There are a lot of exciting things happening in First Nations territory.  Here in New Brunswick, the Assembly of First Nations’ Chiefs in New Brunswick has published a “Statement on Policy for the Wabanaki Forest”. Further a field, this Magazine  has an interesting article on the Grassy Narrows law suit about the impacts clearcut logging has on the rights to hunt and fish.  Next in the reading line up is an article from the Vancouver Sun about Attawapiskat and discussing the fact that people on reserves do not have access to sufficient resources to maintain their economies and that those…

Below is the open letter from Canad's Minister of Natural Resources, Joe Oliver -it is a blunt and staunch posisition - a must read for all Canadians. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++   Natural Resources Canada 2012/1 January 9, 2012 An open letter from the Honourable Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources , on Canada’s commitment to diversify our energy markets and the need to further streamline the regulatory process in order to advance Canada’s national economic interest Canada is on the edge of an historic choice: to diversify our energy markets away from our traditional trading partner in the United States or to…

Muzzling Opposition – the easy way to win a debate   Before the hearings for the Northern Gateway Pipeline could even get underway the federal government came out verbally swinging and jabbing discrediting environmental groups by calling them radical because of their opposition to the project. The comments by the Prime Minister and Minister Joe Oliver indicate that the federal government has already taken the side of development -so really what is the point of discussing the matter further in the environmental review panel? Funny it seems that the review will be put under time limitations muzzling the amount of…

A petition signed by 5000 New Brunswickers who are opposed to herbicide spraying was presented to the legislature on December 8. Check out this CBC interview with Tracy Glynn. The text of the petition is as follows; STOP SPRAYING OUR FOREST A petition to ban herbicide spraying of the public forest in New Brunswick   To the Honourable the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick assembled: The Government of New Brunswick is going to massively expand the spraying of herbicides over our public forest, and at public expense. This follows the decision to allow industry to triple the area of conifer…

Sixty-one First Nations communities along the Fraser River watershed have announced an alliance to protect the Fraser River watershed and have declared their opposition to the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline. “We will not allow the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines, or similar Tar Sands projects, to cross our lands, territories and watersheds, or the ocean migration routes of Fraser River salmon.” If you want goose bumps check out their powerful website. Eighty-five British Columbia business leaders have made a joint call on the provincial government to reaffirm and strengthen its leadership on climate change. ir As Canada pulls out…

Monday, December 12, the Environment Minister Peter Kent announced the decision to remove our country from the Kyoto Protocol, saying it “does not represent the path forward for Canada’’. What is the way forward? What’s the action plan? Why aren’t we thinking of others ways to be energy mindful? How are we going to reverse climate change? Is it by keeping the Alberta Oil Sands? I don’t think so. Kent stated that “Canada, though, cannot do it alone,” -that is true but pulling out of the Kyoto Protocol is not helping improve the climate change situation either. Here are links…

The significance of recent cuts to environmental research and monitoring was not lost on our European counterparts. Even in the midst of an economic upheaval Europeans noticed our national funding cuts and the Guardian wrote a scathing article about Canada’s moral compass and decision to cut key environmental funds but in the same breath drop more than 60 billion dollars on military equipment. The Guardian reporter Leahy specifically noted the funding cut to the Canadian Environmental Network and the impact that will have on two-way communication between the public and federal government. The importance of the CEN as a communication…

Maybe the environmental movement should re-consider wearing green this year and take its cue from Pink Shirt Day - an action with the motto that “we as a society will not tolerate bullying anywhere.” Currently though we are tolerating the Harper Government acting just like a bully – defined as “a blustering, quarrelsome, overbearing person who habitually badgers and intimidates smaller or weaker people.” The proof you ask! Well here are some links to stories of the Harper Government’s national and international bullying efforts! International Climate/Environmental quarreling: -You want this, well then you need to do that - “Durban Talks…

NB 2026 Initiative on Learning Presentation by Roberta Clowater and Janet Thomas             On the 26th of October, the Steering committee of the Sustainability Education Alliance responded to an invitation by the NB2026 Initiative on Learning and met at the Conservation Council’s Conserver House in Fredericton. First off, Roberta Clowater explained the project background and purpose. This project is sponsored by NB2026, a citizen group that was established about three years ago under the Graham government. NB2026 is a non partisan group, involving politicians from all camps, citizen leaders, big and small business, academics, social workers and environmentalists from the…

A coalition of national environmental groups has published recommendations for a Green Budget for the federal government. The budget covers 1) Species at Risk, 2) Freshwater Resources 3) Energy Efficiency and 4) Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform.   Click here for the 2012 Green Budget