Factory Farms Produce 100 Times More Waste Than All People In the US Combined and It's Killing Our Drinking Water

Alternet May 28'11  "Factory farms are dangerous to the environment; they are ticking time bombs of manure just waiting to be spilled into public waters." Details here.
Sarah Kearny - Wpg Free Press.

Province, MB Hydro Sign Electric Vehicle Partnership With Nissan CA

The Province of Manitoba is distributing this release on behalf of Manitoba Hydro, Nissan Canada and the Province of Manitoba.
News Release - May 27'11

An electric (not necessarily a Nissan) car - IEA photo

Zero-emission Vehicles Key To a Fossil Fuel-free Future:  Chomiak

The Province of Manitoba and Manitoba Hydro are entering an agreement with Nissan Canada to work together on initiatives that will help advance the use of plug-in electric vehicles in the province, Innovation, Energy and Mines Minister Dave Chomiak announced today.

"Manitoba has a roadmap for a fossil fuel-free future and this agreement is another strategic partnership that will help move us along that pathway," Chomiak said.  "Electric vehicles could present a significant opportunity to help reduce greenhouse-gas emissions in Manitoba and benefit our economy by allowing us to replace imported fossil fuel with our own clean, renewable hydroelectricity as an affordable energy source for our cars."

"We continue to be encouraged by the ongoing interest of partners like the Province of Manitoba and Manitoba Hydro to find ways to encourage the adoption of zero-emission vehicles," said Allen Childs, President, Nissan Canada, Inc.  "As a manufacturer we can provide innovative vehicles that Canadians love and want to drive, but governments and utilities play an important role in helping build the infrastructure support for electric vehicles that will make a roll-out of the Nissan LEAF in Manitoba possible."

The memorandum of understanding (MOU) brings together representatives from each organization to identify opportunities to encourage the use of zero-emission vehicles. As part of the agreement, the partners will work together to further advance the potential that could come from the existing battery charging network within the province, and will discuss possible incentives for EV infrastructure providers and EV users. All parties also agree on the importance of public education activities to promote the use of EVs and that regulatory changes may also help achieve success.  In addition, the MOU paves the way for the province and Manitoba Hydro to test the Nissan Leaf in Manitoba's unique climatic conditions.

"We continue to work closely with the public and private sector to form partnerships to promote electric vehicle use in Manitoba," said Bob Brennan, Manitoba Hydro President and CEO.  "Understanding the grid requirements needed to support EVs will ensure Manitoba Hydro can reliably meet these requirements and provide for the future of electric mobility in our province."

Much of the infrastructure that could potentially support widespread adoption of electric vehicles in Manitoba is already in place, said Chomiak.  Manitoba also has clean, low-cost electricity and Manitobans have already shown their ability to plug in their vehicles.

The Nissan Leaf is a medium-size hatchback that seats five adults and has a range of 160 kilometres (based on U.S. EPA LA4 cycle) on one full charge to satisfy real-world consumer requirements.  It will be rolled-out in select Canadian markets this fall. 

The MOU agreement adds Manitoba to a growing network of zero-emission vehicle initiatives across the world. Nissan has formed partnerships with 95 governments, cities and other organizations to advance the deployment of electric vehicles worldwide.

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Killer Tornadoes: How Devastating Extreme Weather Is Linked to Human-Caused Climate Change

AlterNet - May 27-'11 - News audiences are seeing an increasing number of "severe weather" warnings on TV, but little connection has been made to the role humans have played in driving climate change.

Details here.

Retiring AG Sheila Fraser says Climate Change, First Nations Must be Dealt With

By: Bruce Cheadle, The Canadian Press - May 25-11
OTTAWA - Auditor General Sheila Fraser delivered a farewell address Wednesday in typical blunt-spoken fashion. Details here.

Cars Swept Away by Colombian Floodwaters

US Military Goes to War With Climate Sceptics

Guardian.UK May 20'11 - Political action on climate change may be mired in Congress, but one arm of government at least is acting: the Pentagon. Details here.

Updated Building Codes in Manitoba Apply Only To New Hog Barns. Why?

Barn Fire Kills 4000 Hogs (Free Press 23 May) - Letter to the Editor

There are not many experiences as horrifying as trapped animals
being burnt alive and the stench of death after the fire.         

Kichiro Sato AP

I consider this great loss and the multitude of previous hog barn fires can be attributed to the failure of our government(s) to protect the welfare of animals and those who take care of them. 

Where was the stand of the Pork Council and the Association of Manitoba Municipalities.? Shouldn't they have been questioning the lack of appropriate safety codes and regulations.? Regulations and codes that would help  protect "the Industry" that they helped to spawn, nurture and expand over the past decade and more?.                                                                                 

For years, Hog Watch organizations and rural people complained that those huge hog  factories being constructed as ordinary farm buildings, was wrong for the  building codes were not adequate.

These were Industrial complexes, being built to the minimum of building code standards.

Nobody paid attention. It was too expensive.

John Fefchak, 
Virden, Manitoba.
Also by John Fefchak, "Born of the Stump."