Edgar Schmidt and Canadian Democracy

By Dennis Gruending

Edgar Schmidt, a senior lawyer in the federal Department of Justice, has taken a courageous and highly unusual step. Details here.

As Temperatures Rise, Will Costs Follow? CBC Radio Podcast

The Current

Farm machinery threatened by flood water in Manitoba. PLT photo.

A decade ago, the insurance industry's biggest payouts to homeowners were for fire or theft. But for the past five years or so, damage payouts related to heavy rain and high winds are more common, just one very concrete example of the consequences of rising temperatures. Today, we're asking about what's changing ... and what has to change in agriculture, business, construction and infrastructure to accommodate what Environment Canada says will be a hotter, wetter nation. Listen here.

PLT: Once again, The Current has made a valuable and important contribution to the conversation about climate change. Missing from the piece, sadly, is the rather significant fact that we humans are behind it all and that we are also capable of finding a solution, if we only possessed the wisdom and the backbone!

Of Parrots and Parables. The Silent Majority Must Speak Out.

by John Fefchak - Virden, MB

Family members were excited when a large box arrived at their house. A relative in the tropics had told them to expect a gift in the mail.

A week passed. The phone rang. It was the relative. "How did you like the gift that I sent"?

“We really enjoyed it,” replied a family member. "It was delicious!”

"WHAT?" exclaimed an angry voice. “You ate the parrot? That was a very expensive bird. It could speak both official languages! It wasn't meant to be eaten!”

"Too Bad" replied the family member. “It should have spoken up and said something.”

Like the parrot, have we humans waited too long to speak up, too?

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.