Thursday, February 11, 2016

The Lesser Evil

Georges Monbiot

I am starting to hate the European Union. But I will vote to stay in. Story here. 

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Fusarium Head Blight No Longer Just a Manitoba Problem

Manitoba Co-Operator

Producers across the Prairies need to manage to minimize their risk of fusarium, a serious and costly disease of cereal crops. Story here.



RELATED: "Field of Nightmares." 

After Paris Climate Talks, Canada on Track to Fail Even Harper’s Emissions Target

NATIONAL
OBSERVER

Canada’s late biennial climate change accountability report came out this morning, projecting increases in greenhouse gas emissions. More here.

Monday, February 8, 2016

Upholding Women’s Human Rights Essential to Zika Response – UN Rights Chief

UN News Centre

Upholding women’s human rights is essential if the response to the Zika health emergency is to be effective, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said today, following the advice to women by some governments to delay getting pregnant due to the possible link between the virus and neurological disorders affecting newborns. Story here.

Free Trade Places the Future of Rice Farming in Japan in Doubt

bilaterals.org

Rice has been at the centre of Japan’s economy and culture for centuries. But changes are afoot. There is growing concern among Japanese farmers that the country’s rice-producing capabilities are diminishing in the face of international trade pacts such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership. In fact, all local agriculture is in the spotlight as pressure mounts to increase local imports of overseas produce. Details here.

A Political Voice of Reason Comes From the NDP Amid the "Love-In" Over the TPP.

While the Trudeau government has gone ahead and signed the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal, there remains many uncertainties about what's in store for Canada.
The Harper government first negotiated this deal in secret. Now we have the Liberals agreeing to a deal that can'tbe renegotiated! Any concerns or changes raised in future consultations won't matter.
We do know that the TPP will:

Saturday, February 6, 2016

Health Canada Re-Approves a Cancer-Causing Pesticide

Sum
   Of
+ Us
Health Canada announced it's endorsing the continued use of Syngenta's Atrazine, a dangerous pesticide that has been banned in the European Union since 2004. PLEASE SIGN PETITION  HERE!

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Friday, February 5, 2016

TransCanada Dismissed Whistleblower. Then Their Pipeline Blew Up.

NATIONAL
OBSERVER
TransCanada Corp put “substandard materials” in an Alberta natural gas pipeline that blew up in 2013, Canada’s pipeline regulator said, as it finally responded to a four-year old warning from a whistleblower with a new industry-wide safety order. Story here.

Thursday, February 4, 2016

To Feed the World, Tap Into Organic's Potential: Study

Common Dreams
'It’s not just a matter of producing enough, but making agriculture environmentally friendly and making sure that food gets to those who need it.' Story here.

Scientists Trace Cancer-Linked Pollutant to Alberta's Oil Sands Stockpiles

NATIONAL
OBSERVER

Dust blown away from stockpiles left over after oil sands upgrading is very likely a key source of a cancer-linked pollutant commonly found in the northern Alberta region, concludes a new peer-reviewed study. Story here.

An Unusual Sight Over Canada’s Arctic: Wildfire Smoke

By  Vjosa Isai New York Times Elizabeth Mikkungwak thought the nearby garbage dump must be on fire. Acrid smoke clouded the skies over Baker...