PLANET IN PERIL

New Internationalist That South American country has fought off big agribusiness and promoted agroecology, explains Nick Dearden. More here. North America, on the other hand, embraces "Big Ag,"  with its warts, excesses, hazards and all. PinP photo.

NATIONAL OBSERVER A potato-harvester in central Manitoba.  Commercial potato producers are known for their  heavy and frequent use of pesticides. PinP photo. Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency allowed the agricultural industry to continue using an “unacceptable” pesticide on potato crops for more than a decade after concluding it had high acute toxicity, said a new audit tabled in Parliament on Tuesday. Details here. RELATED:  "Agency Allowed Dangerous Pesticides on Crops For Years, Says Audit" "Are Pesticide Regulators on the Take?"

CommonDreams As pipeline approval process faces overhaul, new federal audit shows "systemic" failings within Canada's National Energy Board. More here.

NATIONAL OBSERVER A cousin of the wolf, the coyote. PinP photo. Some are being targeted to be shot from helicopters as part of a controversial government effort to protect a dwindling caribou population.  More here.

Georges Monbiot - the Guardian PinP photo. I see the people on trial for occupying a runway at Heathrow as democratic heroes. More here.

   THE Nation In order to rebalance the world’s ecology, we’ll have to rebalance its wealth. More here .

ECOLOGIST A USDA study shows that a GM alfalfa has gone wild in alfalfa-growing parts of the West. More here

NATIONAL OBSERVER Weird cloud formations in Manitoba. PinP photo. Announcing that 2015 was the hottest year on record, NASA issued a warning to policy makers that they need to act on climate change. More here

  THE Nation Details of how Flint’s water was contaminated, and of how pleas for help were neglected, are leading to calls for inquiries, arrest, resignation. More here.

the guardian Burning trees in Manitoba, Canada. PinP photo. World Health Organisation describes new data as ‘health emergency’, with rising concern likely to influence decision over Heathrow expansion. Story here. RELATED: "It's Time to Wake Up and Smell the Smoke."

the guardian But leading marine conservationist warns that MCZs are ‘paper parks’ and will offer wildlife no real protection from destructive dredging and trawling. More here. Pelicans in Manitoba,  Canada. PinP photo.