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In Hogs WeTrust - a Radio Interview

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Alon at CKUW Radio (95.9 fm) at the University of Winnipeg, interviews journalist/blogger/activist Larry Powell (L.)  about the recent decision by the Government of Manitoba to expand the hog industry in the province. Are the rewards worth the risk? You be the judge. Runs 38'30". Interview proper starts at the 1'45" mark. This is a podcast (no picture). COMMENTS WELCOME. Thanks to CKUW for the opportunity to get the word out about these important issues. L.P.

World Bank and World Health Organization: Half the world lacks access to essential health services, 100 million still pushed into extreme poverty because of health expenses

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TOKYO, December 13, 2017 —At least half of the world’s population cannot obtain essential health services, according to a new report from the World Bank and the World Health Organization.  Photo by Oxfam And each year, large numbers of households are being pushed into poverty because they must pay for health care out of their own pockets. Currently, 800 million people spend at least 10 percent of their household budgets on health expenses for themselves, a sick child or other family member. For almost 100 million people these expenses are high enough to push them into extreme poverty, forcing them to survive on just $1.90 or less a day. The findings, released today in  Tracking Universal Health Coverage: 2017 Global Monitoring Report,  have been simultaneously published in  Lancet Global Health. “It is completely unacceptable that half the world still lacks coverage for the most essential health services,” said  Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World H

Taxes on Meat Could Join Carbon, Sugar and Tobacco to Help Curb Emissions

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EcoWatch Driven by a global consensus around meat's negative contributions to climate change  and global health epidemics such as obesity, cancer & antibiotic resistance,  a new British report  concludes that a meat tax should be considered "inevitable" for any government serious about addressing the climate crisis & other health concerns that stem from livestock production. Story here. Dairy cows. USDA photo. Related:  "In Hogs We Trust."   Part #1   How the Manitoba government’s return to a deregulated hog industry could actually aggravate a world health crisis. "In Hogs We Trust." Part #2   The Price We Pay For Corporate Hog$

As 'Epic Winds' Drive California Fires, Climate Change Fuels the Risk

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Inside Climate News Santa Ana winds are whipping up wildfires in Southern California after a devastating season in wine country. Rising temps can make the West dangerously combustible. Story here. USDA photo

Diesel vehicles in oil sands operations contribute to regional pollution

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EurekAlert! Photo courtesy of  http://beautifuldestruction.ca Wildfires, cigarette smoking and vehicles all emit a potentially harmful compound called isocyanic acid. The substance has been linked to several health conditions, including heart disease and cataracts. Scientists investigating sources of the compound have now identified off-road diesel vehicles in oil sands production in Alberta, Canada, as a major contributor to regional levels of the pollutant. Story here.

Canola oil linked to worsened memory and learning ability in Alzheimer's

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ScienceDaily Canola oil is one of the most widely consumed vegetable oils,  yet little is known about its health effects.  Now, a study links canola oil consumption in the diet  with.....  Story here. A canola field - a common site  on the Canadian prairies. PinP photo. Related:  Canola study on Alzheimer mice seen as ‘huge stretch’

As World Warms, Heart-Breaking Video Shows What It Looks Like When a Polar Bear Starves

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Common Dreams "For all of you still trying to hold a ridiculous 'debate' about whether there's something wrong with our planet, please watch this, if you can." Story here. A starving polar bear in  the Norwegian Arctic. Photo by  Andreas Weith