[All] Gren News

[Lanteigne]

Lots happening! Here's the latest
Local
GRCA issued flood warnings and flood watches along the Grand River https://www.grandriver.ca/Modules/News/index.aspx?feedId=8bfd23ca-a370-4d18-8c54-756c42dc2ef5,904ab3f7-8a88-4c4d-bd80-2623495a803c,dcd825b1-4283-4cf8-9c65-a1f409f5b279,c938d174-d44c-41b2-9a5d-396a3778734d,a17f3e27-d1c5-4eb2-bbf5-13169aac6e73,274b1f35-23ed-4dcc-b505-550811ea01b0&newsId=e40af27f-876c-40d6-9d62-da8b3567cb2d
Walton International is now in Creditor Protection. http://business.financialpost.com/news/fp-street/calgarys-walton-group-leading-land-developer-files-under-ccaa
Back in 2012, Walton International Group  (linked to investors from Singapore) had already purchased 4,400 acres of prime farmland for unknown reasons in the Brant and Brantford area. http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2012/05/24/residents-voice-their-concerns-over-walton-plan
The Watershed Sentinel suggested it was a water grab. They issued many warnings about Land Banking schemes in Canada and the lack of safeguards it poses. 
http://www.watershedsentinel.ca/content/land-grabs-canadian-connection#sthash.HWxSP5Ge.dpuf(Makes me wonder if this is a sign of early success with Greenbelt Expansion areas? )

Imperial Oil in Sarnia experienced a "Hydrocarbon" release on Monday May 1st. 
http://blackburnnews.com/sarnia/sarnia-news/2017/05/01/reported-vapour-release-imperial/

Provincial
This is an excellent article by Global News with a very comprehensive overviews on flood risks in Ontario, flood insurance and how urban areas are more prone to flood risks than rural communities. http://globalnews.ca/news/3425571/flood-insurance-canada/
Currently the flood risk extends across 4 provinces — Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/flood-quebec-ontario-1.4098915


Federal
Cleaning Oil Spills with on site critters: A Thunder Bay based biotech firm sends folks out in the field, to conduct microbial profile a contaminated oil spill sites to select what bacteria naturally exist. They test it to see how effective it is against either hydrocarbons or mine tailings and from there, they customize a program in the lab to bump up the beneficial microbes. https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/regional-news/thunder-bay/using-microbes-to-clean-up-oil-spills-605851
A report is underway that maps flood risk areas and couples it with insurance models to create new policy responses that will address the growing challenges associated with Climate Change. This  model will be adapted into planning and policy to help reduce risks to people. Canadian Water Network will release the findings of this report later this summer but here is an overview of the project. http://www.cwn-rce.ca/project-library/project/using-a-coupled-hydrologic-insurance-model-to-examine-flood-policy-responses-in-an-era-of-climate-change?u=keyword%3Dthistlethwaite
First Nations across B.C. facing roadblocks in renewable energy industry because they lack access to BC Hydro programs (which are under provincial jurisdiction: doesn't apply on Federal lands) and Site C is killing prospects for smaller localized energy investments.It is dominating the market place. http://www.cknw.com/2017/05/02/first-nations-across-b-c-facing-roadblocks-in-renewable-energy-industry-survey/#.WQrCjt9boJM.twitter
The Liberal government is suspending the few remaining political activity audits of charities after an expert panel report recommended removing a political gag order imposed on them by the Conservatives five years ago. 
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-revenue-agency-political-activity-diane-lebouthillier-audits-panel-report-suspension-1.4099184

Eastern Quebec averages about 450 quakes each year, with Quebec likely to experience a major quake in the future. As a result the Insurance Bureau of Canada is sending a mobile "Quake Cottage" to various communities to bring them up to speed on how to prepare. http://www.canadianunderwriter.ca/insurance/mobile-earthquake-simulator-visit-quebec-may-june-1004112855/
Tory Candidate Lisa Raitt running on a platform to use Canada's controversial notwithstanding clause to get the Energy East pipeline approved.http://www.nationalobserver.com/2017/05/04/news/pm-tory-candidate-lisa-raitt-would-ram-pipeline-approval-past-quebec
Alberta debt forecast to hit $71.1 billion by 2019-20, withdebt-to-GDP ratio of 19.5%.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/joe-ceci-credit-rating-alberta-1.4094483

Alberta's borrowing binge is based upon oil prices averaging $55 a barrel. 
http://calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/nelson-albertas-growing-debt-deserves-a-serious-look

Alberta's Fossil Fuel industry under reported methane emissions by an amount equal to 9 million cars on the road. http://www.pembina.org/blog/methane-leaks-alberta-new-data-reveals-troubling-reality
The Union of Quebec Municipalities (UMQ) passed a declaration recognizing the right of all Quebecois to live in a healthy environment. Hasn't made the news yet but it was relayed on Twitter by the David Suzuki Foundation. 
$230 Million in Federal funding will help to improve drinking water, wastewater treatment in Nunavut, improve waste management and recycling.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/230-million-funding-nunavut-drinking-water-infrastructure-1.4098112
International
IAEA states Nuclear Power needs annual investment of 80 Billion each year to reach Climate Change goals.http://www.reuters.com/article/us-iaea-nuclear-idUSKBN17U07O?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews

As of May 1, 2017 North Dakota had 745 fossil fuel spills over the last year. That translates to one every 11 hours and 45 minutes.
http://www.ecowatch.com/north-dakota-pipeline-spills-2390920788.html

This alarming map illustrates the current redistribution of salt associated with ice melt. Salt is moving from Britain to Japan in just 20 days. http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/arctic-sea-ice-melting-shipping-routes-china-japan-europe-north-america-a7718201.html
India aims to become 100% EV nation by 2030 Provide EVs on zero down payment from fossil fuel savings
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/auto/news/industry/india-aims-to-become-100-e-vehicle-nation-by-2030-piyush-goyal/articleshow/51551706.cms

U.S. Oil demand from passenger road transportation to drop 90% By 2030https://www.rethinkx.com/transportation?utm_content=buffer8420e&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Climate Change is unthawing harmful health risks such as anthrax.http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20170504-there-are-diseases-hidden-in-ice-and-they-are-waking-up?ocid=ww.social.link.twitter
China is about to get it's first "Vertical Forest." They have a neat visual of this. It's an apartment building covered with trees. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/05/china-is-about-to-get-its-first-vertical-forest?utm_content=buffer318e3&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Environmentalists are flooding the courts with lawsuits to stop Trump's agenda. http://dailycaller.com/2017/05/04/environmentalists-flood-the-courts-with-lawsuits-to-stop-trumps-agenda/
Lead investigator states evidence suggests Trump will be impeached based on the Russian links. http://www.esquire.co.uk/culture/news/a14689/trump-impeached-senator-russia-investigation/

Take Action
Protect Woodland Caribou in Ontario https://secure.nrdconline.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=4247&s_src=TWOCANDPETSOC0517TKEM
Have a good one! 
Lulu :0)

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20170506/e5d01115/attachment.html>