By Maria Ionova
Rudolph — in all his plastic glory – could soon become the only reindeer seen in the province of Ontario. Environmental scientists worry that non-fictional reindeer – or woodland caribou – may become extinct if their plummeting population cant recover quickly enough.
Since the introduction of the Endangered Species Act in 2007, the woodland caribou population has been a hot topic among the environmental community.
Reindeer are threatened because they have virtually vanished in the northern region and are, at this stage, considered to be in great danger of disappearing altogether. Only dispersed herds remain in Northern Ontario.
The exact count of the current population is unknown aside from the [...]
Ontario reindeer threatened
Where have the birds gone?
By Steve Howard
Where have the birds gone?
One species has declined by 52% over the last twenty years. Another has declined 54% in the same time frame. Another has dropped 29%. Another 28%.
These are not species of insects from a foreign continent. They are small insect eating birds in Ontario.
According to The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario, the population of aerial insectivores, or small insect-eating birds have steadily decline in Ontario over the last twenty years. Why these birds are declining and what can be done to reverse the trend is a question that continues to baffle scientists.
Mike Cadman, who is with the Canadian Wildlife Services and helped [...]
Climate Justice group petitions UWO
By Laura Schober
A climate justice group at the University of Western Ontario is circulating a petition that demands the university end its financial ties with the Royal Bank of Canada. The bank is the leading financier of the tar sands projects in Alberta, and Mobilization for Climate Justice organizer, Toban Black, says RBC’s funding is unethical because it contributes to the harmful environmental effects generated by tar sands.
“In terms of the tar sands alone, it’s the dirtiest oil in the world, because of all the pollution that’s generated as you produce it,” he said.
Black says the petition will be passed along for review to the university’s [...]
Reduce…Reuse… Recycle…Rebuild
By Marika Motiwalla
Household hand-me-downs are going far in London.
Habitat for Humanity in London, Ontario is finding new ways to be affordable and green. And the idea of green building may be catching on.
“The more you can reuse the more money you save,” said Robert Middleton, director of the North American Trade Schools branch in London.
The local Habitat for Humanity branch agrees with this. Habitat is a non-profit organization, it is self described on its website as an organization that seeks to build simple, decent, affordable homes for low-income families.
This branch of the established organization just finished building a home in Ingersoll, Ont., and renovating a London [...]
Worldwide water problems – but what can we do?
By Marika Motiwalla
Intense storms and droughts could increase in number and severity – and Canadians will be affected by the changing climate’s effect on water resources, according to James P. Bruce.
Bruce, an environmental policy specialist, spoke about this to a small group of students and faculty at the University of Western Ontario on Monday, December 7. His talk was called Water Resources in a Changing Climate and emphasis was put on the effects of greenhouse gases on the world’s water supply.
Bruce is on the Expert Panel on Groundwater for the Council of Canadian Academics, has written several books and articles on climate change and holds honorary degrees from the [...]
Polar Bears: Poster animals for peril
By Carrie Simmons
Polar bears.
These marine mammals have long been the poster animals for climate change. Dramatic photos of members of this iconic species standing atop melting ice floes represent the declining health of the North, and are seen on posters and websites worldwide. Perhaps appropriately so, as the bears themselves have faced with some of the worst effects of climate change to date this Fall. Reports of cannibalism and infanticide in bear populations are the latest in a series of the negative consequences of polar warming.
Ursus martimus, the polar bear, is found exclusively around the Arctic Circle in Canada, Norway, the United States and Russia. They [...]
Biogas helps dairy farmer counter the myth
By Joel Tiller
On any given day up to 800 cattle are fed, cleaned and milked – sometimes twice a day – at Stanton Farms’ new facility in Ilderton Ont.
To some this may seem less than impressive, or, perhaps, the norm for a farm of this magnitude. But Stanton Farms isn’t your typical dairy farm. Far from it in fact.
What makes this farm unique is it moonlights as a small power plant – converting its never-ending supply of manure into electricity using an anaerobic biodigester.
“The thought of all cattle farms being labelled factory farms disturbs me … we counter this myth by engaging in environmentally, and animal, friendly practices,” [...]
Toronto Forum on EJ in Canada
Toronto Forum
Pumped Up Prices — Can we combat climate change by raising the cost of energy?
The Society of Environmental Journalists, the Center for Environment at the University of Toronto, the Tornoto Star and the Canadian Broadcasting Company sponsored the event on June 20, 2008 at Hart House, University of Toronto.
Panelists for the event included (left to right above):
Nicola Ross — Editor of Alternatives Journal
Stefan Reichenbach — Global Head of Environmental Markets for Thompson-Reuters
Susan Mcgehee – Sustainable Business Practice advisor for Price Waterhouse
James Levine — Producer, Canadian Broadcasting Company, Quirks and Quarks
Mark Lutes – Policy Analyst, Climate Change & Energy, David Suzuki Foundation
Peter Gorrie — Toronto Star environmental reporter, [...]