PLANET IN PERIL

Dear Editor, Crooked bankers of the world, rejoice!  Wikileaks has revealed that negotiators from 50 countries, including Canada, have been meeting in back rooms, cooking up ways of making it even easier for these financial titans to fleece their customers, everywhere! It's all part of the ('til now) super-secretive "Trade in Services Agreement" (TISA), a massive deal that would affect the way the big banks are allowed to do business, world-wide. According to the confidential draft text, TISA would "further deregulate global financial services markets."  Not only that, it would prevent these nations, including Canada, from ensuring that sensitive customer data remains in the country of origin! I'm no financial whiz. But, if we want to keep our precious banking records secure, this can't be good! Why is all of this happening? According to the text, "To assist the expansion of financial multi-nationals – mainly headquar

CBC News Neonicotinoids, fipronil linked to ecosystem damage in new report. Full story here. PLT photo.

Winnipeg Free Press Good weather for ducks. PLT photo. MELITA, Man. - Up to 400,000 hectares of farmland could go unseeded in Manitoba this year because soggy conditions and relentless rain are making it impossible for farmers to get on their fields. Details here.

New York Times: The White House announced new initiatives on Friday to promote the health of honeybees and other pollinators, which have suffered enormous losses in recent years. Details here.

Care2 When people discuss immediate victims of climate change, they list endangered species and island dwellers… yet never cartographers. WON’T SOMEBODY THINK OF THE CARTOGRAPHERS? Full story here.

Wikileaks A leak of documents from the Trade in Services Agreement negotiations show Australia and other negotiating parties (including Canada) would be prevented from ensuring sensitive customer data remains in the country of origin. Full story here. Please also read:  " WikiLeaked Doc Reveals Wall Street Plan for Global Financial Deregulation " Is Ottawa Bedding Down With Crooked Bankers? "Free Trade - Road to prosperity or back road to corporatism?"

Amnesty International Amnesty International calls on federal government to reverse decision. Full story here.

The Council of Canadians opposes the Northern Gateway pipeline and stands in solidarity with the many First Nations and frontline communities opposed to this destructive project. The Harper cabinet approved the pipeline, but Indigenous, environmental and citizens’ organizations in B.C. are vowing to do everything they can to stop the project. Full story here.

The Sierra Club The federal government has just approved Canada's Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline, subject to the 209 conditions set out by the Joint Review Panel last year. Details here.

Larry, By now I’m sure you’ve heard the federal cabinet has approved Enbridge’s Northern Gateway proposal for B.C.’s north coast. Yes, the news is saddening and far from surprising, but  you and  I both know this fight is far from over.