Will You Help to Protect the Sage Grouse?

Dear Larry, It is like nothing you've ever seen before. This charismatic, five pound bird, with a spikey tail and a plump, brownish-gray body struts, swishes, pops and whistles. He puffs out sacs from his incredible white chest and erects his head back and forth in a beautiful dance trying to attract a mate. You’re seeing the Greater Sage-grouse and he is performing a ritual that has gone on for centuries, a ritual that could be lost forever,  if we don't act now.

US ‘State Department’ Keystone XL Report Actually Written By TransCanada Contractor

grist

a beacon in the smog

The State Department’s “don’t worry” environmental impact statement for the proposed Keystone XL tarsands pipeline, released late Friday afternoon, was written not by government officials but by... Full story here.

PLT: This needs to be called what it is. Fraud. 

Please also read: The Unsung Victims of the XL Pipeline, here.

Tar Sands Even More Harmful That Previously Believed?

Dear Larry, New Ecojustice research confirms that upgrading oil extracted from  Alberta’s oilsands is indeed a nasty bit of business that puts waterways,  fish and people at risk. The burning and combustion required to transform raw bitumen into  synthetic crude oil comes at a heavy cost: the release of airborne  pollutants — some of which have been found to cause cancer in humans  and impact the development and survival of fish.  Our research shows that these toxic substances are making their way into  the Athabasca River, contaminating a waterway that holds ecological,  cultural and commercial significance for the people who live along its  shores. The river is also a vital life source for many wildlife species; it is  home to more than half of the province’s fish species. Learn more about Ecojustice’s research here But that’s just part of the story. Because even though the oilsands are one  of the biggest industrial projects on the planet, the federal government  doesn’t monitor and report oilsands pollution in an accessible,  transparent way. That means we have no way of knowing the  cumulative effects oilsands production has on human health and  the environment. That needs to end now. We need answers. Tell the federal government that your health is a priority and that polluters  must be held accountable for what they put into the air, water and land you depend on. Tell the federal government to investigate and disclose the full impacts of oilsands pollution today. ---> Sign our open letter today <--- font=""> Thanks for taking action and making a difference! Elaine MacDonald Senior staff scientist | Ecojustice

While Canada Drags its Feet, US and Russia Unite in Bid to Strengthen Polar Bear Protection

theguardian

Proposal to ban international commercial trade in polar bear products sets up showdown with Canada over a key vote. Full story here.

PLT: Once again, the "regressive Conservatism" of the Harperites rears its ugly head. When, oh when will we be rid of them?

Ice Melt to Expand Arctic Shipping by Midcentury

Los Angeles Times

Loss of sea ice due to global warming could open new seasonal shipping lanes through the Arctic Ocean by midcentury, sharply reducing transit times and opening a Pandora's box of safety, environmental and legal issues, according to scientists. Full story here.

China Has Good Reason to Embrace a Carbon Tax

By: Gwynne Dyer

The announcement last week by China’s ministry of finance that the country will introduce a carbon tax, probably in the next two years, did not dominate the international headlines. It was too vague about the timetable and the rate at which the tax would be levied, and fossil fuel lobbyists were quick to portray it as meaningless. But the Chinese are deadly serious about fighting global warming, because they are really scared. Details here.