9 Nobel Peace Laureates call on Obama to reject the Keystone XL pipeline

The opposition to the proposed Keystone XL pipeline continues to heat up, and now nine Nobel Peace Prize Laureates have added their voices to the outcry. In a letter to President Obama, they urge him to reject the pipeline and pursue expansion of renewable energy. The Laureates, including Archbiship Desmond Tutu, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Mairead Maguire, Betty Williams, Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, Rigoberta Menchú Tum, José Ramos-Horta, Jody Williams, and Shirin Ebadi, call attention to the brave actions of the non-violent protestors who have put their freedom on the line over the last few weeks to oppose the pipeline. They also outline the threat that the pipeline poses to natural areas and water sources along its path, as well as the runaway climate change that would result from burning the oil it carries. The letter was released by the Nobel Women's Initiative, an Ottawa-based non-profit founded by 6 of the only 12 women to ever receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Read the letter here. Some media highlights:
Globe and Mail
CBC
Postmedia
 

Washington protest concludes with over 1,250 arrests

The White House sit-ins drew to a close in Washington, D.C. last weekend. The non-violent action has been hailed as 'historic', and the largest environmental action in the history of the U.S. The arrest count topped 1,250, and included both regular people from across the continent and well-known activists. Bill McKibben, James Hansen, Darryl Hannah, and Margot Kidder were all arrested in the name of stopping the pipeline and moving towards a future without oil. Here's a roundup of the wide-ranging media coverage following the protest:

Press release from Tarsandsaction.org
CBC article
Video: Josh Fox, director of GasLand, protesting at White House
NRDC: Protest makes history
Video: Jim Hansen: Call to President Obama
Rolling Stone: NASA scientist arrested at tar sands protest

It is now time for Canadians to speak out as loudly as our American neighbors did. Click here to sign up for the Ottawa action on September 26 and to spread the word!
Read the call to action in the Vancouver Sun here, and sign the Avaaz petition here: Days left to Stop Canada's Deadly Oil.

Ontario Liberals release their platform

The Ontairo Liberals have released their platform in preparation for the upcoming October election, and in it have maintained their commitment to the groundbreaking Green Energy and Economy Act. This includes the world-class Feed-In Tariff program, which has had huge success in supporting development of renewable energy, and creating jobs in the renewable sector. The platform also reaffirms support for phasing out coal, and there are also other environmental initiatives including increased conservation. The Pembina Institute has praised their goal of increasing the number of electric cars on the road to 1/20 by 2020. 

The upcoming election is going to be a critical point for clean energy in Ontario. Our endorsement: Penelope for a green future!

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