Canada's 'Northern Amazon' on the Brink

The Tyee

Report details how industry, climate change could 'eat up' the Mackenzie River Basin and its vital ecological services. Full story here.

First Green Party Member in the History of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada, Sworn In

Globe & Mail

British Columbia’s first provincially elected Green Party member, Andrew Weaver (r.) wasted little time attacking Premier Christy Clark’s plans to export liquefied natural gas from northern B.C. to Asia after a swearing-in ceremony Thursday at the legislature. Details here.

Canadian Province of Manitoba Announces "Stewards Alliance" to Speed Cleanup of Lake Winnipeg Basin

Partnerships Will Help Leverage More Than $1 Billion Over Five Years: (Minister for the Environment) Mackintosh

A Lake Friendly Accord and Stewards Alliance, and partnerships and initiatives between the Manitoba government and other jurisdictions will leverage more than $1 billion to better co-ordinate efforts to improve all waterways in the Lake Winnipeg basin with the majority of                     PLT Photo                   funding dedicated to reducing nutrient pollution from waste water, Conservation and Water Stewardship Minister Gord Mackintosh announced today.

Artist Finds Inspiration in Canadian Government's Attempt to Silence Her

theguardian

Visual essays by Franke James reveal how the 'troublesome artist' was targeted because her views on climate change clashed with the push to develop Alberta's tar sands. Full story here.

Scientists Find Holes in Monsanto GM Wheat Denial

Common Dreams

Monsanto claimed Wednesday that the Oregon field found last week to be contaminated with Monsanto's unapproved GM wheat was an "isolated" incident, and that it was likely either the result of an accident or "sabotage." However, scientists warned Thursday that the biotech giant's denial has many holes. Details here.

Related: Illegal GM Wheat Contamination Discovered in US

Ottawa Greenwashes the Tar Sands - at Taxpayer Expense. Greenpeace Video.

A Fragile Ecosystem in Ecuador Threatened by Climate Change

QUITO, (Inter Press Service) - The “páramos” or high plateaus of Ecuador, a crucial source of water, are showing signs of extreme fragility and a troubling loss of capacity to conserve this vital resource and sustain the survival of numerous species found nowhere else on earth. Full story here.

GM Corn Has Bleak Future in Most of Europe – a Victory for Environmental Organisations

Investigative Reporting Denmark

Monsanto will halt production of genetically modified corn in all of Europe, except Spain, Portugal and Czech republic. The agribusiness multinational resolves not to spend any more money on trials, development, marketing, court cases or    PLT photo.                                                                  anything else to get GM corn accepted in Europe. Full story here.

                                

Illegal GM Wheat Contamination Discovered in US

Canadian Biotechnology Action Network

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed that Monsanto’s unapproved genetically modified (GM, also called genetically engineered) herbicide tolerant wheat was found growing in a farmer’s field in the state of Oregon. Details here.

A field of non-GM wheat 

in Canada. PLT photo.

Related stories: Scientists Find Holes In Monsanto GM Wheat Denial.
Japan halts imports of U.S. wheat after USDA's shock finding of genetic pollution from GMOs

World’s Largest Pork Producer Could be Sold to a Chinese Company

Grist - a beacon in the smog

In Smithfield, Va., on Wednesday, locals were shocked to discover that their town’s namesake, Smithfield Foods, founded in 1936 as a single meatpacking plant and now the largest pork producer in the world, is poised to be sold to Chinese meat company Shuanghui International. If approved by federal regulators, the $4.7 billion deal would be the biggest takeover in history of an American company by a Chinese one. Details here.

Tar Sands Supporters Suffer Setback as British Columbia Rejects Pipeline

theguardian

Canadian province rejects plan for Enbridge Northern Gateway, saying company failed to demonstrate adequate clean-up plan. Full story here.