Victory! Kent says Maxim coal won't be allowed to skirt the rules

Environment Minister Peter Kent gave an interview last week in which he pointedly stated that he is going to close the loophole in new federal coal regulations that would allow Maxim Power to build a new, unregulated coal plant. This is wonderful news for everyone who sent messages to Kent voicing their outrage over the coal plant! We made ourselves heard, but the fight isn't over yet. Canada still needs to eliminate all coal-fired electricity if we want to stop catastrophic climate change. Stay tuned for more action alerts so we can make sure Minister Kent stays true to his word. 

Why are astrophysicists more trusted than climate scientists?

Several weeks ago, an international team of scientists, led by Matthew Bailes of Australia, published a paper in the journal Science that announced their discovery of a planet in the Milky Way system that is made entirely of diamond. The idea of a planet-sized diamond captured the imagination of people all over the world, and the story was widely circulatedby major media outlets. A few days ago Bailes wrote an article expressing appreciation for the enthusiastic reception the finding had gotten, and also relief that he happens to be an astrophysicist, and not…. a climate scientist. Bailes noted that had his discovery been in the field of climate science, he may well have faced unfounded criticism and even hostility and discreditation. 'Sadly, the same media commentators who celebrate diamond planets without question are all too quick to dismiss the latest peer-reviewed evidence that suggests man-made activities are responsible for changes in concentrations of CO2 in our atmosphere' Bailes said. 
 

Choose Reality

On September 14 and 15, the Climate Reality Project is launching a 24 hour campaign all over the world. At 7:00pm in every time zone there will be a presentation given by a person in a chosen city. Each will include a multimedia presentation developed by Al Gore, and will highlight the local effects of climate change in each place. These presentations will be given in 13 different languages, and is inteneded to galvanize a new wave of action on climate issues. Visit. climatereality.org to learn more and watch the streaming videos. 
 

Climate skeptic group found to be funded with oil money

Mike DeSouza of Postmedia has obtained documents that have shown that Talisman Energy, a large oil company, funnelled $175,000 through the University of Calgary to a group called Friends of Science so that it could be used to produce a climate-denial video. Talisman was the largest donor to two 'research' funds that were set up by U of C political science professor Barry Cooper. The funds were used to take donations mostly from the oil and gas industry, the money used to finance a complicated campaign of climate denial films, radio ads, political advocacy and public campaigns. Cooper used the funds not just to produce anti-climate media materials but also for travel, wining and dining, and political lobbying. This is completely unethical, and the university should have nothing to do with it. 
 

Penelope takes to the streets with cookies to ask Ontarians to vote for her future

Penelope visited the ByWard Market in Ottawa today to do a bit of campaigning for clean air and clean water. The Penelope cookies from the Moulin de Provence bakery were a big hit!

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