[All] GREN News Dec. 1/2015

[Louisette Lanteigne]

Here's the latest...

Local

Climate March Waterloo drew a crowd of almost 500 people on Saturday.  I did a head count of one photo and had 438 but many of the shorter folks and kids were not visible in the shot plus we had many at the church as well.  In attendance were Waterloo Mayor Dave Jaworsky, Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, Regional Chair Ken Seiling,  MP Bardish Chagger MPP Catherine Fife, City of Waterloo Councillor Mark Whaley and Regional Councillor Jane Mitchel with guest speakers Terrylynn Brant (Mohawk seed keeper) and Myneengun Henry from Chippewas of the Thames who spoke on his court case regarding Enbridge Line 9. Entertainers included the Good Hearted Women's Singers as well as local drummers Kat, Tracy, Jess and others. The weather was sunny and the event was super. Mayor Vrbanovic has plenty of memories to share as he now makes his way to join the Climate Talks in Paris. 

Climate change research centre established at U of Waterloo http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/climate-change-research-centre-established-at-university-of-waterloo-1.3343279

A new report by the Ontario Farm Association and Environmental Defence finds Waterloo is leading the rest of Southern Ontario when it comes to protecting farmland by meeting  density targets within urban areas. 
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/waterloo-region-leads-ontario-cities-in-protecting-farmland-1.3340031

To view threats impacting areas within the Greenbelt visit here. (too bad the map's legend covers over Waterloo Region)
http://greenbeltalliance.ca/sites/default/files/reports/GreenbeltThreats_OnlineREV6.pdf

Wilfrid Laurier University students in partnership with Sustainable Societies Consulting Group) in persuading Kitchener-Waterloo CBC to create a weekly environmental segment to promote dialogue on sustainability, environmental issues and local initiatives. To support their motion via petition, visit here: http://sscg.org/petition-cbc-environment-segment/
Study at UW found by reducing meat in your diet you can reduce more emissions than if you simply buy local.http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/how-to-eat-a-low-carbon-environmentally-friendly-diet-1.3328327

Provincial

Ontario's Climate plan is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050, and build a prosperous low-carbon economy. Official webpage with details here: https://www.ontario.ca/page/climate-change-strategy

New Report shows Ontario's farmlands are at risk by development. Farming contributes $11 billion in economic activity and generates 38,000 jobs. Agricultural soils provide other benefits, including $1.6 billion in ecological services like water filtration and carbon offsets. Only 5% of Ontario is suitable for it yet In the last 30 years, we’ve lost over 300,000 acres. 
http://environmentaldefence.ca/blog/ontario-farmland-risk-better-land-use-planning-can-help-save-family-farm

Deep Nuclear Repository in Kincardine decision delayed til Mar. 1, 2016. http://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/document-eng.cfm?document=103943

NOAA graphics show how a Mackinac straits oil spill might look. (Scroll down) http://s.mlive.com/SF0OkF 
Enbridge states oil is to flow in Line 9 in December although the  exact date for the oil to start flowing hasn't been disclosed. Enbridge says it's already pumping oil into the line as scheduled — but it's not actually moving.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/enbridge-line-9-reversal-alberta-montreal-1.3344517
Chippewas of the Thames is going back to court regarding Line 9, this time they were suing the federal government for downloading the duty to facililtate Crown Consent process to the third party NEB. If it isn't Nation to Nation, it's not legal. 

National

Canadian government announces $2.65B to help developing countries fight climate change http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/funding-for-climate-change-chogm-1.3339907?cmp=rss
Canada announces 10 million for Climate Risk Early Warning System. (CREWS)http://humanitariannews.org/20151202/world-canada-announces-10-million-support-investments-climate-risk-early-warning-systems-cr
Nobody knows how much water we have in Canadian Aquifershttp://www.vancouverobserver.com/news/nobody-knows-how-much-groundwater-we-have

Dangers of tap water: Millions of Canadians drinking from substandard sources. In Canada, just 27% of people on private wells tested their water at all.
http://www.nationalpost.com/m/wp/blog.html?b=news.nationalpost.com%2F%2Fnews%2Fcanada%2Fstudy-reveals-hidden-dangers-of-tap-water-millions-of-canadians-drinking-from-substandard-sources

Shell prepairs to drill for fossil fuels off Nova Scotia in spite of petitions signed by a quarter of a million people. 
http://www.nationalobserver.com/2015/11/25/news/despite-petition-quarter-million-names-shell-drilling-set-begin

National Energy Board to publish pipeline inspection reports online. 
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/energy-and-resources/national-energy-board-to-publish-pipeline-inspection-reports-online/article27489209/?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=Referrer:+Social+Network+/+Media&utm_campaign=Shared+Web+Article+Links

Pipeline reviews “contaminated by fraud from the get-go,” says Elizabeth May. http://www.nationalobserver.com/2015/11/19/news/pipeline-reviews-%E2%80%9Ccontaminated-fraud-get-go%E2%80%9D-says-may
Royal Society of Canada states Canada's oil spill responses are fragmented and incomplete. 
http://www.desmog.ca/2015/11/25/canada-s-oil-spill-response-information-and-plans-fragmented-and-incomplete-royal-society-canada

West Coast Environmental Law recommendations to improve Environmental Assessments. http://wcel.org/resources/environmental-law-alert/better-approach-environmental-reviews?utm_source=LEB

International
BC and Alaska sign a cross boarder Environmental Protection Pact. 
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-alaska-sign-cross-border-mining-collaboration-pact/article27482196/?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=Referrer:+Social+Network+/+Media&utm_campaign=Shared+Web+Article+Links'

NASA expert: Groundwater scarcity a growing issue We are at the lowest level of groundwater ever and land is sinking in California. It is not clear that this is a reversible trend. 
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article47457280.html

 A massive spill took place from an Iron Ore damn that broke in Brazil contaminating a river all the way to the ocean and killing 13 people. The response by Brazil was swift. First they ceased the banking assets of the mining company to gather funds to distribut to adversely impacted communities along the river to help them cope with the losses of their fisheries and water supplies. The amount ceased was $78 US million. 
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Brazil-Seizes-Funds-of-Company-Responsible-for-Mining-Disaster-20151126-0034.html
The next thing Brazil did was sue the parent companies, BHP and Vale for 5 billion dollars. 
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/28/brazil-to-sue-mining-companies-bhp-and-vale-for-5bn-over-dam-disaster?CMP=twt_a-environment_b-gdneco

Avaaz delivered a 3.6 million strong petition asking for 100% renewable energy delivered to the Paris Climate Summit. To view the Petition, visit here: http://avaaz.org/100clean

Goldman Sachs and OPEC: Oil prices could crater to around $20 per barrel in 2016 http://www.businessinsider.com/r-oil-declines-on-supply-glut-cut-in-us-oil-rigs-caps-falls-2015-11
Quick sign petition:
Stop Sprawl with Environmental Defence : http://action.environmentaldefence.ca/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=13972
Have a good on everybody! 
Lulu :0)






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