UN to probe Canada over lack of greenhouse-gas reporting
The United Nations says it will investigate Canada for failing to meet a Kyoto Protocol deadline on greenhouse gas reporting and could bar it from an international carbon-trading scheme if the probe finds Ottawa broke the rules. [...](emphasis mine)
See my post below this one if you don't believe me.
“I'm outta here”
TORONTO — An Islamic convert facing terrorism charges was re-arrested after trying to walk out of his own trial Tuesday – saying simply that “I'm outta here” – after telling the court he wouldn't recognize Canadian law. [...]
Auditor General Sheila Fraser is reporting that Canada's border agency has lost track of 41,000 people who have been ordered out of the country. [...]
[...] Fraser noted that the agency does know the whereabouts of 22,000 of 63,000 people facing formal deportation orders. [...]
A "quasi-religious incantation masquerading as science" that basis its beliefs using Confirmation bias, not actual observations.
[...] confirmation bias is a tendency to search for or interpret new information in a way that confirms one's preconceptions and avoids information and interpretations which contradict prior beliefs. [...]
[...] The fact is that what has been happening to the world's climate in recent years, since global temperatures ceased to rise after 1998, was not predicted by any of those officially-sponsored models. The discrepancy between their predictions and observable data becomes more glaring with every month that passes. [...]
Although the planet has not warmed up a single fraction of a degree since 1998, the Church of Climatology supporters still keep screaming from the top of the mountains Henny Penny style.
The latest joke is to blame shark attacks. Yes you read that correctly.
[...] Some experts suggest that an abundance of seals has attracted high numbers of sharks, while others believe that overfishing has hit their food chain. 'I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but it's a convenient excuse,' Burgess said. Another contributory factor to the location of shark attacks could be global warming and rising sea temperatures. 'You'll find that some species will begin to appear in places they didn't in the past with some regularity,' he said. [...] (emphasis mine)
[...] Researchers studying long-term changes in sea temperatures said they now expect a "lull" for up to a decade while natural variations in climate cancel out the increases caused by man-made greenhouse gas emissions. The average temperature of the sea around Europe and North America is expected to cool slightly over the decade while the tropical Pacific remains unchanged.
This would mean that the 0.3°C global average temperature rise which has been predicted for the next decade by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change may not happen, according to the paper published in the scientific journal Nature. [...]
Not satisfied with just putting their foot in their mouths, China sticks hand in there too!
China issues alert over hand, foot and mouth disease
China's Health Ministry issued a nationwide alert on Saturday calling on local authorities to stop the spread of a virus that causes hand, foot and mouth disease, after an outbreak killed 22 children.
The deaths were first reported in March in the city of Fuyang, in the eastern province of Anhui.
More than 3,700 people in Fuyang have been infected with the virus, up from Friday's official tally of 3,300, according to figures released by local authorities on Saturday.
The central government has warned that the number of cases may increase over the summer because the June-July period is considered peak season for the disease. [...]
In one quick belch, Mother Nature wipes out all human attempts to control the amount of CO2 in our atmosphere and the planets climate. Why does she hate us so?
Our puny attempts are futile. Nature is all powerful. Why fight it? Live with it...
Sycrude has finally come out and apologized for their screw up.
An oilsands plant in northern Alberta has taken out full-page newspaper ads to apologize after an estimated 500 ducks died after landing on a toxic wastewater pond near Fort McMurray, Alta., earlier this week.
Syncrude Canada Ltd., which is partly-owned by Imperial Oil Ltd. (TSX:IMO), says in the advertisements that it's committed to making the necessary changes to its long-established practices to make sure a "sad event" like this one never happens again.
The oilsands operator says it will learn from what happened, will improve its practices and will meet the public's expectations for "responsible development."
Yesterday I posted in regards to the news of 500 ducks landing in one of the tailing ponds at a Syncrude oilsands site. I was not impressed at all. In my anger I was not very clear in regards to my reasoning. It is not about the number of ducks killed. Hell, I probably have shot more birds than that in all my years of hunting...
What got me was the non reaction from Syncrude. How they did not report this and that we had to find out about it from a tip from the public at large. That is not acceptable!
The image of the oilsands projects as "not environmentally friendly" is bad enough without shit like this happening. The Alberta government is now spending 25 million dollars of OUR MONEY to try and curb this poor image.
[...] Environment Minister Rob Renner concedes the incident has put a major dent in Alberta's efforts to counter the message being spread by environment groups that the massive northern oilsands projects are taking a major toll on the environment.
“It's a real blow to our messaging that we are working very, very hard ensure that we do have sustainable development,” Mr. Renner told The Canadian Press.
“Are people going to focus on this for their own political interests? Of course they are,” said the minister. “Does this mean that we're not doing an adequate job of protecting the environment? No it doesn't.” [...]
Prime Minister Stephen Harper says there's no doubt that Canada's environmental image has been hurt by the deaths of 500 ducks on a toxic oilsands tailings pond in northern Alberta.
Harper says this loss of wildlife should not have happened and he says federal officials are investigating. [...]
Storm blamed for demise of 500 ducks in Alberta Which is the biggest pile of crap of an excuse Syncrude could come up with. To say I am dismayed and disgusted is an understatement. I truly hope that Syncrude gets nailed to the cross for this. There simply is no excuse for this to happen. May I suggest a 1 million dollar fine and a 1 million dollar donation to Ducks Unlimited.
"Good for my land. Good for my business."
The gall of Syncrude not to report this immediately is quite disturbing. If this is their idea of "responsible and sustainable" I may have to re think my support for the development of Alberta's oil sands. I am not impressed. GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER PEOPLE!
Compare the following...
Those who go with the flow...
Alberta
Soaring high on the stratospheric price of oil, Alberta will spend a record $37 billion this fiscal year to build, build, build and give residents a break on taxes and health-care premiums.
It will also spend money to prime the pump for high-tech investment.
Saskatchewan's new government on Wednesday projected a C$250 million ($248 million) budget surplus for 2008-09 despite higher spending as the Canadian Prairie province reaps rewards from its booming energy and agriculture industries.
Newfoundland and Labrador used a gusher of oil-based revenues Tuesday to slash its debt, cut taxes and bolster spending on health, roads and other public services.
Ontario budget funds modest tax cuts, retraining program
Duncan's provincial budget released Tuesday outlines a three-year, $1.5 billion plan to help train more apprentices, boost financial aid for students and help retrain 20,000 unemployed Ontarians. It also includes business tax cuts worth $750 million over four years, including a retroactive cut to the capital tax that Duncan says will immediately give manufacturers $190 million.
Duncan defied a demand from his federal counterpart Jim Flaherty to sharply cut corporate taxes in the wake of grim economic forecasts.
He says his government has chosen a more comprehensive plan to cope with the slowdown.
That includes boosting spending on health care by six per cent to more than $40 billion in 2008-09 — a move Duncan says will help Ontario attract business investment.
The budget also includes a previously announced $1 billion plan to help municipalities fix aging roads and bridges and improve transit systems in greater Toronto and Hamilton.
But a projected $600 million budget surplus falls short of the threshold the government said was needed in order to be able to share the wealth with municipalities.
A report by the TD Bank Financial Group handed residents of Ontario a rather dire prediction on Tuesday.
Their province may soon achieve "have-not" status.
British Columbians will be paying more at the fuel pump and less at tax time under a new carbon tax on all fossil fuels unveiled Tuesday as part of the Liberal government's budget.
The balanced budget, introduced by Finance Minister Carole Taylor in the legislature in Victoria, forecasts a total revenue of $38.5 billion and total government expense of $37.7 billion in 2008-09.
The surplus for this budget year is projected to be $50 million, while last year's figure was $2 billion.
QUEBEC–Premier Jean Charest's minority government secured its survival yesterday by tabling a ho-hum budget that tried to offset a grim financial outlook with crumbs left in the province's cupboard.
The government will spend $12.2 billion in the 2008-09 budget year and projects revenue of $12.3 billion, leaving a surplus of $96 million. It will apply $110 million to its debt of $11.1 billion.
Total spending is up $395 million.
Selinger is dipping into the province's fiscal stabilization fund to put an extra $47 million into healthcare to reduce wait times and enhance other health-related programming. He will also take $13 million from the fund to put into ecoTrust funds, as promoted by Ottawa, leaving $643 million in the kitty.
$10 million in fee increases
There weren't many goodies for taxpayers, who are facing myriad fee increases on everything from vehicle registration to fishing licences. The fee increases are expected to bring an extra $9.6 million into provincial coffers.
The 2008-09 budget forecasts a deficit of almost $35 million in the coming year, a slight improvement over last year's deficit of almost $37 million. The back-to-back deficits - unusual in Canada these days - will boost the net debt in Canada's smallest province to an all-time high of $1.4 billion.
It means that every man, woman and child living in the "Garden of the Gulf" owes roughly $10,140.
The New Brunswick government introduced a modest, balanced budget with no tax changes on Tuesday, but it served notice that a major overhaul is in the works for the province's tax system.
The $7.1 billion budget for 2008-09, introduced by Finance Minister Victor Boudreau, forecasts a $19-million surplus.
There are spending increases for education, health and social services but all government departments have been ordered to cut administrative costs in an effort to shave $15 million from government expenditures.
"We are mindful of the challenges facing our economy, particularly in light of the U.S. slowdown and the high Canadian dollar," Boudreau said in his budget speech in the legislature.
"This is reflected in our revenue forecast."
Revenues are expected to grow by $185.4 million, or 2.7 per cent from 2007-08.
The province's net debt is also expected to grow - to $7.1 billion by 2009. The total represents a roughly $500 million increase over 2007, largely due to soaring capital costs for highway improvements.
It means that every man, woman and child in New Brunswick owes about $9,500 for the net debt.
There are no tax increases and no tax cuts in the new budget.
In Boudreau's first budget last year, New Brunswickers were stunned by an array of across-the-board tax increases for individuals and businesses that abruptly ended years of cautious tax cuts by the previous Conservative administration.
The $8.5-billion budget is balanced — for the seventh consecutive time — but it provides only a smattering of spending and marginal tax breaks for groups such as students, public transit riders and search and rescue volunteers.
All told, Nova Scotians will pay $105-million less in taxes, with about one third of that coming from a previously announced decrease in corporate taxes.
The province's finance minister, Michael Baker, said he had to take a cautious approach in his fourth budget.
"Our spending choices are strategic," he said in a speech to the legislature as the budget was tabled. "They are prudent."
Mr. Baker noted that Nova Scotia's most important exports, including fish, forest products and natural gas, are mostly being sold to a struggling U.S. market and the strength of the Canadian dollar hasn't helped.
"Nova Scotia exports will face challenges from the U.S. slowdown, exchange rates and pressures from rising energy and wage costs," he said.
Meanwhile, corporate profits are expected to fall, and the population will decline, resulting in a decrease in transfers from Ottawa. The province expects to get 34 per cent of its budget from federal sources.(emphasis mine)
However, the modest spending commitments mean the province's debt will shrink less than one per cent to $12.3 billion — that's over $13,000 for everyone in the province.
United Nations World Food Program wants your money...
[...] Sheeran said the crisis is "a silent tsunami that respects no borders."(Emphasis added)
"The world's misery index is rising … as soaring food and fuel prices roll through the lives of the most vulnerable," she said Friday. [...]
{...] Sheeran said that $12 billion in donations poured in following the devastating tsunami in 2004 that left nearly a quarter of a million people dead in Southeast Asia. "We need that same kind of action and generosity [again]," she said.
On the weekend, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the WFP needs an extra $755 million to cover the rising costs of existing emergency operations. [...]
According to the latest news fear mongering anyways...
[...] Dogs should not be allowed to sleep in the same room as their owner in case they pass on diseases, one of the country's top (UK)vets has warned.
Acting Chief Veterinary Officer Fred Landeg urged people to be on the alert about pets because they can "transmit illnesses as easily as farm animals".
Among diseases thought to be carried by dogs are common food poisoning bugs such as campylobacter and salmonella as well as exotic diseases.
About 10 per cent of dogs are thought to carry the superbug MRSA. [...]
Frankly, I don't think it's just dogs you have to worry about sleeping with. Many diseases can be caught from the people you sleep with as well!
- Roger, London, UK
Muslim scientists and clerics have called for the adoption of Mecca time to replace GMT, arguing that the Saudi city is the true centre of the Earth.
And here I thought the centre of the earth was the Inner Core. That big chunk of iron surrounded by the core, then the mantel, and all wrapped up by the crust. So much for all the science I was taught in school...
On a side note...
Toronto was heard snickering and will soon demand that Toronto Time replace Mecca time as everyone knows that Toronto is the centre of the UNIVERSE...
"we haven't seen something like this since the mid-fifties"
Say no more, say no more, nudge nudge wink wink....
How did I not know of this sooner? Wikipedia with a conservative bias.... It's Conservapedia!
I love the Category "Liberal" more so for the Liberal Brain JPG. It explains a lot!
They also have a sweet little article on Global Warming Climate Change with plenty of links.
Global Warming my ass! One of these THINGS is colder than the other. One of these things just don't make sense... I want an explanation!!!
From Webstores Dictionary:
Al Gore: (n) An organism, possibly human in nature, which is singularly responsible for the emission of thousands of tons of jet exhaust into the atmosphere, in an attempt to tell us that we pollute too much. See also: Hypocrite.
Dog saves woman from watery death
News like that always brings a smile to my face and a tear to my eyes. Then I came across this one. Now I am no fan of Martha by any means but I truly felt her pain as I read about her Chow's passing.
Yet, sometimes I wonder about my feelings. When you look at the following picture, what is your first response? Be honest...
Mine was... sadness.... for the dog. My thoughts were... "what a faithful dog, poor thing". I barely gave a thought about the poor soul under the tarp. Does that make me a "bad person"? What does that say about my feelings for the human race? No wonder I am single...
If you want proof that dogs are mans best friend, do this simple test.
Lock your dog and your best "human" friend in the trunk of your car for an hour.
When you let them out, which one is truly happy to see you?
I'll bet a $1000.00 that it will be your dog.
Enough said.
Back to watching Animal Planet with my best friend.
HT FARK
It would take more than a couple sticks of TNT to get rid of this one.
The longest beaver dam observed with Google Earth to date (October 2 2007) is located in Northern Alberta. The dam has a length of about 850 meters (2790 ft). It has at least existed at this spot for over 15 years as it can be observed on the 1990 LandSat 7 Pseudo Color Imagery Provided by NASA World Wind. However 1975 aerial photo's show that this dam did not exist in 1975.
The actual location of the world longest beaver dam (that is until someone find a longer one) is just south of Lac Claire,and about 190 km to the NNE of Fort McMurray, just inside Wood Buffalo National Park. [...]
Fareed Zakaria of Newsweek, interviews Patrick Moore, one of the cofounders of Greenpeace, regarding nuclear energy.
[...] My belief, in retrospect, is that because we were so focused on the destructive aspect of nuclear technology and nuclear war, we made the mistake of lumping nuclear energy in with nuclear weapons, as if all things nuclear were evil. And indeed today, Greenpeace still uses the word "evil" to describe nuclear energy. I think that's as big a mistake as if you lumped nuclear medicine in with nuclear weapons. Nuclear medicine uses radioactive isotopes to successfully treat millions of people every year, and those isotopes are all produced in nuclear reactors. That's why I left Greenpeace: I could see that my fellow directors, none of whom had any science education, were starting to deal with issues around chemicals and biology and genetics, which they had no formal training in, and they were taking the organization into what I call "pop environmentalism," which uses sensationalism, misinformation, fear tactics, etc., to deal with people on an emotional level rather than an intellectual level. [...]
