Thursday, January 12, 2017

We can't let Rex Tillerson become the next US Secretary of State.

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Credit: William Munoz/CC BY 2.0
We can't let Rex Tillerson become our next Secretary of State.
Dear Larry -
It's on: ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson, whose dubious credits include close ties to Vladimir Putin, sanction-defying business deals with Iran, and millions in donations to climate-change denial groups, is, after yesterday's Senate confirmation hearing, one step closer to becoming Secretary of State.

Tillerson's countless conflicts of interest and relationships with dictators and oligarchs make him the most dangerous cabinet pick in recent memory. His record at ExxonMobil -- corruption schemes, human rights abuses, investor fraud -- paints a terrifying picture of America's diplomatic future.

Turbulent times ahead for air travel?

THE ROYAL SOCIETY
Scientists are now discovering that climate change and air travel could be having huge impacts on each other. Story here.


PinP photo.

U.S. takes step to boost organic food production

Western Producer
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has taken a step toward increasing the production of organic foods – which has not kept pace with demand, by launching a program to certify farmland that growers are in the process of switching to organic. Story here.
An organic garden in Manitoba. PinP photo.

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Rising Carbon Emissions from Warming Soil Highlight Benefits of Land Restoration

WORLD
RESOURCES
INSTITUTE
A new study in the journal Nature explores a vicious cycle: as a changing climate driven by greenhouse gas emissions warms the planet, soils heat up and the micro-organisms that live in the soil start to expel heat-trapping carbon dioxide, reinforcing the problem of climate change. Story here.

CFIA fast-tracked tests on genetically modified salmon eggs for exports, documents suggest

CBCnews
Documents show inspectors with the Canada Food Inspection Agency scrambled to meet deadline for time-sensitive salmon egg test. Story here.



A wild Atlantic salmon. Photo credit - Wikipedia.

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

We can learn so much from nature

rabble.ca
A forest in Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba, rendered "ghost-like"   by hoarfrost. PinP photo.

If you fly over a forest and look down, you'll see every green tree and plant reaching to the heavens to absorb the ultimate energy source: sunlight. What a contrast when you look down on… 

Scientists say the global ocean circulation may be more vulnerable to shutdown than we thought

The Washington Post
A Mexican coastline. PinP photo. Intense future climate change could have a far different impact on the world than current models predict, suggests a thought-provoking new study just out in the journal Science Advances.  Story here.

Just about everything you buy came at the expense of an endangered animal

The Washington Post
Your morning cup of joe, the must-have chair purchased at that trendy furniture store and the palm oil that’s key to a favourite family recipe, all have elements ripped from the habitat of a threatened or endangered animal somewhere in the world. Story here.

Burrowing owl. PinP photo.

Monday, January 9, 2017

NOAA challenged the global warming ‘pause.’ Now new research says the agency was right.

The Washington Post
It may have been the most controversial climate change study in years.

In the summer of 2015, a team of federal scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published a blockbuster paper in Science that appeared to wipe away one of global warming doubters’ favorite arguments. The skeptics had for years suggested that….Story here.

Half-a-billiion children living in crisis-hit countries – UNICEF

    • UN News Centre  
    • Refugee children in Afghanistan. UN photo.
    • Despite significant progress, too many children are still being left behind, with nearly 535 million of them living in harsh conditions, lacking access to decent health, education and protection services. Story here.


Without action on climate change, say goodbye to polar bears

The Washington Post
As the Arctic warms faster than any other place on the planet and sea ice declines, there is only one sure way to save polar bears from extinction, the government announced Monday: decisive action on climate change. Story here.

Wikipedia photo.

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