[All] GREN NEWs Sept. 8 2016

[water.lulu at yahoo.ca]

Here is the latest: 
Local news
A developer is proposing putting a 40 unit townhouse on two luxery lots located around Hidden Valley Drive. The matter will be raised with Kitchener Council on Sept. 29, 2016 at Kitchener City Hall. Landowners have hired solicitors to object to the increased density worried about environmental impact, noise, traffic etc. around this ecologically sensitive area. The group's community rep at this time is Ayman Samra. To read more about this issue visit here: http://www.therecord.com/news-story/6743155-hidden-valley-developer-buys-a-little-more-time/
I have appealed to GREN to get intouch with these folks but I don't know if that has taken place. My concerns are impacts to area sensitive birds and several confirmed endangered species found in this area as well as encroachment, traffic and road salt issues. Either way, if ever there were a time to stand up and demonstrate or speak out on the need to protect and preserve Hidden Valley now is the time to do it.
Jigg's Hallow an issue againPreston Graven wants to dig below the water table at Jigg's Hallow and filed an EBR application to do so. Details here; http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTI5OTc3&statusId=MTk2ODk3&language=en
Concerns for destruction of topsoils, risks to area well systems. Quick refresh on the issue here; http://observerxtra.com/2014/06/27/water-table-concerns-delay-work-at-jigs-hollow-gravel-pit/
Line 10 hearing. I've been informed by the National Energy Board that the Enbridge Line 10 NEB hearing is planned to begin in Hamilton on Oct. 18 2016 at 1pm at the Crown Plaza Hotel Hamilton Ont. Folks are welcome to attend the event. 
Electorial Reform September 14th, 2016 there will be a Federal Electoral Reform Community Dialog tour with Minister of Democratic Institutions Maryam Monsef, 7pm to 9pm, Stanley Park Community Centre, 505 Franklin St. N, Kitchener-Waterloo, ON. Purpose of the evening is to raise awareness of electoral reform and provide an opportunity for you to engage in discussion with others about the future of Canada’s democracy. Format similar to the recent climate talks at Kitchener City Hall.  

Deputy Environmental Commissioner and Gravel WatchConcerned citizens are invited to attend a public meeting hosted by Gravel Watch featuring Deputy Environmental Commissioner Ellen Schwartzel who will speak on the environmental risks of gravel pits. The meeting takes place Sept. 13th at 8pm at the Puslinch Community Centre in Ayberfoyle. Doors open at 6pm. 

Provincial News
Conservation Act is being updated. Great website about that here. Ideas for consideration include integrated watershed management with revision of the mandate. If you want fish you can eat, water you can swim in and water to drink, it's a good idea to speak up!   http://conservationontario.ca/about-us/conservation-authorities/conservation-authorities-act-review
National News 
Tar Sand Prices The 2016 average price for Alberta's WCS is $26.76 per barrel and production is down 12.6% Source: Alberta Government. http://economicdashboard.alberta.ca/OilPrice
SNC lavalin guilty of election fraud
http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/snc-lavalin-violated-elections-act-with-contributions-to-liberals-tories-1.3063412#_gus&_gucid=&_gup=twitter&_gsc=qB6Exwk 
Just to let you know SNC Lavalin is the engineering firm involved with Site C, with Ontario's Nuclear Plants and the proposed Deep Geological Nuclear Repository. They stand to benefit from the privitization of Ontario Hydro and they are linked with Enbridge through purchases of Noverco and with TransCanada at Bruce Nuclear Plant. They also own or are connected with 115 blacklisted companies at the World Bank. http://business.financialpost.com/executive/canada-now-dominates-world-bank-corruption-list-thanks-to-snc-lavalin
New report states the end of oil will happen sooner than later, within 10-15 years. 
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/canada-super-power-oil-decline-renewables-policy-horizons-1.3601400
To view the actual report visit here:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4xwsmIvvlMCaDZLTDBLWXlJYTQ/view
Maude Barlow and joining forces with David Suzuki to explose Canada''s Water Crisis. They'll be hosting an event out in BC and it's linked to Maude's new book titled Boiling Point which speaks of Government neglect and corporate abuse and Canada's water crisis.  Details here: http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/join-maude-barlow-and-david-suzuki-for-a-discussion-of-canadas-water-crisis-tickets-27415120363?aff=estw

Saltspring Island BC is home to Canada's First Zero Waste Grocery Store: http://globalnews.ca/news/2922217/salt-spring-island-home-to-canadas-first-permanent-zero-waste-grocery-store/
World News:
Methane leaking in the Arctic makes lakes flammable. It is not fracking related, it is just that the natural gas bubbles are thawing out. Check out the amazing video and if you want to icefish here, Don't smoke!  http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/08/bubbling-lakes-methane-seeps-alaska/
Enbridge withdraws from Sandpiper Pipeline and says they will try again in 5 years.http://www.kfyrtv.com/content/news/Enbridge-announces-withdrawl-of-applications-for-Sandpiper-Pipeline-in-ND-MN-392100871.html
Dakota Access Pipeline Issue. Great video summery here by NBC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwsCuG1kSRk. In a nutshell, these pipes put primary water supplies at risk. They cross sacred burial sites and violate law. A court process is already underway.Direction Action is happening where folks lock themselves to equipment. The Dakota released the location of their sacred burial site via court submission and one hour later work crews went 20 miles out of their way to destroy these same sites. When people began to protest the security guards hired by the pipeline firms including Enbridge, attacked protesters with dogs. Among the injured was a little girl and a pregnant woman who was bitten on the shoulder by a dog. The video footage is here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuZcx2zEo4k  The police are investigating. Charges will be laid. The dog attacks resulted in a restraining order request that was supported by the US Army Corp and the court.  Over 100 Tribes are united at the site currently with more coming daily.US Cities are releasing declarations of support like Minneapolis and St. Paul's MinnesotaRobert Kennedy and Waterkeepers 93 international groups stand in solidarity. http://www.ecowatch.com/sioux-nation-dakota-access-pipeline-1993302313.htmlCelebrates and musicians are showing support but the US mainstream media is not reporting this story. . Chippewas of the Thames released declaration of support and there is Totem Pole created by the Coastal Salish peoples of the Lummi Nation in Washington State. It was gifted to Treaty 1 people in Manitoba who are opposed to further fossil fuel development so to show solidarity to the issue they are sending it to the Dakota Site. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-pipeline-protest-sacred-totem-pole-1.3749064
The North Dakota Governor called in the National Guard in anticipation of an upcoming court ruling regarding this case. To help prevent the National Guard from harming protesters at Standing Rock, please call the White House tomorrow (Fri. Sat. 8th) The public comment line (202-456-1111) is manned by volunteers recruited by the current administration. The White House switchboard (202-456-1414) is manned by professional White House operators.At the heart of the issue is the The Fort Larame Treaty 1851 which made it to the UN and is listed among International treaties and agreements.The US went bankrupt in 1933 and they illegally reformed congress without a writ from the beneficiaries of the land. They formed a Federal corporation of the United States. The United States is not a country and a Chartered corporation has no say in Treaty Agreements. In theory they could be sued for $630 Billion and must pay in Gold or Silver, and all Embassy or Corporation can be seized according according to the policies. It would be prudent if the US stops the pipe and simply learns to work with the folks who actually own that land.  All we want is an end to these new oil pipes and for the water and sacred lands to be protected. 
Trillion needed for new US water pipes.
Some date back to the age of the Civil War but water pipes in the US are in need of replacement.  1 Trillion over two decades is the cost. http://www.circleofblue.org/2016/world/infographic-the-age-of-u-s-drinking-water-pipes-from-civil-war-era-to-today/

Currently, Global Oil subsidies are 4 times more than that for Green Energy. http://www.boomerwarrior.org/2016/08/where-are-canadian-fossil-fuel-subsidies-coming-from-and-going-to/

International Investor Group pushing nations to ratify Paris Accord Quickly to bump up Green Energy swiftly. https://cleantechnica.com/2016/08/29/international-investor-group-pushes-g20-nations-ratify-paris-climate-agreement-improve-renewable-energy-investment/

Both US and China ratified the Paris Accordhttp://www.cbc.ca/news/world/china-us-sign-paris-climate-accord-1.3747442


More than Half of Asia's groundwater is to high in Arcenic for human consumption.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/30/more-than-half-of-south-asias-groundwater-too-contaminated-to-use-study?CMP=share_btn_tw
The story blames man made causes including inefficient farmland irrigation and poor drainage. but there are many studies that already flagged the fact that NGOs caused the problem because they assumed groundwater was safer than surface water and dug wells without consideration to the fact these lands naturally contain high levels of Arsenic and when they dug the wells they didn't test for it. In fact to this day, they still don't do preliminary testing for Arsenic in wells in Canada or the US. It is believed that at LEAST 20% of wells in the US are not fit for human consumption due to Arsenic. Assuming groundwater is safer than surface water isn't always the right approach.
Quick Sign Petitions: 
Help support the Ontario Environmental Bill of Rights: http://action2.davidsuzuki.org/ontario-ebr-review?utm_campaign=blueDot-ontarioEbrReview-en-8sept2016&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=tweet-link

Have a good one everybody! 
Lulu :0)



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