The Price of Corruption

The CBC News site reports that 16 Canadian lakes are slated to be officially but quietly “reclassified” as toxic dump sites for mines. The excuse that lots of fun new slave labour jobs will be created is insufficient explanation for the callous destruction of fish habitats across the country. To say that I am outraged would be a considerable understatement. Whether a Liberal government under Celine Stephan Dion would be any better on some fronts is questionable, but given his past record on environmental issues, I don’t think this would be happening on his watch.

Another example of disgusting pandering to industry with no view of the short- or especially long-term consequences. What is particularly sickening is the fact that nothing will happen as a result. Nothing. No amount of outrage or sheer human decency will alter this decision as the Nazis Conservatives march us, ignorant and grinning, into environmental disaster.

This country, if you’ll pardon the “Blevkog“-like language, is fucking broken.

The Water Front: If it can happen in Michigan….

Liz Miller’s documentary on fighting water privatization in Highland Park, Mi, just illustrates the ease with which we can all be faced with corporation-generated water woes. 

“water symbolizes wealth.” – the future of water privatization.

In countries like Canada, we seem to have an inexhaustable supply of fresh water. Having to fight for access to enough drinking water to live may seem like a remote possibility. But there are lessons to be learned from the third world.   As climate change advances, and we begin to face challenges to water-sovereignty under NAFTA, we would do well to pay closer attention to the plight of many people in the poorest parts of the world.  It CAN happen here… it already IS happening here! 

Whose water? ‘Yes!’ Magazine’s primer on water rights

Here’s a short batch of articles that should start anyone thinking about the right to potable water, and the dangers that water privatization holds. Water belongs to the earth, not to the corporations. If the average person doesn’t speak up on this issue, we have another ‘tragedy of the commons’ in the making.

Water privatization in Uruguay? No way!

At least some folks have recognized the danger of having a basic human need commodified. Is it because these folks have already been on the dirty end of the corporate prod? Or, are North Americans just too lazy and complacent to recognize looming threats posed by corporate greed?

When will the US and Canada learn not to pee in their own pool?

As Maude Barlow points out here, All canadians should be embarrassed that our government is one of only two  in the world that are blocking the international effort to have potable water recognized as a basic human right.  You cannot LIVE without drinkable water, people! The corporate a**holes want you to pay for what they won’t have to, if they get their way. 

Montebello… Just what are George, Steve and Felipe talking about?

This article by Linda Mcquaig raises a question about water sharing in the “New Integrated North American Business Park”

More on “bio”diesel

Murray Dobbin weighs in on rabble.ca with THIS article on the farce that is biodiesel. He’s right. This is a dodge that allows those of us in the west to keep on drivin’ those SUVs…. millions of ‘em, with only one person per vehicle, every single day.

I Am A Rock, I Am An Island…

First, thanks to Graven for the invite – I’m hoping to develop an environmental consciousness some day, and this should help.

The Globe and Mail reports that Nova Scotia has declared The Brothers Islands, near Lower West Pubnico, and Grassy Island, near Tancook Island, as protected areas. These islands, particularly Grassy Island, are breeding grounds for the endangered roseate tern. A positive decision, with hopefully positive long-term results. Due credit to the government for what I sincerely hope is the first of  many good decisions.

My cynical nature makes my first reaction: So, no natural gas or particularly alluring forests to exploit on those islands? Let’s hope that will seem unfair soon.

Anyone for “deforestation diesel”? More on biofuels…

I tend to agree with Fidel Castro, the biggest social worry about biofuels is the risk of juxtaposing the use of food crops to feed rich people’s cars to using them to feed poor people. However this article and this one I found on the BBC’s news-site are pretty good primers of what some of the other problems with the so-called “greener alternative” will be. Its kind of amusing to see the biggest offenders (with respect to global warming), the oil companies, warning of the dire consequences of switching to “that other stuff”. Talk about the the pot calling the kettle…..