[All] GREN news and updates

[Louisette Lanteigne]

Topics: Highland Quarry, Tar Sands, GM lables and new traffic study shows increased roads = increased traffic. 

URGENT: Sign the AVAAZ petition re: Highland Quarry ASAP
Only days to go before the July 11th public comments are closed on the EBR website. Please sign the AVVAZ petition and join over 7300 people in saying no to this harmful project. To sign on visit: 
 http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_the_quarry/?vl 

Tar Sands update:
Environmental monitoring in the Alberta oilsands is insufficient and needs to have "rigorous scientific design and execution" to be effective, a provincially-appointed expert panel concluded in a report released Tuesday. The panel are recommending the establishment of a new arms length monitoring team dedicated to Tar Sands monitoring. Details here:http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/story/2011/07/05/edmonton-oilsands-monitoring-panel-report.html
The report has yet to be released to the public but the website where the report is most likely to be posted is here:http://www.albertaemp.ca/reporting
GM food
 lables now allowedThe Codex Alimentarius Commission has finalized a new regulation that protects all nations who want to label Genetically Modfied foods from threats of World Trade Organization lawsuits. This means free trade agreements cannot punish anyone for  the labeling of GM products. For years the US has opposed the move but now they are only opposed to the idea of "mandatory" labeling. Details here:
http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/food-safety/169637-gm-food-labeling-moves-ahead-after-us-drops-opposition#.ThPrtG5TJZY.twitter
U of T study finds road expansion increases traffic by increasing demand

Using evidence from U.S. cities, Professors Gilles Duranton and Matthew Turner of the Department of Economics find that expanding highways and roads increases traffic congestion by increasing demand. Interestingly, the study also found no evidence that public transit affects the number of kilometres traveled. http://www.environment.utoronto.ca/News/RoadExpansionStudy.aspx
Have a good one folks!Lulu :0)
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