Posts

Cargill and the Priest: Priest Stands Up Against BigAg and Deforestation

Polly Cook - the Ecologist - 19th June, 2009 In the Brazilian town of Santarem, one brave priest is the only thing standing between multi-national grain trader Cargill and the rest of the Amazon. Click headline for full story.

Mother Nature Doesn't Do Bailouts

Globe and Mail - Climate change heavyweight Al Gore has delivered that message to 500 business elite in Copenhagen, where a critical world meeting on the crisis is scheduled for late this year. Click on headline for full story.

To Graze or not to Graze. Do Cattle Belong in Riparian Areas? In Some Cases, Yes, say Experts.

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by Larry Powell While mixed messages seem to be emerging about the wisdom of grazing cattle near rivers, streams and lakes, experts say, not so. Courtesy of Water's Edge Courtesy of the Upper Assiniboine River Conservation District Above - The pretty and the ugly sides of riparian management. For years, the Government of Manitoba and Conservation Districts have promoted the idea of keeping livestock away from these so-called "riparian areas." Financial incentives, grants and even tax breaks have been offered to producers who keep their cattle away from shorelines. The Lake of the Prairies Conservation District, (LPCD) for example, is now offering ranchers along waterways such as the Shell and Assiniboine Rivers, up to $5,000 each if they take certain steps. They'll be eligible for up to $3,000 if they install "offsite" (away from shorelines) watering systems and additional incentives for building fences to keep their livestock back, or repair areas alrea

The War over Eco-Certified Wood

When it comes to buying nature-friendly wood, two stamps of approval vie, with vast forests at stake. Which will win out? Big timber firms back the one critics call greenwashing. A Tyee special report. (Just click on headline.) By Christopher Pollon Published: June, 2009

The Fight for Pollution Controls at a Manitoba Wood Products Plant

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- by Larry Powell Battle lines are drawn again between environmentalists, the Government of Manitoba and a subsidiary of an American logging giant over the same issue which flared up in the mid-'90s; the pollution abatement equipment at the wood products plant of Louisiana Part of LP's log inventory. photo by Larry Pacific Canada Ltd. in the Swan Valley of western Manitoba. That equipment has been shut down since early this year. That's because the provincial government granted "LPs" request to do so, at least temporarily. The environmental group, "Concerned Citizens of the Valley," fought long and hard when "LP" first opened its plant in 1995, to force it to install the equipment in the first place. Now, several years later, is that struggle going to prove to have been in vain? Members of "Concerned Citizens" have regrouped to make sure it will not. Manitoba has instructed its Clean Environment Commission to hold a "hearing

Louisiana Pacific Strandboard Plant Air Emissions Public Meeting dates announced

----- Original Message ----- From: Johnson, Cathy (CON) Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 9:11 AM The dates for the public meetings regarding Louisiana Pacific Strandboard Plant Air Emissions have been set. For more information on the place and time and registration procedures just click on headline. Cathy Johnson Secretary, Clean Environment Commission 305-155 Carlton St. Winnipeg, MB R3C 3H8 (204) 945-7091 www.cecmanitoba.ca

Caribou, Reindeer Numbers Show Dramatic Decline

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ScienceDaily (June 12, 2009) — Caribou and reindeer numbers worldwide have plunged almost 60% in the last three decades. Click on headline for full story. Also please read a related story by clicking on the "endangered species" category of this blog. Reindeer. Photo courtesy of U.S. National Park Service.

Green Party of Manitoba Believes Now is the Time to Bring "CAFOs" to an End.

News Release - June 13 - '09 -------------------------------- In light of the current outbreak of H1N1 influenza, or Swine 'Flu, the Green Party of Manitoba is calling for an immediate halt to the development of any new confined animal feeding operations, or "CAFOs," in the province. Large numbers of hogs and chickens are fed in these facilities, also referred to as "factory farms." The Government of Manitoba has allowed the development of many such operations, especially in the southeast and central areas. While it has placed a freeze on any new developments in these regions, vast areas of the province are still eligible for new ones. It is a style of industrialized agriculture which has for years, drawn growing concern from around the world. The Green Party leader, James Beddome says, "The preponderance of scientific evidence implicating such operations in the spread of serious infectious diseases, is just too convincing

PERU: ‘Police Are Throwing Bodies in the River,’ Say Native Protesters

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By Milagros Salazar - Interpress Service LIMA, Jun 8 (IPS) - There are conflicting reports on a violent incident in Peru’s Amazon jungle region in which both police officers and indigenous protesters were killed. Click headline for details. Natives set up a road block at the entrance of the Amazonian town of Yurimaguas, northern Peru. Peruvian lawmakers have voted not to ease restrictions on lumber harvesting in the Amazon rain forest, days after it sparked clashes between police and indigenous protesters, killing dozens of people. (AFP/Ernesto Benavides)

China Alone Could Bring World to Brink of Climate Calamity - US official

The Guardian UK - Business as usual in China would lead to 2.7C rise by 2050 even if all other countries slash emissions... Click headline for the full story.

Farm Suicides Turn Children Into Farmers

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Published on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 by Inter Press Service by Jaideep Hardikar. Click on headline for complete story. Please also read related story.. http://earthkeeperfarm.blogspot.com/2009/05/corporate-agriculture-to-blame-for.html Fawzan Husein for the New York Times