Costa Rica - The World's Greenest, Happiest Country

Ashley Seager Guardian Co UK, Saturday 4 July 2009

Latin American nation tops index ranking countries by ecological footprint and happiness of their citizens.
Click headline for full story.

More Polar Bear Populations Shrinking From Declining Sea Ice. New Report

Winnipeg Free Press - By: Bob Weber - C.P.

A major international report says the increasingly rapid loss of Arctic sea ice is already taking a toll on polar bears and Canada should reconsider its

Pic. Courtesy of Dreamstime

decision not to include the mighty predators on its list of endangered species.
Click headline for more.

Study Eyes Wetlands' Role Against Nutrient Overload

Manitoba Co-Operator - Staff - 6/30/2009

Ducks Unlimited Canada has picked up almost $380,000 in federal funds to see how isolated wetlands can help keep watersheds free of excess nutrients and sediment.Click headline for details.

Above & r. One of Manitoba's
algae-clogged rivers.
Photos by L.P.

Canada Seen Worst of G8 Not Curbing Climate Change

Wed Jul 1, 2009 11:55am EDT - By Daniel Flynn
ROME (Reuters): With only five months to go until a new global pact on climate change, none of the Group of Eight nations is doing enough to curb global warming. Shamefully, Canada and the US are at the bottom.
Click headline for more.

EPA Approves California Pollution Rule

Published on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 by The Associated Press by H. Josef Herbert
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Environmental Protection Agency gave the go-ahead Tuesday for California to impose stringent regulations on greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles, setting the stage for a national requirement expected to mirror the state's effort.
Click on headline for full story.

STILL More Reaction to "To Graze or not to Graze!"

"I've seen riparian areas managed well where cattle are allowed in for brief periods, usually during the late fall and winter months. They can graze the tall grasses and do a bit of breaking up of soil (but not too much) that can help seeds germinate for greater biodiversity. But the rest of the year they were excluded from the riparian area - it is too sensitive, and cattle can easily overwhelm the ecosystem due to their size and numbers and tendency to congregate where access to water is easiest.
"As a general policy, exclusion may well be the best course, as it can be quite difficult to assess all the factors that need to be considered to do a proper job of managing short-term seasonal grazing in riparian areas. In other words, err on the side of caution."

Cathy Holtslander - Beyond Factory Farming.
"BFF" is a national organization promoting socially responsible livestock production in Canada.
Cathy has been involved in environmental advocacy with a focus on agriculture and food since the mid '90s.
www.beyondfactoryfarming.org
www.citizensguide.ca

Most Provinces Fail on Provision of Environmental Rights

Ottawa - June 4, 2009

"Friends of the Earth Canada" releases First Annual Score Card on Environmental Rights. (Alberta fails, Manitoba gets a dubious "C.") Click headline for full report.

Alberta's tar sands http://www.beautifuldestruction.ca/index.html