Pressure Mounting to Ban Bee-Killing Pesticides

Glasgow Herald

Scottish ministers are under mounting pressure to defy the Westminster government and back a European ban on toxic pesticides which are blamed for killing bees. Details here.

Bumble Bees on sunflower. PLT photo

PLT; At least civilized societies such as this see the need for action. Sadly, here in Canada, the hearts and brains of the Harperites turned to stone long ago.

A Better Plan Than 'Endless Growth': Enough Is Enough

Common

Dreams

by Rob Dietz and Dan O'Neill

The World Economic Forum held its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland last month.  The official theme was "Resilient Dynamism," a catchphrase that makes about as much sense as...Details here.

Loss of Wild Pollinators Serious Threat to Crop Yields, Study Finds

theguardian

                                                        Photo credit: Graham Powell photography.

Wild bees and other insects are twice as effective as honeybees in producing seeds and fruit on crops. Details here.

Manitobans Want a Pesticide Ban

Save Lake (Winnipeg) Or Live By 'Open-Air Sewer'

Winnipeg Free Press.

Author warns province of growing threat. Full story here.

Manitoba Bans Peat Mining In Parks

as well as the site nominated for the UNESCO world heritage site.

Government of Manitoba.

No New Peat Licences in the Province Until Peatland Stewardship Strategy in Place

Manitoba is banning peat mining in provincial parks and in the nominated UNESCO World Heritage Site on the east side of Lake Winnipeg as one of several new peatland protection initiatives through TomorrowNow - Manitoba's Green Plan, Conservation and Water Stewardship Minister Gord Mackintosh announced today.

Peat bogs (r.) provide habitat for rare plants. 
They also store vast amounts of carbon, which 
helps mitigate the impacts of climate change. 
Source: Wilderness Committee.  

"I am proud of our record on parks and protected areas.  Seven million hectares of land, which amounts to almost 11 per cent of the province, are already fully protected and we will continue our work on reducing industrial developments in parks," said Mackintosh.  "While I recognize the value of more jobs and continued economic growth in Manitoba, there will never be a peat mine in a provincial park."