Listen or download the March 2, 2021 show here.
The Salmo Watershed Streamkeepers Society has grants to do remediation of the Salmo River. We speak with Gerry Nellestijn from the Salmo Streamkeepers about what will get done, and about the possibility of salmon returning to the Salmo.
Last week Premier John Horgan announced the BC government will go ahead with the Site C dam project despite the cost more than doubling to what many now say will be $20 Billion. Reaction has been swift. We have a little backround from longtime opponents of the project and some analysis of the announcement.
Nelson filmmaker Lynn Trinh hasa produced five beautiful short new videos about the Upper Columbia basin. Working with the Yukon to Yellowstone Conservation Initiative she interviewed local experts about the ecological value of the area. The stunning pieces are up now on youtube and we talk with Lynn about how she made them.
Environment News from March 2, 2021
United States President Joe Biden says that he and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have agreed to work towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
The partnership comes after Biden revoked a key permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, which would have transported 830,000 barrels a day of carbon-intensive heavy crude from Alberta’s Tar Sands to United States refineries.
It is predicted that President Biden’s plan, which has stronger, more ambitious targets than Trudeau’s government, will pressure Canadian leaders to move faster on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/2/24/us-canada-vow-to-achieve-net-zero-emissions-by-2050
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/biden-trudeau-meeting-virtual-1.5916035
_________________________________________
After a catastrophic mass-stranding in Indonesia, 46 pilot whales have died.
A rescue effort was launched Thursday on the island of Madura after dozens of pilot whales beached. Volunteers pushed some back out to sea, but many could not be saved. In the end, only three of the animals survived.
Offshore cross-currents around the island pose a danger to whales, as they can get caught between reefs close to land.
Pollution, abandoned nets and floating plastic waste are also dangers for marine animal
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/20/dozens-of-pilot-whales-die-in-indonesias-madura-island
_________________________________________
In India, a court has granted bail to 22 year old youth climate activist Disha Ravi. Ravi was arrested last weekend and accused of sedition for sharing a document tweeted by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg with information on how to support the ongoing farm workers’ protest.
Judge Dharmender Rana said there was “scanty and sketchy evidence” presented by New Delhi police. Ravi’s lawyers had said there was nothing in the Toolkit to attract the charge of sedition, which carries a life term.
Ravi’s arrest is stoking international criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government which has been trying for months to end the massive farmers’ protest through repression, internet blackouts, and violent police crackdowns.
_________________________________________
In the United States Capital after much speculation, it appears Deb Haaland will likely be approved as Secretary of the Interior by the narrowly controlled Democratic Senate. Haaland, a woman from the Laguna Pueblo, would be the first Native American person ever to hold office in the President’s cabinet.
The Senate Republicans, backed by the fossil fuel industry, overwhelmingly oppose Haaland’s nomination because of her prioritization of the climate crisis and stronger environmental policies. But Haaland’s nomination seems likely to pass after pro-fossil fuel Democrats have signaled they will vote to approve her nomination.
_________________________________________
The country of Lebanon is engaging in a massive cleanup effort after a catastophic offshore oil spill in the medeteranian.
In Lebanon, the management of Tyre Coast Nature Reserve, one of the country’s last remaining sandy beaches and an important nesting site for endangered loggerhead and green sea turtles, said the spill could endanger marine life and biodiversity in the area. The massive tar slick has already devastated ocean wildlife, including sea turtles and a 55-foot fin whale that washed ashore dead in southern Israel.
In neighboring Israel, all Medeterainian beaches were closed last week after tonnes of tar washed up across more than 160km of coastline. The spill is being blamed on an oil tanker leak.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/27/lebanon-begins-cleaning-beaches-after-oil-spill
_________________________________________
In the Canadian Parliament, Nova Scotia Liberal MP Jaime Battiste’s motion to create an environmental grading system for food products passed in the House of Commons this week.
The House standing committee on environment and sustainable development will now study what food labels could look like under a green grading system. The proposed grading system would likely take into consideration things like greenhouse gas emissions, the waste created, water used and distance travelled. Additionally, the committee will have to decide whether the grading system for products would be voluntary or whether companies will have to label their products.
_________________________________________
The BC NDP government will continue construction on the troubled Site-C dam project, despite its ballooning price tag and challenges by environmental and Indigenous groups.
BC has already sunk $6 Billion into the project, but the total cost will now be an estimated $16 Billion making Site-C by far the most expensive hydroelectric project in Canadian History.
On Friday, Premier John Horgan argued the project should go ahead because cancelling Site C would require laying off 4,500 workers and could lead to an annual increase in hydro rates for the average residential customer of $216 a year.
BC Green Party Leader Sonia Fursteneau condemned John Horgan’s decision saying “It’s important to remember that the cost of this decision goes well beyond $16 billion — the cost includes violating treaty rights in an era of reconciliation, the loss of the incredible biodiversity and the rich farmland in the region. These are significant costs that cannot easily be quantified.”
A broad coalition of Environmentalists, Farmers, First Nations, and clean energy experts oppose the Site-C dam. It is estimated that flooding will destroy at least 42 Indigenous cultural and spiritual sites as well as habitat for more than 100 species at risk of extinction
_________________________________________
And, an update to Nelson’s March 27th by-election: 1 of the 4 candidates has dropped out of the race.
Daniel Nolan made the announcement in an interview on KCR’s Kootenay Morning last week. Nolan also issued a statement endorsing his fellow candidate Nicole Charlwood saying “Nicole is a capable, compassionate woman of integrity who shares my core values, so I am putting my full support behind her and have joined her campaign team.”
The candidates are now: Nicole Charlwood, Brenton Raby and Josh Wapp.
General voting will occur March 27 at the Prestige Lakeside Resort. Advance voting will be available March 17 and 24 at Nelson City Hall.
For more information you can visit the city’s website
https://www.nelson.ca/735/2021-By-Election
_________________________________________
Longest running Enviro News show on the Radio! 