization which has been directly involved in this controversy.)

Many thanks for your consideration,
Yours truly,
Larry Powell
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Please read the happy ending at; "The House" Apologizes Over an Interview on the Keystone Pipeline."

Record Heat Bakes Much of U.S.

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World Population to Surpass 7 Billion in 2011; Explosive Population Growth Means Challenges for Developing Nations

ScienceDaily (July 28, 2011) — Global population is expected to hit 7 billion later this year, up from 6 billion in 1999. Details here.


A crowded beach in China.
Courtesy of AcidCow.com

NASA Measures Wildfire Pollution Pouring Over Niagara Falls

ScienceDaily (July 29, 2011) 
Water isn't the only thing pouring over Niagara Falls. Pollution from fires...Details here.

Courtesty of 4 Season Tours

Arctic Scientist Who Exposed Climate Threat to Polar Bear is Suspended

Suzanne Goldenberg - guardian.co.uk - 28/07/11

US government conducts 'integrity inquiry' on federal biologist amid lobbying by oil firms for Arctic permits. Details here.
My Grandson admires a fake bear at the zoo.
One day, will that be all that's left? PLT photo.

Latest DFO Scientist Muzzling Part of Bigger Pattern Ignored by Media

The Common Sense Canadian - 27 July 2011 - by Rafe Mair

The revelation by two Vancouver newspapers that a Department of Fisheries scientist has been muzzled simply underscores how badly they have covered environmental matters in general. Details here.

Mindless Consumers Force Campbell's to Put More Salt Back in Their US Soup!

W. Gifford-Jones MD - 07/22/20 - Wpg. Free Press

Consumers killing themselves with salt. Details here.

Pakistan Floods - a Year Later

July 27'11 UN - Rome

Smallholders helped back on their feet - but further support needed. Details here.

UN photo

The US House Passes a Bill to Fast-Track the Proposed Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline

NRDC Switchboard - Susan Casey-Lefkowitz’s Blog - July 27'11

House under-estimates public concern over oil pipeline spills with bill to rush Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. Details here.

PLT: Mercifully, this stupid bill passed by the majority cement-heads in the House, will likely not pass the Senate. So, maybe there is still hope (maybe)! 
Please watch video, "Say no to the ....pipeline...."

Is The Kremlin Now In Charge? Harper Government Silencing Canadian Artists And Scientists

07/27/11 - 350 or bust

The Harper Government is sending out a clear message at home and abroad that if your politics are not correct your art shouldn’t be shown, and if your findings are inconvenient your science doesn’t matter. Details here.                                                                                           

 Harper rendering by PLT

PLT: I wrote the following after reading the "comments" section following the newspaper article. 
"The Sun story is excellent. I'd suggest that those who'd like to discredit the paper and its reporters are Harperites who'd rather defend his misguided efforts to stifle science than hear the truth. The "commenter" who actually believes that the journal Science is "activist" would feel right at home with conspiracy theorists everywhere. The only thing the paper missed in this story was Harper's shameful record at muzzling the science of climate change itself, so Canada can prosper in his image as an ugly 'petro state.'"

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Please also read: "Stephen Harper Disgraces Us All, Yet Again."