PLANET IN PERIL

Via Business Insider: "As the war over income inequality wages on, super-rich Seattle entrepreneur Nick Hanauer has been raising the hackles of his fellow 1-percenters, espousing the contrarian argument that rich people don't actually create jobs. The position is controversial — so much so that TED is refusing to post a talk that Hanauer gave on the subject. National Journal reports today that TED officials decided not to put Hanauer's March 1 speech up online after deeming his remarks "too politically controversial" for the site...".

The Co-Operator The grain firm formerly known as the Canadian Wheat Board wants it known the company’s looking for an industry partner, not a new owner — and not just any partner. Story here. Related: "Canadian Wheat Board Prepares for Corporate Takeover."

by Larry Powell It is a common human trait to embrace nature - or at least the notion of nature - in our everyday pop culture and in the ways we portray our civilization to others. Animals abound in TV and print commercials as they obviously strike a chord within the customers who buy the "stuff" being advertised. Not a strong enough chord, however, for us to actually preserve the habitat they need for their survival; and that you and I may well need for our own emotional wellbeing. 

Government of Manitoba. Screen image from 'Crated Cruelty,  Canada's pork industry  animal abuse exposed' website.  A Mercy For Animals Canada  undercover investigation  t hat took place in  2012 looked into animal  abuse  at Puratone,  one of the nation's largest pork  producers located in Arborg, Manitoba. Hog producers will benefit from research on switching from gestation stalls to loose sow housing as a result of a pilot project underway at a Maple Leaf Foods barn near Steinbach, Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Minister Ron Kostyshyn announced today. 

CBC News Wheat field. Larry Powell  PinP  photo. Foreign multinational could assume control without reimbursing Canadian farmers, taxpayers. Story here.

Manitoba Co-Operator Buyers of Canadian wheat are increasingly complaining about quality ever since Ottawa changed how its biggest crop is sold and inspected, raising the risk the world’s third largest exporter will lose sales to rivals such as the U.S. Details here.

Winnipeg Free Press Agrochemicals giant Syngenta is facing a growing number of lawsuits challenging its release of a genetically modified corn seed that China had not approved for import, with losses to farmers estimated to be at least $1 billion. Story here.

Manitoba Co-Operator Stance on antibiotic issues hard to pin down. Story here. Larry Powell PinP photo.

The Canadian Press WHITEHORSE - First Nations and environmental groups scored a major victory today as a judge ordered Yukon's government to go back to the consultation stage over preservation of the massive Peel River watershed (above). Story here.

CBC news Provinces step up to fill policy vacuum as Canada faces mounting international pressure. Story here.