PLANET IN PERIL

By: Gwynne Dyer - Wpg Free Press - 09/24/2011 Scientists who are working on various concepts for "geo-engineering" the climate are almost comically eager to stress that... Details here.

By Ted Genoways OnEarth - Sept 30'11 At a heated hearing in the heart of cornhusker country, one cowboy poet gives local outrage an eloquent voice . Details here.

By Paul Hanley, Special to The StarPhoenix September 27, 2011 The results are in from a 30-year side-by-side trial of conventional and organic... Read more here.

National Round Table on Environment and Economy Global emissions will have a price tag for Canada. Details here.                                   The campground at Manipogo Provincial Park, still flooded after months of high water on Lk. Manitoba. PLT photo.   ===== Please also read: Are Business Interests Giving Bad Advice to the Canadian Government on Climate Change?

Tara Lohan - Alternet Se 29-'11 Dirty energy can't hide under the false cover of jobs anymore. Details here. Courtesy of the Globe & Maill

Ground Truth - Se 22'11 Bee Aware from Greg Stanley on Vimeo . Help start a national conversation on pesticides and bees by spreading the word about this hard-hitting, in-depth investigative report. Details here. Please read "Are Pesticide Regulators on the Take?" and "Pesticide Ban a Big Win for Italian Honey Bees."

Medha Chandra - Ground Truth Se 27'11 I want to share some good news that brightened my day. Details here. Pesticide container disposal site. PLT photo

By CHARLES J. HANLEY - 9/24/2011 Associated Press Despite onslaught of science, resistance to the idea seems to be hardening . Details here.

Ottawa - Council of Canadians. Details here.

Courtesy of Planetsave

by Larry Rex Murphy, that pompous darling of the CBC's flagship TV newscast, "The National" and CBC Radio's "Cross-Country Checkup," seems about to jump into the murky waters of climate denial. Rex Murphy caricature courtesy  of By the Bay Art Studio "Friends of Science" is announcing  Murphy will speak to the student body at the University of Calgary on September 29th at an event called "Climate Change 101."  The dishonestly named "Friends....." is actually dedicated to sowing doubt and discrediting peer-reviewed science surrounding global warming.  According to the painstakingly-researched book, "Climate Cover-up," "Friends of Science" had its origins in the Calgary oil patch, among geologists and oil industry PR types determined to discredit the Kyoto Protocol. The main sponsor of the event on the 29th is the "Frontier Centre for Public Policy," a conservative &qu

Free Press Online - Sept 24 - '11 (Emphasis by PLT) James Beddome  - What he needed to do: When you’re largely an unknown, it’s good to make a good first impression. Most Winnipeggers are probably wondering what the Green Party of Manitoba stands for other than an obvious desire to protect the environment. James Beddome, Leader, Green  Party of Manitoba photo by PLT What he accomplished: Beddome played the perfect foil to the other three leaders and was the best performer of the night . He also got more one-liners in than the others — some were stinging. Plus, getting equal time with the three other party leaders on provincewide television was in itself a victory. Best sound bite: "The reason why our (hydro) rates are being driven up is because of new developments. I’ll point out to Mr. McFadyen it’s not just Bipole III," Beddome said to Selinger. "Gary Filmon was smart enough to say no to Conawapa because he knew it would drive up our energy rates. Are you?&

I wrote this story almost three years ago. I am re-posting it because, with the return of a "300 year-flood" like we had in 2011 - THREE YEARS AGO in Manitoba - I continue to be struck by how little things change. So-called rational leaders (and ordinary people) remain in a stupor - an unexplained state of mass delusion and denial - approaching our climate crisis from every direction but the right one.  ============ by Larry Powell If a shrink were to examine the brains of North America's political leaders, what do you suppose she would find? What parts of what lobes would be addressing the cataclysmic changes our planet's climate is undergoing? Are the neurons of these leaders' brains actually transmitting, making them aware that Earth is going through a monumental crisis that needs their immediate attention? Or are they somehow "shorting out," as if each leader was sticking a hairpin in a light socket? Here are just a

Sept.19'11 As a leader in the fight to save BC's Clayoquot Sound, environmentalists rallied around her while government and corporate officials called her an eco-terrorist.  Christina Craft Photography    And then Tzeporah Berman did the unthinkable. She negotiated with the very companies she once vilified, securing groundbreaking deals to save Old Growth Forests. Now some environmentalists consider her a sellout. Today we talk to the woman credited with changing Environmental Politics in Canada. Listen to Podcast here.

By Mike De Souza, Postmedia News Sept 13, 2011 OTTAWA — A major Alberta-based oil and gas company helped to kick-start an elaborate public relations project designed to cast doubt on scientific evidence linking human activity to global warming... .Details here. PLT; Below is an email I sent to Barry Cooper, an individual mentioned in the story, followed by his angry response & my own rebuttle.  === Dear Dr. Cooper, How could an institute of higher learning, devoted to truth and justice, have become involved in such a scheme? I'd very much like to hear back from you, so I can report your response on my blog. Thank you Larry Powell === Hi Larry, Who are you? Does your reference to truth and justice mean you are you an ironist? Do you know nothing at all about universities? Have you never heard of the so-called Climategate scandal? Do you know anything about the reporter who provided the story? Or are you just another boring  greenie religious fanatic? You

By Brent Patterson , Council of Canadians - Se 15th, 2011 On Monday September 26, people from across Canada will be gathering on Parliament Hill in a large demonstration and non-violent civil disobedience action calling for an end to the destruction caused by the tar sands.

Climate Action Network Canada -  Sept. 15'11   Environment Minister Peter Kent  gave an interview  last week in which he pointedly stated that he is going to close the loophole in new federal coal regulations that would allow Maxim Power to build a new, unregulated coal plant. This is wonderful news for everyone who sent messages to Kent voicing their outrage over the coal plant! We made ourselves heard, but  the fight isn't over yet . Canada still needs to eliminate all coal-fired electricity if we want to stop catastrophic climate change. Stay tuned for more action alerts so we can make sure Minister Kent stays true to his word.  Related story here.

By Simon Enoch, The Leader-Post September 14, 2011 With the results of the Canadian Wheat Board's plebiscite now in, farmers have given the single-desk for wheat a rousing endorsement... Details here.

Manitoba Co-Operator Sept 14'11 About 5,500 miles of fence and 2.6 million acres of pasture have been lost . Details here. PLT: So how are the prayer vigils going, Gov. Perry? Let's face it, Sir. You've got nothin'! Photo courtesy of PortableFarm

David Suzuki - Huffington Post Most reality TV has little to do with the real world. But here's an online show that will reflect what is happening in and to our world: Details here.

Bruce Johnstone, Regina Leader-Post 910/11 Regardless of the results of the Canadian Wheat Board's plebiscite, which are expected Monday, the federal government says it will ignore them and…. Details here.

by Larry Powell This morning,"The House" apologized over an interview done on that CBC Radio program on July 23rd. In the interview, Derek Burney, once Canada's ambassador to the US, sung the praises of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline and attacked critics in the environmental movement as "emotional" and even "violent." In the process of responding to that interview, I discovered Burney is a Director of TransCanadaPipelines, the company building the project. He did not disclose this in the course of the interview. After complaining twice to the CBC ombudsman, I received an apology from "The House," yesterday, saying it was unaware of Burney's vested interest at the time. It ran this clarification on its program this morning (Sept 10th) . "On July 23rd we aired a conversation with former ambassadors Derek Burney & Gordon Giffin about Canada-US relations. Part of the discussion was about the Keystone XL pipeline project. We

Zachary Shahan - Planetsave - Sept. - '11 If you haven’t heard, Texas has been fighting massive wildfires this week . Details here. A Texas National Guard helicopter flies  through smoke this week near Bastrop.  Photo by Staff Sgt. Malcolm McClendon http://wildfiretoday.com/

ABC News Honey that contains traces of pollen from genetically modified crops needs special authorization before it can be sold, the European Union's top court said Tuesday, Details here. PLT honeybee photo

CBS News Al Gore has posted a note entitled "confronting disappointment" in which he takes President Obama to task for "[bowing] to pressure from polluters" in ordering the Environmental Protection Agency not to seek a tightening of air-quality standards. Details here. A Canadian pulp mill PLT photo

Nobel Women's Initiative Archbishop Tutu and the Dalai Lama call on President to build clean energy legacy. Details here. Courtesy; Climate Action News

Winnipeg Free Press - 09/7/2011 The Green Party of Manitoba wants you to hear what they have to say. Details here. James Beddome, Leader, Green Party of Manitoba (PLT photo)

Rafe Mair - The Common Sense Canadian I reflect. We are, I think, at the moment of truth. Either we stop these pipelines or the environmental movement becomes…. Details here. 350.org

Manitoba Co-Operator - Kansas City | Reuters Triple-digit heat breaks records, prolongs misery... Details here. Low water in the Big Blue River, Nebraska

Environmental engineers say pipeline operators TransCanada Corp have significantly underestimated the chances of a Keystone XL spill. Details here. guardian.co.uk PLT: Apparently we are to believe spills  like that of another company, into the Yellowstone R. recently,  simply won't happen quite as much with Keystone!  yeah, right!

Australia is about to pass a law that would slash carbon emissions and get polluters to pay. This is the front line in the fight for our planet's future -- if we win, it could spur bold global action. But Rupert Murdoch and big polluters are fighting hard to kill the bill, spreading messages of fear across the country. We can help drown out Murdoch's mantra with messages of hope from across the world and help pass the law -- join in now:  

Bartley Kives - Winnipeg Free Press - 08/31/2011 People and vegetation disappearing, too. Details here. Courtesy of  Greenpeace

Grant Schulte-Associated Press-08/31/2011 WASHINGTON - The governor of a midwestern state that would be affected by a pipeline proposed to go from Canada to Texas urged President Obama to deny a federal permit for construction of the pipeline. Details here. PLT: Isn't it sad that the world is so short of enlightened politicians such as this!

The Amazon forest is at risk . The Brazilian Congress has watered down strict forest protection laws and brave Brazilian activists are being murdered for speaking out . It’s time for us to take this critical battle global -- if we all call on President Dilma to veto the bill, we could save the Amazon .

Wpg. Free Press Aug 30 - '11 NEWFANE, Vt. - U.S. National Guard helicopters rushed food and water Tuesday to a dozen cut-off towns in the northeastern state of Vermont…. Details here. ===== PLT: When will this world wake up and smell the C02? This is getting just stupid!

350.org Aug 28'11 Almost the entire environmental community condemned the final State Department report on the environmental impact of the proposed Keystone XL tar sands pipeline released this morning… Details here.

Canadian Press - Aug 28 - 2011 Courtesy Yahoo! News HALIFAX - Up to 180,000 homes were without power in Quebec on Sunday as hurricane Irene steamed northward as a tropical storm... Details here.

Campaigners disappointed as White House says 1,700-mile pipeline will not cause significant environmental damage. Details here. ===== The Alberta tar sands - source of "product" for the pipeline courtesy, the Boreal Songbird Initiative  PLT: As pessimistic as I am about President Obama actually stopping this thing, I think the gist of this story is a tad misleading. It is the President, and only the President (not the "White House" or "State Department"), who must sign off on the actual permit that will allow it to proceed. And that has yet to take place.

By Jim Efstathiou Jr. - Bloomberg - Aug 22, 2011 Michael Mann, a Pennsylvania researcher who’s been a target of climate-change skeptics, was cleared of wrongdoing by U.S. investigators in the flap surrounding e-mails hacked from a U.K. university. Details here.

CBC.ca | The Current The Keystone XL project is a proposed pipeline that would carry crude oil from Alberta to Texas. Critics call it a disaster in waiting ... saying the pipeline would pass through many environmentally sensitive areas, and there's little doubt that at some point, there would be big spill. Proponents say the line would give oil hungry Americans a safer supply of oil. And create a lot of jobs in a time where help wanted signs are desperately needed. Click headline for details. Please read update, *below. PLT: Below is a message I sent this morning to "The Current," (with a copy to "The National.)" ===== Dear Piya, Anna-Maria et al, As a faithful listener and environmentalist, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your coverage of the anti-pipeline protests in Washington! To me, these are nothing less than a critical battle against the ravages of climate change. At the heart of this struggle is a Canadian project. The

See update, *below. If you enjoy this blog, please consider  donating to the author to keep it going.  Just click on the link below . Thanks! - Larry                                                                                                        PLT: I have just posted the following in the "comments" section of "Common Dreams," an alternative online media in the US. The story was about the critical protests taking place at the White House. Hundreds are there to demand President Obama not allow the proposed Canadian pipeline to carry Alberta tar to the Texas Gulf coast and the profound implications it would have for the environment and climate change: "I just want the world to know from up here in Canada that our flagship TV newscast, CBC's, 'The National,' is studiously avoiding any coverage of the protests so far. Shame on the CBC and the rest of the media for its undercoverage of this critical juncture in the environmental history of our

"My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world."   Read the whole letter here. Jack with his wife, Olivia Chow BBC photo

For Aug. 26, 2011 R-Town papers BY Jim Harding On August 16 th several hundred people walked the green mile along Regina’s Albert Street, taking their call for a provincial nuclear waste ban to the government. They want an end to the industry group, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO), negotiating with northern communities to “host” a nuclear dump without the people of Saskatchewan having any say. This was the completion of a 20-day, 820 km walk started July 27 th from Pinehouse. Along the way walkers made new friendships and networks that bring the north and south closer together. At the front of the colourful parade was a big, blue balloon “earth” encircled by cutouts of the world’s children holding hands. There was much magic as I watched, over the heads of the block-long string of people in front of me, as “the earth” bobbed up and down as its carriers led the way. And then I remembered a similar walk, thirty-two years ago, on February 22, 197

WASHINGTON - August 22   Given that a number of presidential hopefuls have been voicing their opinions recently on climate science, the Union of Concerned  Manitoba's unprecedented, catastrophic floods of 2011 -  the costliest in the province's history. Wpg. Free Press photo. Scientists (UCS) thought it would be helpful to provide a short list of authoritative scientific assessments on climate science... Details here.