Posts

Three Trends in US Wildfires

World Resources Institute While fires in Indonesia may be making headlines recently, unprecedented forest fires have also scorched the Western United States this year… Story here.

Smoke From Wildfires Is Killing Hundreds of Thousands of People

National Geographic And fires like the ones raging in Indonesia can cross mountains and oceans, spreading lung-clogging particles and toxic chemicals. Story here.

Manitoba Lakes Among ‘Most Poorly- Managed' in the World: Watchdog

CBC NEWS Fish caught in Manitoba's three largest lakes have a "do not buy" rating from the sustainable fisheries organization SeaChoice. STORY HERE.

The Free Trade Agreement Between the EU and Canada Threatens Water Management

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bilateral.org PinP  photo During the secret negotiations of the free trade agreement between the European Union and Canada known as CETA, the European Commission always maintained that water would be excluded from the treaty, and that the choice on how to manage services related to the production and distribution of drinking water by the public authorities would not be questioned. But a careful reading of the consolidated text of CETA shows that the reality is different. Details here.

How Tanzania plans to light up a million homes with solar power

theguardian In a country where only 40% of people have access to grid electricity, the government is looking to sunshine to power health centres and homes. Story here.

The Most Brazen Corporate Power Grab in American History

Chris Hedges If there is no sustained uprising to prevent the passage of the TPP in Congress this spring we will be shackled by corporate power. Wages will decline. Working conditions will deteriorate. Unemployment will rise. Our few remaining rights will be revoked. The assault on the ecosystem will be accelerated. Banks and global speculation will be beyond oversight or control. Food safety standards and regulations will be jettisoned. Story here.

Loved to Death (Video)

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by George Monbiot The UK’s national parks should be redesignated as ecological disaster zones. A lecture to the UK National Parks conference, by George Monbiot, 14th October 2015 This is my ferocious attack on the dire state of the UK’s national parks, and my ideas for how they could be improved. (See Video, below.)

Vast Amazon Wildfire Destroys Forest in Brazil and Threatens Uncontacted Tribe

theguardian  The blaze, which has burned for two months on indigenous land and spread across 100km at its peak, is suspected to have been started by illegal loggers. Story here.

Ruptured Dams Engulf Brazilian Village in Toxic Mine Waste

CommonDreams More than a dozen are feared dead, with scores missing, after tailings dams owned by some of the biggest mining companies in the world burst. Story here.

A Retired Professor Takes a Newspaper Columnist to Task for her Column About Tainted Milk and "Junk Science."

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  Dear Editor, Re; The phony tainted milk scare (Margaret Wente, Globe & Mail, October 29, 2015).  In her preamble, Ms. Wente suggests that  “we need to blow the whistle on junk science”.  I agree, but we need to do the same on junk journalism, which is exemplified by her article. My understanding is that journalism’s first obligation is to tell the truth (i.e. the whole truth, and not half-truths & tainted opinions; as is the case with Ms Wente’s piece).  For example, she states that: The (bovine) growth hormone, also known as rBST, which stimulates the cow’s milk production, is  “the same hormone that is naturally produced in the cow’s pituitary gland.”  Further:  “Milk from treated cows is virtually identical to other milk.”   And:  “ there aren’t any effects of  rBGH on human health”.   These statements are not true; in fact, Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone  (rBGH or rBST) is a genetically engineered drug, originally developed by Monsanto, which la

New York Authority Investigates Exxon Mobil for Possible Climate Change Lies.

New York Times The New York attorney general has begun an investigation of Exxon Mobil to determine whether the company lied to the public about the risks of climate change or to investors about how such risks might hurt the oil business. Story here.