<html><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><div><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 8px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 12px; "><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "><span>Here's the scoop on international, provincial and local news on this lovely Valentines Day. </span></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "><span><br></span></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "><span>International News</span></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "><b><br></b></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "><b>Keystone Pipeline Update</b></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; ">On
Monday US republicans prepaired a bill to overthrow President Obama's decision regarding the delay of the Keystone XL Pipeline. If passed this bill would give the project the green light. Within 24 hours, groups including 350.org, Nature Canada, Ecojustice and NRDC rounded up a total of 802,180 signatures in a 24 hour period. It was an outstanding response. It's still not to late to sign on. The petition is open to Canadians as well. Here is the link to show support: <a href="http://act.350.org/call/kxl-senators">http://act.350.org/call/kxl-senators</a></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "><br></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "><br></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif"><strong style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;
border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 24px; ">Environment Canada cuts threaten science, international agreements</strong><br></font></div><div><strong style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);
line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif">Recent cuts to the scientific workforce of Environment Canada, a government agency responsible for meteorological services and environmental research, threaten scientific research related to the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere and pollution in the lower atmosphere, according to environmental scientists in the U.S. These reductions in personnel and projected budget cuts also threaten existing international agreements. Details here: </font></span></strong></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif"><a href="http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/02/13/oh-canada/">http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/02/13/oh-canada/</a></font><br></div><div><br></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "><br></div><div
style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; ">PROVINCIAL NEWS</div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "><br></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; ">Wind Power is generating more energy than planned. </div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; ">Wind Power is being blamed for an excess of surplus electric energy in Ontario. There was so much energy produced, the Provincial Gov't had to pay the US to take it for us. The output was so high that steam had to be released in Pickering Nuclear Plants to prevent the turbines from adding more to the grid. Tory critics state we need to cut wind power due to it's unpredictable supply issues but NDP states with this energy surplus, the need to expand Ontario's nuclear capacity simply is no longer there. View the story on CTV news here: </div><div style="font-family: 'times new
roman', 'new york', times, serif; "><a href="http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20120210/ontario-surplus-power-bliss-120210/20120210/?hub=TorontoNewHome">http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20120210/ontario-surplus-power-bliss-120210/20120210/?hub=TorontoNewHome</a><br></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "><br></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif">NOTE: Wind power is successfully being stored by way of flywheel technology in California and it is being converted to hydrogen gas in Germany. The energy can be stored in air compressors on the ground or below the water. I've relayed the info on these various strategies to the energy minister as well as opposition energy critics so we can improve on storage and supply management strategies. </font></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;
"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; ">LOCAL NEWS</div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "><br></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "><b>Line 9 Reversal update</b></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; ">If anyone/any group want to speak at the upcoming hearings regarding the reversal of Line 9, the oil pipeline that is going to be sending tar sands oil from Sarnia to Montreal through Waterloo Region, the final deadline to register to speak is on February 17th. The initial approval of the pipe predated source water protection acts, endangered species acts, the Great Lakes agreements, climate change scenerios etc. To view info on this project or to sign up as intervenor (to speak at the hearing) visit this link: <a
href="https://www.neb-one.gc.ca/ll-eng/livelink.exe?func=ll&objId=706437&objAction=browse&sort=-name&redirect=3">https://www.neb-one.gc.ca/ll-eng/livelink.exe?func=ll&objId=706437&objAction=browse&sort=-name&redirect=3</a></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; ">Intervenor funding is available but the deadline for registration to request funding is also on Feb 17th. The hearings won't take place until Fall 2012. </div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "><br></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "><b>Results of Grand River Survey</b></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; ">In November citizens were asked to complete a public survey with the GRCA to share thoughts about the efforts to update a Water Management Plan for the Grand River Watershed. I have a copy of the
emailed results if folks would like to review. If you are interested, just drop me an email at butterflybluelu@rogers.com and I'll be happy to relay the findings.</div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "><b><br></b></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "><b>Cooperate for Canada: Thursday Feb. 16, 7pm at the Waterloo Inn</b></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif" size="3">This event is designed to exploring why and how the parties should work together to form a government that reflects a shared </font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif">vision</font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif" size="3"> of the majority with a commitment to immediacies action on proportional representation. </font></div><div><font
class="Apple-style-span" face="'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif" size="3">This Waterloo event is a 1st in Canada. Citizens are encourage to come and discussion a possible coalition gov't. Featured speakers include:</font></div><div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); "><font face="'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif"><font color="#c5000b"><b>Liberal</b></font><font color="#c5000b">:</font><font> </font>John Deverell, Policy Director of the Pickering-Scarborough East federal Liberal Association</font><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><font face="'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif"><font color="#ff420e"><b>NDP:</b></font> Jamie Heath, Nathan Cullen Campaign Manager, former Research and Communications Director to Jack Layton,</font></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><font face="'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif"><font color="#5c8526"><font><b>Green:</b></font></font><font
color="#5c8526">:</font> Katherine Acheson, Campaign Manager for Elizabeth May</font></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif"><big><b><font color="#000099">LEADNOW:</font></b></big><b><font color="#000099"> </font></b> Matthew Carroll, Director of the Leadnow Campaign "Cooperate for Canada"</font></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><small><font face="'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif" size="3"><small>Speakers to be followed by Q+A and town hall style discussion</small></font></small></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><font face="'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif">Free event, no registration, everyone welcome. More info: <a rel="nofollow" style="color: rgb(35, 71, 134); outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial;
">lanickerson@b2b2c.ca</a></font></div></div></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "><b><br></b></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "><b>New Video and Quick Sign Letter to stop GM crops</b></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; ">CBAN in Guelph has released a new video regarding GM Alfalfa and how Genetically modified crops can easily be spread by way of bees. The video that can be viewed online here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlbtIEVF77Q&context=C383a5d6ADOEgsToPDskLqMXdLgQDBu5FNEPcMBWBW" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlbtIEVF77Q&context=C383a5d6ADOEgsToPDskLqMXdLgQDBu5FNEPcMBWBW</a></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">To take action to stop the us of GM Alfalfa crops, sign this quick sign
letter to the Minister of Agriculture here: </font><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.cban.ca/alfalfaaction1" style="color: rgb(35, 71, 134); outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">http://www.cban.ca/alfalfaaction1</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "> </span></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><br></span></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">That's it for now. Happy Valentines day! </span></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "><span
class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><br></span></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">Lulu </span></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><br></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><br></div></div></div></div></body></html>