PLANET IN PERIL

UN News Service: According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), every year 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted or lost. This volume of waste is more than the total net production of Sub-Saharan Africa. At the same time, 1 in every 7 people in the world go to bed hungry and more than 20,000 children under the age of 5 die daily from hunger.  See more at:   PLT photo.

The oil sands are changing the economic, environmental, & social make-up of Canada. Industry is planning to triple production. But is it time for a reality check?

Globe and Mail It’s been more than 15 years since her husband died of a brain tumour, but Candide Bélanger feels she may finally get some answers about why he died. Details here.

CBC News A dozen prominent scientists write letter to Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver. Details here. PLT; It's hard to imagine a government more insulting or offensive to the human intelligence, one that is less of a pariah on the world stage. Harper must go!

Huffington Post Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) confirmed on Sunday that he is proposing an amendment to the upcoming farm bill that would eliminate the "Monsanto Protection Act." Details here. Related: Monsanto Protection Act May Soon be Repealed, Thanks to Activism.

Globe and Mail The Inuvialuit living in the Mackenzie Delta of the Northwest Territories watched incredulously in September of 1999, as a particularly violent storm swept the Arctic Ocean 20 kilometres inland, killing all vegetation in its path and leaving lakes infused with salt water. Details here.

Green Party of Manitoba WINNIPEG – Manitoba Green Party leader James Beddome (l.) congratulates new Green MLA Andrew Weaver (below) on his historic win in B.C.’s election yesterday. “Andrew will be a wonderful first Green representative, bringing his strong voice to work for the environment and our planet’s future.” Andrew Weaver is the first Green ever elected to a provincial legislature in Canada. He defeated the Liberal incumbent in the riding of Oak Bay-Gordon Head. Other B.C. Greens came close to winning seats, with Adam Olsen only 387 votes behind the NDP victor and Jane Sterk placing a strong second to the Liberals in the riding of Victoria-Beacon Hill. The Greens are B.C.’s third political party in terms of popular vote. “Greens are rising in popularity across Canada,” says Beddome. “Our sound and sensible policies are resonating with voters as everyone learns to think ‘green’. The Green Party of Manitoba looks forward to electing MLAs in Manitoba’s

Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Migrant Workers in Manitoba. Details here.

Washington (CNN) -- The Supreme Court ruled for agribusiness giant Monsanto on Monday in a patent case that could have an enormous impact on a variety of biotech fields. The justices unanimously found the world's largest seed producer has intellectual property control over its best-selling "Roundup Ready" soybeans. That means the product cannot be reproduced without paying the company a fee. Details here.