PLANET IN PERIL

The beginning of the "70-Mile Butte" trail. by Larry Powell Row & I are visiting a special place right now. It's Grasslands National Park in SW Saskatchewan. I can swear the animals, birds and even plants are saying "thank you" for not huntinig or spraying us, or plowing us down! Enjoy the photos.  Yours in Nature. Larry

CommonDreams 'The situation is criminal.’ Story here.

MotherJones 2016 is shaping up to be another epic fire season. Story here.

AgroNews It's hard to find an herbicide like glyphosate . It’s cheap, highly effective, and is generally regarded as one of the safest and most environmentally benign herbicides ever discovered. But a report last year that glyphosate could cause cancer has thrown its future into jeopardy. Now the European Union faces a 30 June deadline to reapprove its use, or glyphosate will not be allowed for sale. Here's a quick explanation of the issues. Story here.

THE WESTERN PRODUCER The federal government has ordered an environmental review of a controversial flood control project west of Calgary. Story here.

CBC News ‘I’ve been waiting for this for 12 years,’ says 18-year-old Rikki Houle.  'This is how we're going to remember our grad.'  Story here . RELATED: Easterville, Chemawawin Cree Nation in Manitoba Evacuated Due to Forest Fire

The New York Times A sobering report by the International Energy Agency   says air pollution has become a major public health crisis leading to around 6.5 million deaths each year, with “many of its root causes and cures” found in the energy industry. Story here.

RODALE INSTITUTE In its 35 th year of existence, the Farming Systems Trial (FST) at Rodale Institute continues to demonstrate, through scientific research data, that organic farming is superior to conventional systems with regard to building, maintaining and replenishing the health of the soil. This is the key to regenerative agriculture as it provides the foundation for its present and future growth. Story here.

Common Dreams "If we continue with business-as-usual burning of fossil fuels, by mid-century what we think of as extreme summer heat today will become a typical summer day." Story here.

GOV'T. OF MANITOBA Manitoba Sustainable Development advises a voluntary evacuation is underway in some areas of the Whiteshell following heavy rains as resulting high water has caused deteriorating road conditions. A number of roads will wash out leaving cottage owners stranded.  Officials are contacting cottage owners in the following areas and recommending they evacuate: • Block 5, Caddy Lake; • cottage owners east of Block 9 on PR 312; and  • no vehicle access south of the ambulance garage on South Shore Road in Falcon Lake. The road to Florence and Nora Lakes is also washed out, and the Mantario Trail is closed until further notice. Residents and cottage owners only can call 1-204-349-2201 for information between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. today and tomorrow. 

ClimateProgress Less than three weeks after a fiery oil train derailment in Oregon spilled 42,000 gallons of crude into the Columbia River and forced the evacuation of hundreds,  the company behind the derailment  announced that it would resume sending oil trains through the area. Story here.