Manitoba Government Needs to Support Organic Farmers - Green Party

WINNIPEG: “The Green Party of Manitoba is the only party that thinks that putting pesticides on food is a bad idea,” says interim Green leader Alain Landry. “And Manitobans agree. They are increasing the demand for pesticide-free food, and our government is neglecting the organic option.”

CBC Covers Organic Food Issues Well. Conventional? Not So Much!

by Larry Powell

The CBC is to be commended for breaking the story about phoney organic products being sold in Canada, including the infamous bakery in BC. It has given this matter extensive coverage, and rightly so.

This Is What Global Warming Looks Like

Climate Central

Global warming has accelerated during the past three decades, which have each been unusually warm. In fact, the most recent decade from 2001-2010 was the warmest since instrumental records began in 1850, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). While the rate of global warming has slowed in the past several years, possibly due to natural climate variability, the long-term temperature trend clearly shows that we’re living on a warming planet. Full story here.

How Fair is The National in its Coverage of Our Food Production Methods?

PLT: As you may have noticed, the CBC is giving wall-to-wall coverage to the story about pesticide residues being found in organic food. So, what about the story posted earlier this week on PLT, *"Pesticides Contaminating Prairie Wetlands, which has huge implications for both our environment and our health? Well, not so much. At least not yet, anyway. So far, it seems to have been reported regionally, only, on CBC Saskatchewan. So I sent the email, below (with a link to that story) to The National this evening.

"Hi, Peter. Will The National be carrying *this story? Like the story about pesticides in organic food, I believe it too holds implications for food safety, not to mention a threat to an entire eco-system! Thanks!"

We'll see if Peter uses his considerable experience and judgement as a veteran journalist and does the right thing, by giving equal treatment to this latter story, too! If he does not, why not remind him? His email is:

thenational@cbc.ca

U.S. Government Could Eliminate Restrictions on Corn, Soybean Seeds Modified to Resist Weed Killer

Winnipeg Free Press

The federal government in the U.S. has proposed eliminating restrictions on the use of corn and soybean seeds genetically engineered to resist a common weed killer. Full story here.

Ground sprayer - PLT photo

Pesticide 'Contaminating' Prairie Wetlands in Canada: Scientist

CBC News
Researcher suggests pesticide may be linked to insect, bird declines. Details here.

Please also read: "Pollinator Protection - Europe Shows Us How It's Done" (letter)

Concerns About A New Pesticide In Saskatchewan

CBC Radio - Regina

University of Saskatchewan Biologist Christy Morrissey is raising some early flags about Neonicotinoids, a controversial family of pesticide used for crops like canola and wheat. She shares her findings with Sheila Coles of CBC Regina. Full story here.

In 2 1/2 Minutes, a Child Shows Us Why We Should "Go Organic!" (Video)

UpInspire

This 3rd grader shocked everyone with her experiment that shows the difference between organic and conventional. It changed my mind forever. Watch video here.

Two Big Names Perform For First Nations Beset With "Big Oil" Misery

Neil Young has announced that he will perform  four benefit shows in his native Canada to raise  money for the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation  (ACFN) Legal Defense Fund. The “Honour The Treaties”  Very Special Guest, Diana Krall will also perform. The ACFN refer to themselves as K'ai Taile  Dene, meaning "people of the land of the willow.”   A Legal Defense fund was set up to support the ACFN’s legal challenges against oil companies and government that are obstructingtheir traditional lands and rights. As people of the land theACFN have used andoccupied their traditional lands in the Athabasca region for thousands of years,hunting, trapping, fishing and gathering to sustain themselves and continue spiritualcultural rights passed down through generations. The ACFN’s legal challenges will ensure the protection of their traditional lands, eco-systems and unique rightsguaranteed by Treaty 8, the last and largest of the nineteenth century land agreementsmade between First Nations and the Government of Canada, are upheld for the benefitof future generations.For more info on the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, please visit: http://www.acfn.com/.

Fate of Exxon's Burst Pegasus Pipeline to Be Decided in 2014

Inside Climate News

Several other major pipelines intended to transport diluted bitumen from Canada's tar sands could be affected by the Pegasus outcome. Details here.

Canadian Approval of GE Salmon Egg Production Draws Criticism From US Safety Watchdog

Center for Food Safety

The Center for Food Safety has denounced the Canadian government’s decision to approve commercial production of genetically modified (GM) salmon eggs on Prince Edward’s Island (PEI). Full story here.