[All] Gren News Dec. 30 2014

[Louisette Lanteigne]

Local
Barrie's Lake property owner wants your help protecting wetland from developers.http://www.therecord.com/opinion-story/5235100-barrie-s-lake-property-owner-wants-your-help-protecting-wetland-from-developers/
University of Waterloo report describes the leakage of energy sector wells as “a threat to the environment and public safety.”
http://o.canada.com/news/national/leaky-plumbing-on-energy-wells-seen-as-threat-to-climate-water-and-resources

Have a say on the City of Waterloo's Strategic Plan in this 10 minute online surveyhttp://www.waterloo.ca/en/news/index.aspx?newsId=330fb51c-230b-49fa-b74a-8d9645b9377d


Provincial
The Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health is now signed. 
http://blackburnnews.com/sarnia/sarnia-news/2014/12/27/agreement-signed-for-restoration-and-protection-of-great-lakes/

Tougher laws laws regarding water diversions from one Great Lakes watershed to another come into effect Jan 1st. http://www.willmsshier.com/docs/default-source/articles/2014-12-22_ontario-regulatory-amendments-strengthen-protection-of-great-lakes-st-lawrence-river-basin_article_julie-abouchar_giselle-davidian-(environmental-law_ontario-water-resources-act_water-taking-regulation).pdf?sfvrsn=2

Federal
BP spill dispersants when used, are 52 times more toxic than oil and Shell has already put out bids to use Corexit if there is a spill at a well planned for the Shelburne Gully off Nova Scotia. 
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/bp-oil-spill-dispersants-concern-nova-scotia-environmentalist-1.2885233

Omnibus Bill C-38 changed Canadian environmental laws. Mikisew Cree sued for lack of consultations and won.
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/12/24/mikisew-cree-bill-c-38_n_6378210.html?utm_hp_ref=canada-alberta
Radioactivity  from Japan’s crippled nuclear reactors has turned up off the British Columbia coast and the level will likely peak in waters off North America in the next year or two, 
http://o.canada.com/news/fallout-from-radioactive-fukushima-rising-in-west-coast-waters
International
Pres. Obama Increases Allowable Levels of Radiation in Drinking Water “Dramatically”.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/obama-increases-allowable-levels-of-radiation-in-drinking-water-dramatically/5420787
The USDA has cleared the way for cultivation of genetically modified tall fescue without conducting an environmental review of the new crop.http://www.capitalpress.com/Oregon/20141230/usda-clears-gmo-tall-fescue
Sixteen Iowa farmers and companies have filed lawsuits against Syngenta, claiming the seed producer hurt U.S. corn farmers by exporting unapproved genetically modified seed to China. China banned all U.S. corn from being imported into the country in February after officials found shipments containing corn grown from Syngenta's Agrisure Viptera seed. The seed is genetically modified for insect resistance. Though China is a major market for U.S. corn exports, the Chinese government had not approved the GMO seed.http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/agriculture/2014/12/30/lawsuits-filed-sygenta-iowa/21051903/

Almost 7,000 UK properties will be destroyed with erosion due to climate change and insurance won't cover it. 
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/dec/28/7000-uk-properties-sacrificed-rising-seas-coastal-erosion?CMP=share_btn_tw

Vermont shuts down nuclear power plant to make way for renewable energy.http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/29/vermont-shutters-nuclear-power-plant-yankee?CMP=twt_guRenewable energy vehicles can reduce smog fatalities by 70%.
http://auto.ndtv.com/news/renewable-energy-powered-vehicles-can-save-lives-719563
Norway’s state owned electricity company Statkraft has revealed plans to invest US$8.1 billion in renewable energy projects. 
http://www.rtcc.org/2014/12/29/norways-statkraft-plans-8-billion-green-energy-drive/#sthash.FiGeh112.dpuf
Have a safe and Happy New Years everyone! 
Lulu :0)
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