Democracy will resume in Canada on January 26, 2009
Greenhouse gas emissions increase in U.S.
After 2006 decline, there's a 1.4 percent rise because of cold winter
WASHINGTON - The amount of U.S. greenhouse gases flowing into the atmosphere, mainly carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels, increased last year by 1.4 percent after a decline in 2006, the Energy Department reported Wednesday.
The report said carbon dioxide, the leading pollution linked to global warming, rose by 1.3 percent in 2007 as people used more coal, oil and natural gas because of a colder winter and more electricity during a warmer summer. Half of the country's electricity is generated by coal-burning power plants. MORE
Go-ahead for wind farm puts Wales on track to meet clean energy targets
• Offshore array will power 700,000 homes a year
• Project will be world's second largest by 2014
Wales took the biggest step yet towards its target to become the UK's leader in renewable energy yesterday when the government granted permission for a 750MW wind farm off the north coast which, when finished in 2014, will be the second largest in the world.
The Gwynt y Môr wind farm, to be built by the energy company Npower Renewables, will be eight miles off the coast of north Wales and, at maximum capacity, will be capable of generating enough power for the annual needs of more than 700,000 homes; it will be second only to the proposed 1GW London Array wind farm. MORE
North America's Largest Municipal Utility Proposes Solar Feed-in Tariff
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced to much fanfare on November 24 that the city's municipal utility would launch one of the continent's largest solar power programs. The mayor's plan would direct the city's municipal utility, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), to build or purchase 1,300 MW of solar energy by 2020.
Among provisions of the plan is a feed-in tariff for 150 MW of solar photovoltaics by 2016. This is the first official announcement of a feed-in tariff proposal by a California city, but it is not the first in the United States. Gainesville, Florida previously announced that it was formally considering a feed-in tariff to replace its solar rebate program.
Recently, the Palm Springs Desert Sun reported that Palm Desert, California was also considering solar feed-in tariffs after city officials toured Spain, one of the world's leading developers of solar energy. Spain uses feed-in tariffs.
UN says poor nations need $130B for climate change
POZNAN, Poland — The U.N. climate change organization has said the world's poor countries will need $130 billion dollars a year by 2030 to help them adapt to global warming and curb their carbon emissions.
The U.N. says rich countries need to increase their payments over the next 20 years to six times the funds available now, which is about $21 billion.
The figures were presented Thursday during a conference of 190 nations on a new climate treaty. MORE
Groundbreaking study shows Canada can tackle climate change and prosper economically
POZNAN, Poland —Canada can be a leader in tackling climate change and still experience strong economic and employment growth according to a groundbreaking study released today.
Deep Reductions, Strong Growth: An economic analysis showing Canada can prosper economically while doing its share to prevent dangerous climate change, shows that governments - and Ottawa in particular - can no longer argue fighting climate change means job losses and declining standards of living.
The study was commissioned by the Pembina Institute and the David Suzuki Foundation, with modeling by M.K. Jaccard and Associates Inc.
Key Findings:
Canada's economy can still grow by almost 20% in the next decade while the country reduces its greenhouse gas pollution to 25% below the 1990 level.
-Canada will continue to enjoy strong net job growth. - Meeting the 25% reduction target requires a significant price on carbon pollution as well as targeted regulations and investments to expand the use of clean technology.
-By 2020 Canadians will save more than $5.5 billion each year at the gas pump because of more efficient vehicles, more public transit and shorter commutes.
Friends of the CBC—Harper plans to slash $200 million from CBC's Parliamentary grant
FRIENDS has learned from a reliable confidential source of Conservative plans to slash a devastating $200 million from the CBC's Parliamentary grant, which would cripple the radio and television operations of our national public broadcaster. During the election campaign we noted with great concern Prime Minister Harper's dismissal of culture as "a niche issue for some" while belittling Canadian artists as a "bunch of people at a rich gala... all subsidized by the taxpayers".
We intercepted the Conservative Party's anti-CBC fund raising letter during the campaign and made it public. When a reporter asked Mr. Harper during the campaign to answer the question whether he supported CBC's Parliamentary grant, he refused to respond.
Hence, all those who care about Canada's cultural sovereignty have good grounds for keeping a close and skeptical eye on Harper's government.
Now that Parliament has been prorogued, FRIENDS is monitoring the crisis and calling on all the parties to invest in culture as a contribution to economic recovery. We invite you to join us by sending a message to your MP with copies to the party leaders. You can do this by clicking the link below:
Some tested Tasers fire stronger current than company says: CBC/Radio-Canada probe
Some Tasers deliver a higher level of electricity than the manufacturer promises, reveals a series of tests on 41 stun guns that was commissioned by CBC News and Radio-Canada.
The abnormal X26 model Tasers were manufactured before 2005, prompting some scientists to suggest police should stop using any older versions of the stun guns until they can be tested.
Of the 41 Tasers tested, four delivered significantly more current than Taser International says is possible. In some cases, the current was up to 50 per cent stronger than specified on the devices.
The tests, conducted by the U.S.-based lab National Technical Systems, used X26 Tasers from seven police departments in that country. Each weapon was fired at least six times. MORE
Port Stanley, Ontario: Citizens push for control of harbour
Port Stanley residents gather tonight to consider how to break a long-standing political logjam and wrest its harbour from federal hands.
The Port Stanley Think Tank is pushing to end a source of local aggravation and get local control of the village's greatest asset.
Transport Canada wants to divest itself of the harbour it has allowed to clog with silt, making it unsuitable for anything except fishing tugs. But after years of high-level talks in secrecy, fed-up local residents are taking action. MORE
Montreal: What would a coalition mean for metro?
The Montreal region would be far better off with a Liberal-NDP government in Ottawa than under the Conservatives
Here's what a change from a Conservative government to a Liberal-New Democrat coalition government would mean to this metropolis.
I share the view of most environmentalists and economists that taxing carbon would be the cheaper, simpler and more cheat-resistant of the two approaches and thus better for the planet. From a narrow Montreal-centric viewpoint, however, it's clear cap and trade would benefit a fledgling local institution.
This is the Montreal Climate Exchange, which the Montreal Exchange and Chicago's Climate Change Exchange launched last May as the only place in Canada where companies can buy and sell greenhouse-gas credits. MORE
Some results from McAllister Opinion Research
Poll onCanadians’ Opinions on Global Warming
Telephone survey of 1,015 Canadians, age 18+.
• Fielded from November 17th to 23rd, 2008.
• Sample is weighted to reflect the Canadian adult population according to 2006 census data for region, gender and age.
• Margin of error (weighted sample): ±3.1%, 19 times out of 20.
NOTE: All numbers in this report are in percentages unless otherwise indicated.
Q1. Canada should commit to STRONG action on global warming without waiting for other countries.
WASHINGTON - The amount of U.S. greenhouse gases flowing into the atmosphere, mainly carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels, increased last year by 1.4 percent after a decline in 2006, the Energy Department reported Wednesday.
Wales took the biggest step yet towards its target to become the UK's leader in renewable 
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced to much fanfare on November 24 that the city's municipal utility would launch one of the continent's largest solar power programs. The mayor's plan would direct the city's municipal utility, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), to build or purchase 1,300 MW of solar energy by 2020. 
POZNAN, Poland — The U.N. climate change organization has said the world's poor countries will need $130 billion dollars a year by 2030 to help them adapt to global warming and curb their carbon emissions.
POZNAN, Poland —Canada can be a leader in tackling climate change and still experience strong economic and employment growth according to a groundbreaking study released today.
FRIENDS has learned from a reliable confidential source of Conservative plans to slash a devastating $200 million from the CBC's Parliamentary grant, which would cripple the radio and television operations of our national public broadcaster. During the election campaign we noted with great concern Prime Minister Harper's dismissal of culture as "a niche issue for some" while belittling Canadian artists as a "bunch of people at a rich gala... all subsidized by the taxpayers". 
Some Tasers deliver a higher level of electricity than the manufacturer promises, reveals a series of tests on 41 stun guns that was commissioned by CBC News and Radio-Canada.
Port Stanley residents gather tonight to consider how to break a long-standing political logjam and wrest its harbour from federal hands. 
