[All] GREN News: Lots happening!

[Louisette Lanteigne]

GREN news

LOCAL NEWS

EVENBRIGHT DEC. 5th Event:

Evenbright held a workshop was held on December 5th featuring various environmental groups, social agencies etc. Here are the headlines from that event.

An announcement was made that if we lobby our local politicians we may be able to help establish a central hub for environmental groups to be included in the new Transit corridor facility planned for King Street and Victoria. This building will be 25 feet tall and is the nexus for all transportation grids including Go Train, Grand River Transit etc. The facility will be a high profile location and can provide with plenty of networking opportunities and can serve as a centralized working space for groups, a think tank and central point for all things environmental in our region. Citizens are asked to contact their local city and municipal reps to help support the project. 

Also featured at the meeting was ClimateActionWR which is a collaborative initiative who's focus is on developing a community climate action plan and reduction target to propel local sustainability efforts.  They are asking folks to join on to contribute various skills towards the efforts. Folks can connect to the group online at www.climateactionnowwr.ca or by email at Connect at climateactionnowwr.ca. Twitter user @ClimateActionWR and facebook page: ClimateActionWR

Also discussed: The Green Rocket which is an on line collaborative group. Official website is at: http://www.thegreenrocket.com/ . The function of this group is information sharing of environmental reports, blog sites you name it. Visit the site and you can follow up on more of their efforts. 

Also announced was the Waterloo Region Green Directory. Function is self explanatory. All attendees got a draft master list of groups signed on thus far and this list was prepared by Community Information Centre of Waterloo Region under the Social Planning Council of Kitchener-Waterloo. 

OMB approves Jigs Hallow Pit 
Jigs Hallow Pit approved at the OMB and 2 major pit fights coming for Woolwich Township as pits encroach upon the Grand River, primary recharge and A1 farmlands.
http://observerxtra.com/2/news/jigs-hollow-gravel-pit-cleared-to-proceed/


Maude Barlow coming to Paris ON
On Jan. 12th at the Paris Fair Grounds Maude Barlow will be speaking about the risks of the Dufferin Quarry pit application.  More details to come but you can follow up at this link for more info: http://ccob.ca/

More Pit FIghts In Paris
Another pit fight looming in Paris Ontario over A1 Farmlands:  http://www.parisstaronline.com/2012/11/27/residents-voice-concerns-over-proposed-gravel-pit?utm_source=addThis&utm_medium=addthis_button_facebook&utm_campaign=Residents+voice+concerns+over+proposed+gravel+pit+%257C+News+%257C+Paris+Star#.ULYd2EtH1wA.facebook

GREN person in the news
Carol Maas was featured in Water Magazine in an article called Building Blue regarding how to reduce the water footprint for residential housing. Great read! 
http://polarisinstitute.org/bigoilsoilygrasp


PROVINCIAL NEWS

Application is now filed for Enbridge Line 9B from Westover to Montreal has begun. Information regarding the project is now online here: https://www.neb-one.gc.ca/ll-eng/livelink.exe?func=ll&objId=890501&objAction=browse
Those who wish to participate with either written comments or personal appearances should contact the National Energy Board at info at neb-one.gc.ca
Let them know you wish to be updated on procedural timelines and submission information for "Enbridge Line 9B line reversal and capacity expansion application".  

Great Lakes Alliance report calls for prioritization of chemical contaminants going into the Great Lakes.
http://www.greatlakes.org/Report/PriorityContaminants


Ontario has a new building code that will reduce all new home emissions by 50% that of pre 2006 homes.
http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page10146.aspx?DateTime=634880586600000000&PageMode=View


Ontario's Green Energy program being challenged by NAFTA because it prioritizes local jobs however it won't slow the pace of clean energy expansion.
http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1297504--ontario-opens-door-for-more-renewable-energy#.UL7Yeg8vwus.twitter


Environmental Commissioner's latest report shows that after closing coal plants, Ontario still can't reach climate change obligations unless they make a plan of action to get there. Latest report and videos online here: 
http://www.eco.on.ca/index.php/en_US/pubs/greenhouse-gas-reports/2012-greenhouse-gas

Greenpeace balloon test proves nuclear fallout from a disaster from Darlington could hit the US
http://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/recent/Greenpeace-balloon-predicts-the-range-of-Ontario-nuclear-fallout/


Great Lakes Water volumes dropping and small towns struggle to deal with it. 
http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/Great+Lakes+water+levels+plummet+small+tourist+towns+struggle+keep/7626967/story.html


FEDERAL NEWS

Peter Kent's presentation to Doha climate talks said Canada will reduce emissions to 17%.  View Canada's official statement here:
http://www.ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=FFE36B6D-1&news=1D0C0F56-C88A-4715-9058-86F9C21124CB


Peter Kent's data conflicts with the Climate Trend report produced by Environment Canada which shows Canada's 2020 emissions will only be reduced 15%. 
http://www.ec.gc.ca/Publications/253AE6E6-5E73-4AFC-81B7-9CF440D5D2C5/793-Canada's-Emissions-Trends-2012_e_01.pdf


New report by Polaris shows oil industry had 2,733 meetings with federal public office holders since 2008, 463% more than environmental groups. 
http://polarisinstitute.org/bigoilsoilygrasp


Species At Risk Act has been revised. Here's the latest list. Regional species now included as Threatened: Wood Thrush, Eastern Ribbon Snake etc.
http://www.cosewic.gc.ca/rpts/Detailed_Species_Assessments_e.html

Good signs from Ottawa showing that Northern Gateway Pipeline might not happen citing "huge challenges".
http://www.financialpost.com/m/wp/news/energy/blog.html?b=business.financialpost.com/2012/11/30/ottawa-dials-down-support-for-northern-gateway-pipeline-citing-huge-challenges


Alberta Resources Revenues take 1.4 Billion dollar hit dragging Alberta into the red because of lack of market access for bitumen says finance minister. 
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2012/11/28/edmonton-alberta-quarterly-update.html


INTERNATIONAL NEWS

We're looking at a 4 to 6 degree rise with climate change models now. 
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/dec/03/co2-emissions-climate-change-certain?CMP=twt_gu


Over 100 colleges sign on to divest from fossil fuel companies
http://www.treehugger.com/corporate-responsibility/100-more-colleges-join-fight-divest-fossil-fuel-companies.html


Gulf of Mexico clean-up makes 2010 spill 52x's more toxic; Mixing oil with dispersant increased toxicity to ecosystems:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121130110518.htm#.ULwX4WKuuLk.twitter


Inclusive Green Growth: The Pathway to Sustainable Development produced by the World Bank in a infograph format: 
 http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTSDNET/0,,contentMDK:23221288~menuPK:64885113~pagePK:7278667~piPK:64911824~theSitePK:5929282,00.html?cid=EXT_TWBN_D_EXT

World 'on collision course with nature', OECD green growth report warns: http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2012/dec/04/world-collision-nature-oecd-green-growth?CMP=twt_gu


Greenland and Antarctica lost 4 trillion tonnes of ice in the last 20 years: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/nov/29/greenland-antarctica-4-trillion-tonnes-ice?CMP=twt_gu


Concepts for Geotechnical Solutions flopped at the Climate Change talks with little support for crafty climate solutions 
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/02/us-climate-talks-geoengineering-idUSBRE8B103Y20121202


Carbon Dioxide could reduce crop yeilds http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121130094918.htm#.ULwXSHmEWUY.twitter


New Report by Natural Resource Defence Council in US shows how the US can cut emissions by 1/3 rd by closing carbon loophole via a carbon reduction act. To view article overview visit here: http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/12/06/1296521/study-we-can-cut-carbon-pollution-one-third-by-closing-carbon-loophole-through-the-clean-air-act/ 
To view the actual report visit here: 
http://www.nrdc.org/air/pollution-standards/files/pollution-standards-report.pdf


Quick sign petitions:
Lead Now petition: Politicians are supposed to be referees who decide what is in the public interest so why do we allow wealthy private interests to buy them off with huge donations including secret donations? Sign here to stop this practice.
http://democracywatch.ca/campaigns/money-in-politics-campaign/


Ecojustice Petition calls for Federal Government to finish it's promised recovery strategies to help protect Canada's rare species. 
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/791/100/166/?z00m=20420750


Council of Canadians stop fracking petition: http://canadians.org/action/2011/fracking.html


Have a good week everybody!

Lulu 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20121206/5bd16c73/attachment.html>