Friday, October 24, 2014

UN Agencies Launch New Joint Initiative Targeting Elimination of Global Food Waste

UN News Centre 
Larry Powell P in P photo.
The world wastes enough food to feed an estimated two billion people, the United Nations said today. Story here.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

U.S. Tribes To Canada: Please Don’t Allow Tar Sands Pipeline To Pollute Our Waters

CLIMATEPROGRESS

The leaders of several Pacific Northwest Native American tribes are asking Canadian regulators not to approve a huge expansion of Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain tar sands pipeline, saying approval would result in a huge increase of oil tankers coming through tribal waters every day, increasing the risk of a devastating spill. Story here. 

There’s a Surprisingly Strong Link Between Climate Change and Violence

The Washington Post
Earlier this year, when a study came out suggesting global warming will increase the rates of violent crimes in the United States -- producing "an additional 22,ooo murders, 180,000 cases of rape," and many other crime increases by the year 2099 -- it drew widespread criticism. Story here.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Harper Named World's 'Worst Climate Villain' After Damning Report

Huffington Post
Canada does well at many things. Earlier this year, Canadian cities were listed among the world's top places to live. The country ranks high with the best when it comes to wealth and it's been praised for emerging from the financial crisis in decent shape. But there's one category in which Canada ranks dead last among industrialized nations: its efforts to combat climate change. Story here.

Foreign Scientists Call on Stephen Harper to Restore Science Funding, Freedom.

CBC News

Open letter warns about effects of Canadian science policy on international collaboration. Story here.

Does CETA Offer Any Real Value to Canadian Farmers?

Manitoba Co-Operator.

Trade agreements may offer negative outcomes for Canadians. Story here.

Related: "Free Trade: Path to Prosperity - or Back Road to Corporatism?" 

These Two World Leaders Are Laughing While the Planet Burns Up

New Republic


Meet earth's worst climate villains; Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Story here.

New Canadian Legislation Will Make Absolutely Clear the Right of Farmers to Save Seed - Agriculture Minister Vows

The Co-Operator


The government has introduced amendments to its Agricultural Growth Act to make the language around seed saving clearer. Story here. 

Larry Powell P in P photo.

Cree Nation Occupies Hydro-Dam in Manitoba

Council of Canadians

More than 100 people from the Cross Lake First Nation (Pimicikamak Cree Nation), located north of Lake Winnipeg, occupied the grounds of the Jenpeg hydro-dam last week. Chief Catherine Merrick said the First Nation is taking control of its traditional territory and evicting Manitoba Hydro. Story here.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

U.S. Carbon Dioxide Emissions Rise in 2013: Troubling Sign for Climate Goals

Union of Concerned Scientists


In a troubling sign, data from the Energy Information Agency released today show that U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide emissions rose 2.5% in 2013. This increase comes after two years of declining emissions. Story here.

Larry Powell P in P photo.

‘It Will Never Be The Same’: North Dakota’s 3.5 Million-Litre Oil Spill One Year Later

ClimateProgress
One year ago, when more than 20,000 barrels (3,528,000 Litre) of crude oil spilled from a pipeline and soaked a wheat field in Tioga, North Dakota, the public almost never knew about it. After the spill was discovered by a lone farmer, it was not reported for nearly two weeks, and only after reporters from the The Associated Press asked about it specifically. Details here.

A Beloved Canadian Chocolate Bar Disappears From the Market. By Ian Austen

The New York Times The rush to buy Canadian products that was set off by President Trump’s  trade war  shows little sign of abating. But sho...