[All] Gren News update Oct. 21

[Lanteigne]

GREN NEWS
If you haven't done so already, VOTE!  
With that said, on with the news. 

LOCAL NEWS
Climate Emergency Motions passedClimate emergency motions in Waterloo Region took place in Wilmot, Wellesley and at Waterloo Region and all have passed. Here is coverage on the Regional declaration. https://www.therecord.com/news-story/9639714-waterloo-region-declares-climate-emergency/


Fantastic turn out at Climate StrikeCTV news reports 4000-4500 people attended the Climate Strike in Waterloo Square, part of the global climate strike day of action. Here is are two videos of this beautiful event. 
This video is from Climate Strike WR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp86L2RxCXU&feature=youtu.b
This video by WR Record https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OKqlVokccM&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR1ef1plB2oCw0509pnJADTqeB_gXbrrqZxC75ClTnEfIiHb1bt02NKoi_0
Over 4 million people globally participated with the Climate Strike globally. 
https://350.org/press-release/over-4-million-people-strike-for-climate-action/

Kitchener Mayor Vrbanovic askes to keep Municipalities in Mind when you voteHighlights of article: 
He says despite cities being responsible for "about 60 per cent of the country's infrastructure", municipalities only collect about 10 cents from every tax dollar collected. He says the "model is not sustainable" for much of the work municipalities have on their plates.
"For so much of what we're doing, we're really looking for predictable funding, and that's where the gas tax has been beneficial. I mean, locally, between the region and the seven municipalities, we've received about a 160 million dollars over the last four years in gas tax infrastructure money."
Mayor Vrbanovic says the Federation of Canadian Municipalities FCM are asking for the permanent doubling of the gas tax fund, a permanent public transit fund, more affordable housing for supportive & Indigenous & funds for climate change initiatives. Full article here: 
https://www.kitchenertoday.com/local-news/kitchener-mayor-urges-voters-to-consider-municipal-issues-1756092

Conestoga Mall has art that makes you thinkArtist Paul Chartrand has assembled a greenhouse filled with saplings to replace his entire life's carbon emissions. This project is now on display at Conestoga Mall in the hall of the main entrance. To see how many trees it takes for just one person is fascinating. On one hand you look and think: I could do this. On the other hand you look and are blown away by the idea of just how many trees it would take for everyone in a community to have their carbon footprint negated. Very interesting art piece! 

Have an Ethical HalloweenThe folks at the Toronto Zoo are encouraging consumers to purchase Halloween Treats that use sustainable Palm Oil. The good ones include chocolate bars by Mars or Hersey's, Lays chips but try to avoid products made by Nestle who produces Kit Kat, Aero, Smarties etc. The complete list is online at CBC here: https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/what-on-earth-newsletter-halloween-candy-sustainable-1.5324915

PROVINCIAL NEWS
Aamjiwnaang land protectors create an App to help stop PollutionVanessa and Beze Gray who have run the "Toxic Tour" in Sarnia, have helped create a new app with U of Toronto to help people report incidents of pollution. Toronto Star coverage is here: https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2019/10/19/u-of-t-indigenous-led-lab-creates-new-app-for-reporting-air-pollution-in-chemical-valley.html?fbclid=IwAR2UgsgUDGtCTQBPy7egwGcV2xXG6rxvOxVAV_NxqgJrlxuVCaqbc6SFxlQ
Here is the website to learn more about the Pollution Reporter App https://www.landandrefinery.org/chemical-responsibilities-app


Aamjiwnaang Land gIven backShell Canada is transferring 28 hectares of land to the Aamjiwnaang. The parcel was owned by one of the largest natural gas producers but has only been leased for farming not oil production. The land is mainly open field and Chief Plain states it will most likely be used for housing. Full story here: https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5307582?__twitter_impression=true

FEDERAL NEWS
ICORE and Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) Mismanagement & Culture of FearThree different investigative reports find fiscal mismanagement, lack of protocols & unreasonable spending by ICORE, a branch of the Alberta Energy Regulator. (AER). 
Report by the Alberta Ethics Commissioner re: Jim Ellis. First page speaks on how the report was not made public because the Ethics Commissioner had "no jurisdictional power" to do so. https://open.alberta.ca/publications/report-of-ethics-commissioner-into-allegations-involving-jim-ellis
Here is the report by the Office of the Auditor General after receiving a complaint alleging a number of serious concerns with activities related to the International Centre of Regulatory Excellence (ICORE) at the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER). https://www.oag.ab.ca/reports/aer_icore-oct_2019/
Here is the report by Albert's Public Interest Commissioner regarding AER and ICORE related activities that identified conflict of interest and gross mismanagement of public funds.https://yourvoiceprotected.ca/independent-investigations-into-icore-related-activities-at-aer-find-conflict-of-interest-gross-mismanagement-of-public-funds-and-critical-oversight-failures/
Also this news report by CBC flags a culture of fear at the AER. https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/alberta-regulator-whistleblower-1.5312463

Greta Thunberg in Edmonton. Thousands turned out to support her. The video of her speech is online here: https://globalnews.ca/video/6051546/greta-thunberg-delivers-speech-at-alberta-legislature-in-edmonton


Greta Thunberg parody videoThis has totally gone viral. It's an online video called the Greta Thunberg Helpline: for adults angry at a child. It's so funny that Greta Thunberg herself, has endorsed it on Twitter. Highly recommended video & lots of fun. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl99R6FM5s8

US & INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Bank of England Governor Mark Carney states firms ignoring the Climate Crisis will go bankrupt. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/13/firms-ignoring-climate-crisis-bankrupt-mark-carney-bank-england-governor
"Coal King" CEO and Trump Supporter races to avoid going bankruptMurray Energy, America's largest private coal miner, recently failed to make payments to lenders. Power Sector demand for coal is projected to drop in 2020 to the lowest level since 1978.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/11/business/coal-murray-energy-bankruptcy/index.html

PG & E California update: Leading by bad example? 
As gas line infrastructure ages throughout North America, we could see repeating issues of the strategies currently being used currently by California's PG & E. Here is an overview of how this issue is currently unfolding and it's pretty disgusting in my view, because it appears to be a prototype of how much bad behavior the industry can get away with and there are enormous externalized cost risks to municipalities and communities who will take the hit hard if they continue to go without predictable power or proper settlement agreements. 
After gas lines ruptured causing fires in California, PG & E secured $34 billion in debt financing to help it exit bankruptcy. https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/PG-E-says-it-got-34-billion-in-debt-financing-to-14535952.php?utm_campaign=CMS%20Sharing%20Tools%20(Mobile)&utm_source=t.co&utm_medium=referral
Millions of Californians lost power because PG&E refused to spend money to fix it's problems. 
https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/a35y38/millions-of-californians-lost-power-because-pgande-refused-to-spend-money-to-fix-its-problems
PG&E’s execs were wining and dining their top natural gas customers at a lavish retreat in wine country earlier in the week.
https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/9kezje/the-company-thats-caused-california-wildfires-is-cutting-off-power-to-2-million-people-to-avoid-another-one
Currently three men determine if the power at PG & G gets turned off or not. https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/pge-power-shutoff-decision-who-makes-14548308.php
The CEO of Pacific Gas & Electric Corp. told California energy regulators that the state will likely see blackouts for another 10 years like the one imposed last week that left as many as 800,000 customers without power.
https://www.npr.org/2019/10/18/771486828/california-can-expect-blackouts-for-a-decade-says-pg-e-ceo
As many as two-thirds of an estimated 100,000 people hit by devastating wildfires in recent years may miss out on what could be substantial payments from PG&E to help cover their losses. Most people eligible for payouts haven’t yet filled out a three-page document that could provide financial help.https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/10180031-181/pge-has-billions-to-pay


.....So those are the "tricks" of PG & E, now time for some trivia "treats." 
FUN FACTS
Bye bye powerlines! In Australia long electrical power lines are coming down for good and being replaced with renewable micro-grids in remote communities. https://reneweconomy.com.au/horizon-first-utility-to-pull-down-power-lines-and-replace-with-renewable-micro-grids-71053/
Want to store carbon? Save a whale! Whales accumulate carbon in their bodies during their long lives of up to 200 years. Each great whale sequesters around 33 tonnes of carbon dioxide on average. A tree during the same period, only contributes to 3% of the carbon absorption of the whale. https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/protecting-whales-protect-planet
I don't know about you but the whale thing is giving me serious flashbacks of the first Star Trek IV movie where they have to go back in time and save a humpback whale to save the planet. Read the slogan on the movie poster in the attachments. It says: The key to protecting the future can only be found in the past. 
Happy Election and Happy Halloween! 
Lulu :0) 
























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