Posts

Does Farming Contribute as Many Nutrients to Our Waterways as Sometimes Believed? A Unique Manitoba Project Suggests, Maybe Not!

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Manitoba Co-Operator Ducks in a nutrient-rich river  in Manitoba.  P in P  photo. Ultimately, storing water on the land isn’t just about flood control, it’s about capitalizing on available nutrients as well. Story here.

The Planet Just Had Its Warmest August On Record

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The Huffington Post P in P photo This past August was the warmest since records began in 1881, according to new data released by NASA. The latest readings continue a series of record or near-record breaking months. May of this year was also the warmest in recorded history. Story here.

Blogger Strikes a Nerve With the Top Gun in Canadian "Agri-Biz"

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by Ted Menzies, President of CropLife Canada. In response to Larry Powell’s Aug. 19 article,  "  New Studies Show Farm Chemicals Are Affecting More Than Bees. Bird Populations are Declining, Too. Is Modern Agriculture's Hold on Nature Turning Into a Death Grip?"  and his letter to the editor on Sept. 5 regarding the lack of replies ; Ted Menzies, President of CropLife Canada.  Inflammatory language such as that expressed in the article "Is agriculture’s toxic hold turning into a death grip?" creates a false impression that is both unfair to farmers and inaccurate. Farmers overwhelmingly choose to grow genetically-improved varieties of corn, canola, soybeans and other crops due to the numerous benefits they offer, such as increased yields, which allows more food to be produced on the same amount of land. The plant science industry is committed to the responsible use of its products. Neonicotinoid seed treatments use a ver

Canada PM to Miss UN Climate Summit

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The Hill Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper won't be attending the United Nations climate summit in New York this month. Story here.

Earth’s Ozone Layer is Recovering, Scientists Say

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The Boston Globe WASHINGTON (AP) — Earth’s protective but fragile ozone layer is beginning to recover, largely because of the phase-out since the 1980s of certain chemicals used in refrigerants and aerosol cans, a U.N. scientific panel reported Wednesday in a rare piece of good news about the health of the planet. Story here.

Trees Are Dying From ‘No Obvious Cause’ In Rocky Mountains, Report Says

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Climate Progress. "Jasper," a Rock Mountain national park in Alberta, Canada. "P in P" photo. The Rocky Mountain forests that traverse the West are under unprecedented danger from climate-related impacts according to a new report from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization. The Rockies include national parks like Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier National Park, and are facing a “triple assault — tree-killing insects, wildfires, and heat and drought — that could fundamentally alter these forests as we know them.” Story here.

Health Canada's "Vitamin Police" Begin Raiding Health Food Retailers

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Citizens for Choice In early 2012 Health Canada's Natural Health Products Directorate (NHPD) had  already spent over one billion dollars of taxpayer's money regulating an  industry that was on record as having caused zero deaths. Two and a half  years later, the taxpayer's bill is still climbing.but the death toll  isn't. It's still zero! Yet, as of September 1st, in the name of safety, Health Canada has sent out inspectors to force all products not possessing a  natural product license off health retailer shelves. "P in P" photo

Audubon's Birds & Climate Change Report

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314 Species on the Brink Shrinking & shifting ranges could imperil nearly half of North American birds within this century.  Story here. A robin caught in a freak storm in Manitoba.                                                                                                                                                         Barn swallows.  Yellow-headed Blackbird s , a familiar sight in western North America,  may be under threat before the end of the century. ( P in P photos)

Organic Food Council of Manitoba screening of ‘Open Sesame: The Story of Seeds’

The Park Theatre — 698 Osborne St., Winnipeg Sunday Sep 21 at 6:00pm . “Movie followed by a panel discussion, including the filmmaker.” Tickets $10 online, $12 at door. For more info or to buy tickets visit the Canadian Organic Growers website .

Photos Capture Amazon Tribe As They Beat And Strip Illegal Loggers

Huffington Post The Ka'apor Indians, a tribe of indigenous Brazilians living in the northeast region of the country's expansive rainforest, have begun taking up arms against illegal loggers who are threatening their homeland. On one of their recent searches for loggers, they were joined by Reuters photographer Lunae Parracho, who documented the scene when they reportedly found a number of the men. Story here.

Mt. Polley Debacle: The Canadian Province of British Columbia is Miles behind US on Mine Danger Info

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Public here (in BC)  barred from records which are freely available in US to help avert disasters. Story here. Related: Massive Canadian Mining Waste Spill Was Nearly 70 Percent Larger Than Previous Estimates