| Environmentalists protest oil and gas development in protected area
The provincial government has given Pioneer Natural Resources approval to drill a coal bed methane well in the Rumsey Natural Area, angering the Alberta Wilderness Association and the Alberta Native Plant Council.
The 149-square-kilometre area protects rare rough fescue grasslands and aspen parkland. The environmental groups say the province didn’t consult them before approving the well. They’re calling on the province to halt any further oil and gas development in the fragile area.
Province announces new lobbyist registry and greenhouse gas regulations
Premier Ed Stelmach has promised the Conservative government will introduce a new lobbyist registry that will allow Albertans to find out who is lobbying the government and on what topics.
Stelmach has also promised information regarding all government contracts awarded to individuals and organizations will be available online.
The government also plans to introduce new greenhouse gas regulations that will require companies that emit more than 100,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year to reduce their emission intensity (emissions per unit of production) by 12 per cent beginning in July. Companies unable to immediately meet the target will instead have the option to put money into a new technology fund to address climate change. Companies also have the option of purchasing greenhouse gas emissions offsets for Alberta projects that are reducing greenhouse gases. Many environmental groups are critical of greenhouse gas emission intensity targets because they aren’t absolute emission reductions. As an economy grows, emissions can rise with intensity based targets. Climate change scientists say climate change can only be averted if overall greenhouse gas emissions are reduced.
Iraq War protests
It’s been four years since the U.S. invaded Iraq, and there’s increasing concern that the country is on the brink of a civil war. Over 3,000 U.S. soldiers have died, but that casualty rate is dwarfed by the Iraqi death toll. The British medical journal the Lancet published an epidemiologist survey in 2006 that estimated 655,000 Iraqis have been killed since 2003.
Several Calgary events are planned to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the invasion. On March 16 at 7:30 p.m. in Room 119 of the University of Calgary’s Craigie Hall, American war resister Ryan Johnson will speak about why he fled to Canada to avoid serving in Iraq. Johnson will be joined by hip hop artist Mohammad Ali who will release a benefit EP. All the profits will go to the War Resisters Support Campaign, a grassroots Toronto organization that fundraises to financially support the 45 war resisters who have come to Canada and to help them with their legal fights for acceptance as refugees. There will be a protest rally and march on March 17 at 1 p.m. at the U.S. consulate (615 Macleod Trail). Activist Julie Hrdlicka will speak about her two visits to Iraq after the U.S. invasion on March 18 from 9:45 to 11 a.m. at Knox Presbyterian Church (3704-37 Street S.W.). Project Ploughshares is also hosting an event called Poets for Peace at the Ironwood Stage and Grill on March 19 at 6:30 p.m. |
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