PLANET IN PERIL

Los Angeles Times - Feb 29'12  Royal Dutch Shell launched an extraordinary preemptive legal strike Wednesday against opponents of offshore oil drilling in the Arctic Ocean.. .Details here.    (photo: NASA/Kathryn Hansen)

John Schwartz - New York Times - Feb 26'12 NEW ORLEANS — The civil trial over America’s biggest oil spill has been delayed for a week as efforts to settle the multibillion-dollar litigation intensify. Details here.

Manitoba Wildlands - Feb. '12 For the second time Canadian Environment Minister Peter Kent has declined to issue an emergency order to protect woodland caribou. Details here.

Bill Redekop - Winnipeg Free Press 02/25/2012 PLT photo Roving rural columnist finds Harper's decision to dismantle the wheat board goes against the grain for many Manitoba farmers. Details here.

Feb 24, 2012 by Common Dreams Food justice advocates rise up to confront corporate control of our food system. Details here.

            Coldplay's haunting classic "The Scientist" is performed by country music legend Willie Nelson for the soundtrack of the short film entitled "Back to the Start." The film, by film-maker Johnny Kelly, depicts the life of a farmer as he slowly turns his family farm into an industrial animal factory before seeing the errors of his ways and opting for a more sustainable future. Both the film and the soundtrack were commissioned by Chipotle to emphasize the importance of developing a sustainable food system.