[All] Gren News Sept. 2018

[Lanteigne]

Hi folks
Lots happening!
LOCAL NEWS
Hurricane Florence & Grand River Watershed Flood Risks
Previously the strongest storm to hit the Carolinas was Hurricane Hazel in 1954. Should we be worried this time round? Perhaps! Waterloo could get hit by this storm system with the main damages being flooding so be sure to keep track of this storm system. Hurricane Hazel resulted in the formation of Ontario's first Conservation authority, the GRCA and it also resulted in a series of flood controls including dams like the Shand Dam in Guelph to help mitigate flood risks. 
Other risks involving this storm are the numerous nuclear plants along the US East Coast. Here is an old article from 2014 speaking on how designs built in the 1970's lacked regard for a melting arctic and rising sea levels. This same logic could also apply to Pickering and Darlington as well. https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/05/19/maps-rising-seas-storms-threaten-flood-coastal-nuclear-power-plants_n_5233306.html
Locally speaking the area with the greatest risk of flooding is New Hamburg because the Nith river lacks flood controls. They are still dealing with the overwhelming costs of floods that occurred in February this year. A group of citizens in New Hamburg are fed up and are now trying to make this an election issue. Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) will spend about $180,000 over 10 months studying the problem, mapping flood-prone areas in New Hamburg and determining what can be done.
https://www.newhamburgindependent.ca/news-story/8877460-new-hamburg-residents-fed-up-with-flooding/
In Toronto one fella is trying to divert flooding by bringing rivers back: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/how-to-keep-torontos-from-flooding-bring-the-rivers-back/article13325650/
Another Toronto based project is diverting water to a sewer pipe specifically designed to act as a storm water overflow system. 
Here is an article speaking of the risks of rising shorelines to Nuclear power Plants. Considering that Florence is heading to several of them shows the need for more discussions on risks like this even for plants along Lake Ontario. https://www.hakaimagazine.com/features/are-coastal-nuclear-power-plants-ready-for-sea-level-rise/
Climate Emergency can be a tool of changeAt the Rise Up Waterloo Region event, organizer Kai Reimer spoke of how LA and other communities are successfully implementing a state of climate emergency declaration to bump up climate adaptation planning and implementation to a 10 year window while securing the funds to make it happen. For more info visit:  http://climateemergencydeclaration.org/
By the way: Rise for Climate in Waterloo Ontario had Waterloo Mayor Jaworski, Kitchener Mayor Vrbanovic, MPP Laura Mae Lindo, MPs Raj Saini MP Bardish Chaggar as well as KW Greenparty's Bob Jonkman, Chief Myeengun Henry of Chippewas of the Thames & our area CUPE rep. Great to see the support for Climate Action and Jobs is supported by so many. 


PROVINCIAL/NATIONAL NEWS

Glysophates found in 80% of the products tested by Environmental Defence
Environmental Defence did a study and found Glysophate pesticides aka Round Up chemicals in cereals like Cheerios, Tim Horton's Timbits, Hummus, Catelli Multigrain Spaghetti and many other products. It is so widespread. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency found it it more than 30% of food products tested and in come cases above Health Canada's "safe" limits of contamination.  (I've included a petition at the bottom of this email which calls for an end to this.) View article here: https://environmentaldefence.ca/2018/09/09/glyphosate-pesticide-food-canadians/

Sudden Spike in Lake Ontario TempsScientists are worried about the rising temperatures of Lake Ontario. (One can't cool a power plant with warm water)https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/lakes-ontario-hot-1.4817127

Cap and Trade Court Case in OntarioGreenpeace and Ecojustice are suing the Doug Ford government over the cancellation of cap and trade because it violated the Environmental Bill of Rights. There was no public dialogue prior to the decision to scrap it. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/greenpeace-suing-ontario-government-over-cancellation-of-cap-and-trade-program-1.4819250Economist Robyn Allen Blows the Whistle on TransMountain Fiscal Info"The NEB under-represented material information on the Project’s capital cost and existing tanker traffic, made incorrect claims regarding contracts between Trans Mountain and the shippers, adjusted the definition of the Project from that which was relied upon during the review, and made an erroneous representation of oil producer evidence."View here submission on the NEB website here. : https://apps.neb-one.gc.ca/REGDOCS/Item/Filing/A93939 
INTERNATIONAL NEWSFossil fuel dependence poses 'direct existential threat', warns UN chief
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/sep/11/fossil-fuel-dependence-poses-direct-existential-threat-warns-un-chief?CMP=twt_a-environment_b-gdnecoGiving Investors a choice to divestDemocrat Sen. Jeff Merkley, an Oregon introduced the Retirement Investments for a Sustainable Economy (RISE) Act, new fossil fuel divestment legislation to allow employees to divest fossil fuels from pension funds.https://www.ktvz.com/news/merkley-intros-fossil-fuel-divestment-legislation/791901456Colleges and Universities go GreenOver 600 colleges and universities signed the American College and University President's Climate Commitment. Schools are expanding research in environmental studies, sustainability science and climate resilience, and investing in "greening" campuses. https://www.ecowatch.com/fossil-fuels-divestment-colleges-universities-2602861631.html
Greenroofs can help the poor survive
Green roofs will play a key role in making summer heat waves less uncomfortable—and less lethal—for the urban poor, according to a new study in the journal Environmental Research Letters because it ads greenspaces to help curb urban heat island impacts.  
http://www.theenergymix.com/2018/09/11/green-roofs-can-help-urban-poor-survive-heat-waves/Divestment ContinuesInvestors with $6.2tn in assets under management have committed to divest from fossil fuels, up from $5.2tn in the previous report in 2016.https://amp.theguardian.com/environment/2018/sep/10/fossil-fuel-divestment-funds-rise-to-6tn?CMP=share_btn_tw&__twitter_impression=true
France becomes the first country to ban Neonicotinoid PesticidesFrance voted to outlaw the use of three neonicotinoids - clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam - in crop fields starting on December 19 2018. 
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/08/31/france-first-ban-five-pesticides-killing-bees/
Big Savings with Big Electric TrucksElectric trucks could save Europe 11 billion barrels of oil through 2050: That's two full years worth of imports! https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-05/electric-trucks-could-save-europe-11-billion-barrels-of-oil?cmpid=socialflow-twitter-business&utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_content=business

Municipal leaders call for DivestmentNew York and London mayors, we call on all cities to divest from fossil fuels says Bill de Blasio and Sadiq Khan.https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/sep/10/london-new-york-cities-divest-fossil-fuels-bill-de-blasio-sadiq-khanThe world's largest Ocean Cleanup is underway The boom is just as massive as the ambition of this project. The mega boom is heading to the Great Pacific garbage patch. It will act as a floating shoreline from where plastic can be gathered and recycled. The system used waves, winds and currents to concentrate the plastics to a central point for gathering and recycling. This is the first of 60 systems anticipated to clean up 50% of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch every 5 years. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/great-pacific-garbage-patch-ocean-cleanup-system-001-launch-amount-plastic-sea-pollution-a8528836.html

QUICK SIGN PETITIONS
Glyphosate does not belong in our children's food. Tell Canada to strengthen our laws to protect us from harmful pesticides. https://act.environmentaldefence.ca/page/30043/action/1
Canadian Natural Resources Limited has 15,000 decaying wells in Alberta. Sign here to get them to clean up their own mess. https://take.theleap.org/page/29740/subscribe/1?en_chan=tw&locale=en-US&ea.tracking.id=Twittershare&en_ref=149529589
Send a message to every minister in Ford's cabinet demanding they stand up for our Charter rights. https://act.leadnow.ca/charter/
Have a good one everybody! Lulu :0) 









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