Lake Ontario's Troubled Waters

Syracuse Post-Standard

Oswego, NY -- Lake Ontario is the most stressed of the five Great Lakes, a new study that maps environmental threats to the lakes shows. Details here.

Pasture News of the Week

Grass Notes Awakening

Graham Powell Photography

The Harper government is putting more than 2 million acres of community pastures up for sale in western Canada, including Manitoba. These pastures represent one of the largest reserves of remaining native prairie in North America and home to a significant number of endangered species. 

Prairie crocus - PLT photo

The fact that public hearings are being held into this decision, has been hailed as good news by some observers. Please click here, read on, then come back and tell PLT's "comment section" what you think!

Another Troubling Climate Assessment

Living on Earth

The third National Climate Assessment of the US government finds humans unquestionably responsible for recent climate disruption...Full story (& podcast) here.

The shrinking Columbia Icefields of 

the Canadian Rockies. PLT photo

Supreme Court Rejects Appeals on CWB Rulings

The Manitoba Co-Operator

Top court's decision won't affect plans for class-action: Details here.

Wheat Board supporters demonstrate at 

"Occupy Winnipeg" Oct. 2011. PLT photo.

As Australia Burns, Attitudes are Changing. But Is It Too Late?

Tim Flannery - The Guardian

Photo credit - the Hooza

Raging wildfires are forcing many to rethink their stance on climate change. But there's little time left to reduce emissions.  Details here.

Oil Sands Development Polluting Alberta Lakes: Study

Globe & Mail
Oil-sands development is polluting nearby remote Alberta lakes with rising levels of a toxic carcinogen, refuting long-standing claims that waterway pollution in the region is largely naturally occurring, a study has found. Details here.

America's (& Canada's?) Real Criminal Element: Lead

MotherJones
New research finds Pb is the hidden villain behind violent crime, lower IQs, and even the ADHD epidemic. And fixing the problem is a lot cheaper than doing nothing. Full story here.

Please also read: "The Grime Behind the Crime" by George Monbiot

Shale Gas: Myth and Realities

By Andrew Nikiforuk, Today, TheTyee.ca 

Nikiforuk tackles top claims fracking industry uses to reassure public. First in a series. Full story here.

How First Nations and Eco-Groups Won Over Shell in B.C.

Toronto Star
Was it the petition with 100,000 signatures and intractable First Nations and environmentalists that forced Shell Canada Ltd. to back off a project to drill for coal-bed methane gas in a pristine B.C. wilderness? Full story here.

Photo Credit: Sacred Headwaters

Revealed: How the FBI Coordinated the Crackdown on Occupy

The Guardian
New documents prove what was once dismissed as paranoid fantasy: totally integrated corporate-state repression of dissent. Details here.

Annus Horribilis

George Monbiot - the Guardian
2012 was the worst year for the environment in living memory. Details here.