[All] Current news

[Louisette Lanteigne]

Hi folks

Local, provincial and international news coverage that may be of interest to GREN members.

LRT update:Regional Council was listening to public views on the LRT on May 31st and they've got 52 more speakers on June 1st starting at 6pm but before that, at 4pm there will be a vote to consider the question of whether to hold a referendum on the LRT issue. If there is no referendum, the vote on the prefered option will take place June 15th. To get the news on what happened at the May 31 st meeting check out:KW Record here: http://www.therecord.com/news/local/article/540847--residents-share-their-views-on-rapid-transit-with-regional-councillors
CKCO coverage
 here:http://swo.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110531/lrt-public-meeting-transit-110531/20110531/?hub=SWOHome
ECO report on Ontario Co2The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario just released his report on Green House Gas in Ontario. Mixed results. We made our targets during the recession but failed to maintain those levels. Details here:http://www.eco.on.ca/index.php/en_US/pubs/greenhouse-gas-reports/2011-ghg---meeting-responsibilities-creating-opportunities
Gravel company wants certified Green GravelA Quarry Pit operator, Holcim (Canada) Inc., is trying to Green up the Gravel industry.   Among the requirements for green gravel, the certification standard would place environmentally sensitive areas off-limits for quarries, would force companies to establish new conservation zones up to three times the size of their pits as offsets, would cut greenhouse-gas emissions, and would increase the amount of recycled aggregates they use to cut the need for virgin rocks. These requirements go well beyond current regulatory standards. Details here. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/quarry-operator-seeks-environmental-seal-of-approval/article2042089/
Tim Hudak
 promise: Coal Power will end Tim Hudak has released his 2011 election platform online here:  http://www.ontariopc.com/news-releases/changebook/  and the Tories, like the Liberals are committed to ending the burning of coal by 2014. The platform states that the PC Party is promising to focus its energy spending on proven technologies that are “effective, efficient, and clean: like natural gas, hydroelectric, and nuclear. Ontario Clean Air Alliance has concerns about Nuclear and would like to encourage folks to sign an online petition to support non nuclear options including the purchase of
 Hydro power from Quebec. If you would like to sign on visit here:  http://www.cleanairalliance.org/hudak_coal
Food Costs to DoubleOxfam states that food prices are set to double in the next 20 years. We should encourage planners to consider that fact when projects encroach on farmlands:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1392692/Food-prices-double-20-years-causing-mass-world-hunger.html
Shocking Aral Sea:The Aral Sea is almost completely dried up. This should ring bells and whistles for all of us working to protect the health of the Great Lakes, particularly Erie. This body of water once was the forth largest body of water in the world. Now 90% is gone. Less water, hotter weather, faster evaporation. Less water, higher contamination, greater amount of illnesses related to cancers etc. Higher concentration of pesticides and effluents etc. This sea was the size of Ireland. If this could go, so to could Lake Erie. With the Ogallala Aquifer going dry, and Waterloo planning on massive growth, there are too many US and Canadian cities looking at Erie Diversions. View the videos on the Aral Sea to observe what could happen to Erie. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/04/aral-sea-almost-dried-up_n_524697.html?#s78
Slight Detail left out of Report...The Harper Government admits they left out the fact there has been a 20% increase in Carbon Emission in regards to a report on the Tar Sands that was submitted to the UN. Hmmmmm.http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Oilsands+emissions+data+left+report/4861017/story.html#ixzz1Npmg51Qm
Europe's Pollution TransparencyThe European Pollution Release has created an online mapping system to show what the pollution levels are for various contaminates. Easy to use really. Just find the location of your location, find your contaminates and view the results. http://prtr.ec.europa.eu/DiffuseSourcesAir.aspx
Freedom of Info used to HARASS scientistsThis story was based in the UK but it could in theory happen here. Something to watch out for. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/may/25/freedom-information-laws-harass-scientists
Germany says Nuke Plants will be gone by 2022http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/05/30/germany-nuclear-shutdown-_n_868695.html?ref=tw
Biofuel used in plane that broke the sound barrier. http://www.biofueldaily.com/reports/Camelina_Based_Biofuel_Breaks_Sound_Barrier_999.html
That's it for now folks. Have a good one!
Lulu :0)
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