Why Is the 'Climate President' Approving More Oil Drilling?

CommonDreams

Something doesn't compute here. Story here.

More Than Half of Africa’s Arable Land ‘Too Damaged’ for Food Production

INTER PRESS SERVICE

A report by the Montpellier Panel – an eminent group of agriculture, ecology and trade experts from Africa and Europe – says about 65 percent of Africa’s arable land is too damaged to sustain viable food production. Story here.

Killing Ragheads for Jesus

OpEdNews - Chris Hedges

"American Sniper" lionizes the most despicable aspects of U.S. society -- the gun culture, the blind adoration of the military, the belief that we have an innate right as a "Christian" nation to exterminate the "lesser breeds" of the earth, a grotesque hyper-masculinity that banishes compassion and pity, a denial of inconvenient facts and historical truth, and a belittling of critical thinking and artistic expression. Many Americans, especially white Americans trapped in a stagnant economy and a dysfunctional political system, yearn for the supposed moral renewal and rigid, militarized control the movie venerates. These passions, if realized, will extinguish what is left of our now-anemic open society. Story here.

A New "Monster" Plant is a Looming Concern for Farmers on the Great Plains of the US (and Canada?).

AgroNews

Prairie farmers may have a new problem on their hands - "Weed palmer amaranth," a formidable threat to crops which seems to scoff at attempts to control it with herbicides. Story here.

Fred Springborn of Michigan State University stands next to palmer Amaranth, 

a large and aggressive weed new to that state. Photo credit - MSU.

The Dirty Politics of Climate Change

Kenneth Eade - OpEdNews.com

I've got good news for everybody! Guess what? Climate change is not a hoax! But here's the other news-- Story here.

'Nauseating' Praise for Dead Saudi King Exposes Hypocrisy of West, Say Critics

CommonDreams

Western leaders' responses to King Abdullah's death serve as a reminder that Saudi Arabia, with its wealth and geopolitical influence, is a perpetual exception to the west's emphasis on human rights. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper praised him as a 'strong proponent of peace' in the Middle East. Story here.

Province of Manitoba, Canada Promises New Supports for Smaller Farmers and Processors

The Co-Operator

A small organic market garden in Manitoba. PinP photo.

The report says support to grow food-processing sector must extend to all sizes of players. Story here.

Farmer Ain’t in the Dell. A "Toe-Tapper" With a Message! (Video).

Song written and performed by Genevieve Charbonneau.

Nearly 7 Million Litres Of Drilling Waste Spills From North Dakota Pipeline

ClimateProgress

Almost 3 million gallons of saltwater drilling waste spilled from a North Dakota pipeline earlier this month, a spill that’s now being called the state’s largest since the North Dakota oil boom began. Story here.

Food Diversity Under Siege From Global Warming, U.N. Says

Reuters

Climate change threatens the genetic diversity of the world's food supply, and saving crops and animals at risk will be crucial for preserving yields and adapting to wild weather patterns, a U.N. policy paper said on Monday. Story here.

'Seedy Business': New Report Digs Beneath Agrichemical Industry's High-Cost PR Machine

CommonDreams

A typical "industrial-style," GMO farm  in Manitoba. PinP photo.

'The tremendous amount of money spent speaks to depth of public unease about GMOs,' says lead author. Story here.