[All] NEWS April 17

[water.lulu at yahoo.ca]

Hi everyone! 
It has been a very busy time. I've switched email from butterflybluelu at rogers.com to water.lulu at yahoo.ca recently which means I'm not getting my normal mail yet as I'm still getting folks updated but there is plenty of stuff to talk about this week.
Local
Report Algae Blooms to GRCA! This weekend I had to call the GRCA and MOE after witnessing fish kills underway at Huron Park in Kitchener. The fish are dead and dying along the shore and I saw a dead young mapping turtle with no signs of bodily damage which suggests toxicity issues. The water is suffering from a heavy algal bloom right now and was emerald green. There were floating masses above the water, lots below as well. More disturbingly though is the fact that there were two people fishing here for food and kids playing with the sick and dying fish along the water's edge. The public has no clue of the potential harm. One father was watching as his son was handling the dead turtle in his hands. I told him these animals are linked to salmonella and he should be sure to wash off as soon as he could. Some folks were in the water with their dogs in the algae blooms near the dead fish. The public was clueless on the potential for toxicity and bacterial issues so the need is there for more environmental awareness and signage.  The MNR went to visit the site later that night. So if you do see similar issues in ponds, please contact the GRCA and they will get the MNR to touch base with you. That's the proper format to report these things to help keep the public healthy
Wilfrid Laurier Archive request I've been invited to archive my research with the University of Wilfrid Laurier. It's a lovely process actually because I've been hanging on to articles and reports for years. I've been busy going through my boxes and Ginny's which she gave me finding all the lovely work we've crafted over the years. I'll be passing along flyers from Waterlooians, petitions from Citizens for the Protection of the Waterloo Moraine, published articles on source water protection and our awareness events as well as affidavits from the Line 9 process and the West Side Lands etc. From the very beginning it was a group effort that made this all possible. Ginny Quinn, Bob Burtt, Kevin, Deb,  Dave Wellhauser and so many others have helped this effort for years as CPWM evolved to GREN. The McNally Lands saved. Wider Buffer-zones all along the West Side Lands, The ESL and the offset of the Lake Erie Pipeline. Hidden Valley Part II order underway. Road never built yet, so far so good.  Professor Emeritus Alan Morgan's time trail and public knowledge shared on the moraine's geology via public awareness events.  Excellent articles from Prof. Emeritus Emil Frind. Michael's contribution to this as well as the Schneiders. Lots of amazing work done to bump up source water protection. It's been an amazing journey and we're still making progress! 
Provincial News
Posted on the Twitter Feed of Glen Murray, Ontario's MOECC#Ontario emissions: 1) transportation, 2) industry, 3) buildings. Ontario has a plan for neutrality by 2050.
Initial meeting of Great Lakes Guardian Council in Manitoulin (First Nation's group: A good one to network with!) http://www.manitoulin.ca/2016/04/15/initial-meeting-held-great-lakes-guardians-council/
The impact of outdated dam operations has placed the St. Lawrence River among the most endangered watercourses in the United States, according to an American environmental group.
http://www.thewhig.com/2016/04/11/st-lawrence-listed-among-endangered-waterways
Environmental groups are asking the Ontario Court of Appeal to overturn a provincial regulation that exempts major industries from Endangered Species Act legal requirements to protect Ontario’s most vulnerable plants and animals.
http://www.ontarionature.org/media/news_template.php?n_code=856


Federal News 
New data from Environment Canada shows Canada's emissions rose in 2014. The energy sector made up 81% of Canada's GHG emissions in 2014, with agriculture and the next biggest sector at 8%.http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/emissions-environment-canada-greenhouse-1.3541969

Canadian NGO group Urgent Climate and Ocean Rapid Response (UCORR) calls on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and UN Climate Secretariat to declare a "Global State of Climate and Oceans Emergency" in collective response to the weak attempt by world leaders to avert climate collapse, in the face of the currently accelerating increases in global temperature and atmospheric carbon dioxide. UN & IPCC to declare a "Global State of Climate & Oceans Emergency" 
http://www.urgentclimateandoceanrapidresponse.org/current
Albetta Budget won't be balanced til 2024 and Carbon Tax brings in less revenues than expected http://business.financialpost.com/news/economy/alberta-budget-wont-return-to-balance-until-2024-carbon-tax-brings-in-less-revenue-than-projected


International News
Fracking wells released 5 billion pounds of methane in one year in the US. http://grist.org/article/fracking-wells-released-over-5-billion-pounds-of-methane-in-one-year/
Over 1400 arrested in Washington DC in Democracy Spring. This movement aims to remove the influence of Corporations over US politics and Climate Change plays a center part.  Details here:  http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/democracy_in_action_arrests_at_capitol_building_protests_top_20160418

The Centre for International Environmental Law (CIEL)  has just released all their public documents showing climate denial by Fossil fuel sectors since the 1940's. Their website for further information is here; https://www.smokeandfumes.org
Exxon could loose billions with the lawsuit http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/261668-exxon-could-lose-billions-in-climate-suit-kerry-predicts
New Zealand accused of cheating on their Carbon credits. http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/301739/nz-accused-of-climate-change-'cheating'

Bloomberg: Wind and Solar is crushing Fossil Fuels http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-04-06/wind-and-solar-are-crushing-fossil-fuels

Glyphosate in Round-up showing up in human breast milk and urine. https://www.organicconsumers.org/news/monsantos-roundup-enough-make-you-sick

Scott's Miracle Grow Lawn products is phasing out Neonicotinoidshttp://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-farming-gardening/blogs/lawn-care-giant-announces-plan-phase-out-bee-harming-pesticides

Monsanto profits drop 25% as farmers and individuals  go organic. https://www.organicconsumers.org/news/monsanto-profits-drop-twenty-five-percent-again-farmers-individuals-go-organic

Quick sign petitions:
Tell Ontario Government to protect Species At Risk with Ontario Nature https://ontarionature.thankyou4caring.org/showyourlove
Help stop fish farms in the Atlantic Ocean. (spreads diseases like sea lice etc.) https://petitions.parl.gc.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-270&utm_content=bufferc97c6&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Have a good one!
Lulu :0)
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