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» 2009 » February

Ten Timely Questions About Our Rivers and Electricity

Posted: Monday, February 16th, 2009 • Author: Xander
Categories: Articles: Energy Issues, Articles: Political Issues • Comments: 1 Comment

Ten Timely Questions About Our Rivers and ElectricityLife is short. We want answers.

…

Well, in that context I and more than 300 others wasted about four hours in a meeting held last Tuesday by the Environmental Assessment Office to set terms of reference for the environmental assessment process for Plutonic Power’s massive private power project on Bute Inlet.

This private scheme is proposed by Plutonic Energy, which is controlled by General Electric, in which multi-billionaire Warren Buffett has a large interest. I speak for Save Our Rivers Society, which, far from being well-funded as alleged, depends on timely month-to-month donations from generous ordinary citizens to meet its obligations. We are, as they say, in tough.

Source: www.thetyee.ca/…

LS » The thought of privatizing our energy and thus giving control of our rivers and thus a major aspect of our environment, totally burns my butt. I am glad to be living in a capitalist society but a little socialism in critical areas like thisis a good thing

And what the @#$% kind of a name is Plutonic Power? This is real life not a comic book.

Should You Stop Eating Salmon?

Posted: Friday, February 6th, 2009 • Author: Xander
Categories: Articles: Food Issues • Comments: Awaiting Comments

Should You Stop Eating Salmon?Yes, says a top UBC scientist. ‘Smart shopping’ isn’t saving wild stocks.

One of the big movers this holiday season was a President’s Choice frozen appetizer: salmon wellingtons, little puff pastries stuffed with Marine Stewardship Council certified wild pacific salmon.

Great to know harried holiday hosts could feel good about what they were serving, right?

Sorry to ruin the party. Although certification programs and awareness campaigns have succeeded in stigmatizing farmed salmon, some say this market-based approach to fisheries management is not only ineffective, but also misguided.

The bottom line, say researchers, is that all salmon species are in decline, with some stocks sinking to unrecoverable levels. The iconic wild animal of the Pacific Northwest is facing total extinction.

Source: www.thetyee.ca/…

LS » In the back of my mind I have known this for a long time. I have long since eschewed farm salmon and espoused the merits of wild salmon but never wanted to admit that if we all eat only wild salmon then one day there probably won’t be any left. I hear that halibut stocks are healthy, I think I will eat that for the next few years while I let the wild salmon stocks recuperate. But I guess there are a few million other people that need to be a part of this decision or it won’t matter … it doesn’t look good for the fish.