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[michael matthys]

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In This Issue: ·       The Brief ·       Renewable Energy ·       Tar Sands ·       Nuclear Power ·       Climate Change ·       Government & Politics ·       Water ·       Fracking ·       Blogs     Connect With Us:   Subscribe to our E-Sierran Emails by clicking here	The Brief Greetings Sierrans! Apologies for the late delivery of this edition of the E-Sierran. The last few months have been busy for the Prairie Chapter. Our Executive Director Sheila Muxlow is returning to school in the fall and has stepped down from her position. Sheila’s dedication, passion, and positivity will be sorely missed. Sheila is continuing to work with the chapter in a volunteer capacity. We wish her the best in her studies and future endeavours! The Executive Committee is proceeding with the hiring of a new director. Notable updates from the last few weeks include Sierra Club Ontario weighing into the debate on wind energy in that province with a report on wind energy and its effects on health. The report can be downloaded from here. And the media coverage can be read here.   This article talks about some of the shortcomings of the Province’s draft plan for the Lower Athabasca. You can also read about the misinformation about the levels of carcinogens in the Athabasca river posted on the Alberta Environment website here. Further updates below.   Renewable Energy Science doesn’t back ‘campaign of fear’ on wind power, Sierra Club argues OTTAWA — Sierra Club Canada has waded into the increasingly heated debate over wind power in Ontario with a report that draws on scientific literature to counter a “campaign of fear” from wind opponents. The report, titled The Real Truth About Wind Energy, concludes there’s “no evidence of significant health effects” from wind power. “A link between well-sited wind turbines and health concerns is unfounded,” it flatly declares. Time to confront the anti-wind fear campaign OTTAWA - Sierra Club Canada's report The Real Truth About Wind Energy is available again on the Club's website. The report brings together the best science on the alleged health impacts of wind turbines. A notice of legal action caused it to be temporarily removed after 1700 downloads. "People want to know the truth. We will not be deterred from speaking out by bullying, intimidation or attacks on our reputation," said John Bennett, Executive Director of Sierra Club Canada. Renewable energy can power the world, says landmark IPCC study Renewable energy could account for almost 80% of the world's energy supply within four decades - but only if governments pursue the policies needed to promote green power, according to a landmark report published on Monday. Tar Sands Prominent scientists call on Alberta Environment Minister to correct misinformation 16 June 2011 (Edmonton) — Two prominent scientists are calling on Alberta’s Environment Minister Rob Renner to correct the misinformation about the levels of carcinogens in the Athabasca River found on his ministry’s website.   UK blocks European ban on fuel from tar sands The Coalition Government's claim to be the "greenest government ever" has come under fresh scrutiny from politicians and environmental groups who accuse Britain of undermining a Europe-wide forecourt ban on one of the most climate-polluting fuels. Britain is one of just two major European nations opposing efforts to prohibit sales of petrol and diesel obtained from the Canadian tar sands.   Province’s draft plan for Lower Athabasca falls short Over the last six weeks, Albertans have had a rare opportunity to shape the environmental management of the oilsands by commenting on the provincial government's draft plan for the Lower Athabasca region. The plan is an important first step, as Albertans have consistently demanded improvements in oilsands environmental management. But as that window of opportunity closes, the question is whether the province will take the public's input into account by making much-needed improvements to the draft plan before it goes to cabinet next month.   Nuclear Power Canada Nuclear Safety Commission Denied Judicial Review of its Steam Generators Shipping decision TORONTO - Today, the Sierra Club Canada and the Canadian Environmental Law Association received notice from the Federal Court of Canada that a Motion by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) for leave to intervene in the Judicial Review of the CNSC’s decision giving Bruce Power a special license to ship 16 steam generators from the Bruce Power facility to Owen Sound and through the Great Lakes to Sweden was denied by the Court.   Germany to phase-out nuclear power German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said a decision to phase out nuclear power by 2022 can make her country a trailblazer in renewable energy. Ms Merkel said Germany would reap economic benefits from the move. Germany is the biggest industrial power to renounce nuclear energy, in a policy reversal for the governing centre-right coalition. Three reactors melted down in Japan, more radiation leakage detected TOKYO — In a belated acknowledgment of the severity of Japan’s nuclear disaster, the Tokyo Electric Power Company said Tuesday that three of the stricken Fukushima Daiichi plant’s reactors most likely suffered fuel meltdowns in the early days of the crisis. The plant’s operator also said that it was possible that the pressure vessels in the three stricken reactors, which house the uranium fuel rods, had been breached as well. But most of the fuel remained inside the vessels, the company said — far from a more severe nuclear meltdown in which molten fuel penetrates the ground, a calamity known as the “China Syndrome.”   Bruce Power pulls U.S. application as plan to ship generators on the Great Lakes put on hold Bruce Power has withdrawn its application to the United States Department of Transportation for approval to ship 16 radioactive steam generators through the Great Lakes. Spokesman John Peevers says the company’s shipment plan has been put on hold — it is not cancelled — and Bruce Power’s goal remains to ship the decommissioned, school bus-sized vessels to a recycling plant in Sweden. Tim Hudak using “Disinformation” Ontarians stands to lose an opportunity to become a world leader in green energy if Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak is elected Premier on October 6th. “The best we can say about Mr. Hudak’s intention to scrap the plan to develop 2,500 megawatts of wind and solar power in Ontario is that at least he has come out of the closet,” said John Bennett, Executive Director of Sierra Club Canada.   Climate Change Global carbon emissions reach record high The fastest-ever rise in greenhouse gas emissions, revealed by the Guardian on Monday, is an "inconvenient truth" the world must face, the UN's climate change chief has said. But she added that the data should not lead to fatalism that the problem is impossible to tackle. The figures showing that efforts to control greenhouse gases have had little effect are likely to stretch already strained relations between developed and developing countries over climate change to breaking point in the next two weeks in rows over who is responsible for the fastest ever rise in greenhouse gas emissions. Government & Politics BC Premier promises consultation on CETA Last week Premier Christy Clark took the unprecedented step of promising there would be public consultation regarding the province's position on the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union.If this really happens it would be an important opportunity. The current government has never allowed the public to have a say on these issues. The TILMA agreement with Alberta was signed in secret. ..The worry is just how the premier defines consultation.   CETA: A Hot Topic at Gathering of Municipal Leaders The Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) was a hot topic of debate at the recent Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) annual conference, held in Halifax...The willingness by a sizable majority of FCM delegates to defend progressive purchasing policies and to keep local services public is highly encouraging.   Auditor-General fires parting shots on climate change Sheila Fraser is nipping at the heels of the federal government to the very end, saying her successor must carefully protect the independence of the Office of the Auditor-General and its ability to criticize any misuse of public funds in Ottawa. Group bars access to sour gas site; says grizzly bears will be affected A small group has blocked access to a sour gas well site in southwestern Alberta. The province's Energy Resources Conservation Board approved the Shell project in March and drilling was supposed to start last week in the Castle wilderness area just north of Waterton National Park. Residents appealed the decision, saying drilling will disrupt core grizzly bear habitat.   UK to halve carbon emissions by 2025 The nature and implications of, and flaws inherent in, the UK's recently released legally binding targets for GHG emissions are overviewed below in reference to recent news and response from the UK.   It is welcomed  says  Green MP [sic] Carlolyn Lucas, in spite of three major flaws. Water Victory: Italian water movement & citizens overturn water privatization laws Italian citizens came out en masse this weekend and have overwhelmingly opted to overturn the laws promoting water privatisation in Italy. "The success of the referendum in Italy is a true display of the power and potential of grassroots activism. The Italian Forum of Water Movements and Italian citizens managed to mobilize an entire nation ..   What next after Australia’s rejection of investor state arbitration  Abstract: Treaty-based investor-state arbitration (ISA) has gradually become a more established part of the legal landscape in the Asian region. But this development is threatened by the “Gillard Government Trade Policy Statement” announced in April 2011. One interpretation is that the Australian government will no longer include ISA protections in future investment treaties or Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) even with developing countries – effectively eschewing treaty-based ISA altogether. Another interpretation is that the government may henceforth include ISA provisions on a case-by-case basis, but not if that would provide greater procedural or substantive rights against the government to foreign investors compared to local investors in Australia.   Fracking Hydraulic fracturing can contaminate drinking water: study As the Nova Scotia (N.S.) government conducts a review of the environmental effects associated with hydraulic fracturing, a new study by scientists at Duke University found that the drilling technique, which is used to free natural gas trapped in shale rock formations, can contaminate drinking water. France to ban fracking French lawmakers have voted to ban a controversial technique used to extract shale gas and oil that opponents say contaminates the environment. If the vote by the lower house of parliament passes the Senate next month, France will be the first country to ban hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking. Blogs NAFTA dispute settlement over Quebec pesticide ban has both sides claiming victory while the real issue still remains – the need to ban NAFTA’s investor state clause The Canadian Press reports that the settlement of a NAFTA dispute that challenged Quebec's pesticide ban has both a U.S.-based chemical giant and environmentalists claiming victory in the case.  Environment advocacy groups say the settlement reinforces the right of municipalities and provinces to ban pesticides — while DowAgroSciences says Quebec has now acknowledged that a popular weed killer can be used properly without health risks.   Stop the Mega Quarry in Melancthon Township or Life Will Suffer I am honored to be asked by the farmers of Melancthon/Mulmur Townships to join them in their struggle to protect their water and farmland from the proposed Mega Quarry by the Highland Company privately backed by Boston multi billion dollar hedge fund.  As a native/indigenous man of the Turtle Clan Mohawk Nation I have had a chance to listen to many community citizens of Dufferin County to learn of the concerns to the threat to farmland and clean water supply.    Hudak’s plan to kill green energy wrong direction for Ontario Ontarians stands to lose an opportunity to become a world leader in green energy if Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak is elected Premier on October 6th. “The best we can say about Mr. Hudak's intention to scrap the plan to develop 2,500 megawatts of wind and solar power in Ontario is that at least he has come out of the closet,” said John Bennett, Executive Director of Sierra Club Canada.   Ontario’s plans to store nuclear waste under Lake Huron have Michigan upset Politicians in Michigan are growing alarmed at Ontario’s plans to bury waste from a nuclear power plant on the shores of Lake Huron. “What fool would put nuclear waste under the Great Lakes?” one local Michigan official has asked. For its part, Ontario Power Generation has said the rock the waste would be buried in is so stable it still contains water from 450 million years ago. But that doesn’t mean it’s perfectly safe.
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