NEWS AND CURRENT EVENTS
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
CHAPTER 1
Title: Government of Canada Targets Largest
Source of Greenhouse Gas Emissions – Transportation
Source: Natural Resources Canada
PRECIS: The
federal government is concerned about greenhouse gases. In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the government wants
to reduce consumption of fuel used for transportation. The government announced a $109 million program aimed at developing
fuel-cell technology, increasing fuel efficiency, and marketing low emission vehicles.
Title:Climate
Change and Ozone
Source: Lydia Dotto
PRECIS: Many people confuse ozone depletion as a cause of climate
change. This article examines this misperception and outlines the causes of climate change
CHAPTER 2
Title: Sustainable
woodlot video/Woodlot registry
Source: Environment Canada
PRECIS: The article discusses the variety of
environmental values provided by woodlots.
Title: Atmospheric
Science and Environmental Prediction benefits from new Partnership
Source: Environment Canada
PRECIS:
Understanding and knowing the value of the environment is important for all Canadians. Environment Canada and Lakehead University
have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in order to research environmental issues.
CHAPTER 3
Title: Lack of an Ecosystem Perspective
is Key to Ontario’ s Ills, Says Environmental Commissioner
Source: Canada NewsWire
PRECIS: Most
of Ontario’ s environmental problems can be traced to the failure of government agencies to approach environmental management
from an ecosystem perspective according to the province’ s Environmental Commissioner.
Title:
Space and Species
Source: Environment Canada
PRECIS: The article describes the interconnectedness of the
food web; a break in the web will affect other species including humans. Human activities often destroy parts of the web.
CHAPTER 4
Title: Minister David Anderson, P.C.,
M.P. – The Environmental Challenge of the 21st Century
Source: David Anderson
PRECIS: Canada’
s Minister of the Environment David Anderson outlines some of the environmental challenges confronting the world. These include
the global stress of increased economic activity, changing public values and defining new ways of managing the environment.
Title: Action Alert
Source:
Lycos
PRECIS: The increasing rate of environmental degradation in the U.S. could be explained, in part, by immigration
policy. During the 1990s, immigrants accounted for 70% of U.S. population growth and placed increased demands on the natural
resource base.
CHAPTER 5
Title: Canadian Hydropower Association
– Hydropower to Fight Global Warming
Source: Newswire
PRECIS: Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are
the cause of global warming. From the Canadian Hydropower Association’ s perspective, Canada should adopt a policy that
favours hydropower production in order to fulfill its international commitments to global warming.
Title: Greenhouse
Gases
Source: Environment Canada
PRECIS: The article discusses the various greenhouse gases – Water
Vapour, CO2, CH4, N2O, O3, and halocarbons as well as their sources.
CHAPTER 6
Title: Air Pollution Effects on the Great Lakes Ecosystem
Source: Environment Canada
PRECIS: The federal government is concerned about the pollution of the Great Lakes.
Even though the International Joint Commission (IJC) and International Air Quality Advisory Board have helped to reduce contamination
levels, more has to be done to minimize the atmospheric deposition in the region.
Title: Grey
Soil Management Project
Source: Environment Canada
PRECIS: As a result of the alarming rate at which Canadian
soil is degrading, the Grey Soil Management Project was initiated in Manitoba in 1995 to help improve soil fertility
CHAPTER 7
Title: Population growth sentencing millions
to hydrological poverty
Source: World Watch
PRECIS: The article discusses the effects of increasing human
population on water resources. Particular emphasis is placed on the demand for water in the agricultural sector in order to
grow the food required to feed people.
Title: Low
water level conditions continue on the Great Lakes
Source: Environment Canada
PRECIS: Low water levels
continue on some of the Great Lakes and are adversely affecting shipping. The risk of flooding, however, has been reduced.
CHAPTER 8
Title: Fishing Fury
Source: CBC News
PRECIS:
Fishing has been central to the way of life in Atlantic Canada. A ruling by Canada's Supreme Court and various interpretations
of that ruling has now seen conflict levels increase between different fishing groups. Native fishers suggest that the ruling
means that regulations that apply to other groups do not apply to them. Commercial fishers disagree with that view.
Title:
The objectives of the oceanic project and
corporate structure of the oceanic project
Source: Lycos
PRECIS: The Oceanic Project is a non-profitable
organization which is making several efforts to protect the lives of cetacea (e.g. whales, dolphins, and porpoises).
CHAPTER 9
Title: Wildlife Habitat Canada Announces
Two Winners of National Forest Stewardship Recognition Program Awards
Source: Newswire
PRECIS: In order
to protect Canadian forest species, a lot of programs have been initiated. At a symposium held by Natural Disturbance and
Forest Management in March 6, 2001, one individual and one organization received Forest Stewardship Recognition Program Awards
as a way of recognizing their contribution to forest conservation.
Title: Scientists
Worry About Next Budworm Infestation
Source: CBC
Website:
PRECIS: The ban on the use of insecticides
in Quebec is a major concern to scientists. They fear that the spruce budworm which destroyed 4 million hectares of forest
in the province 20 years ago will reappear.
CHAPTER 10
Title: The Impact of Mining in the Atlantic
Region on the Environment
Source: Environment Canada
PRECIS: The federal government of Canada is concerned
about the effects of mining on the environment. In Atlantic Canada, which has about 40 producing mining sites, several attempts
have been made to reduce the impacts of mining on the environment.
Title: Ivanhoe
Mines condemns blatant falsehoods, bias and misrepresentation in activists' mining documents
Source: Canada NewsWire
PRECIS: Daniel Kunz, President of Ivanhoe Mines Ltd., is upset with a report that accuses it of human rights violations,
and contaminating the groundwater in its Burmese operations. This article highlights some of the comments of earlier chapters
concerning the role of science and ideology in environmental management, as well as some of the human and environmental dimensions
of mining.
CHAPTER 11
Title: Gas Pains
Source: Vince Rice
PRECIS:
Some insights into recent increases in gas prices. Although gas prices have increased, Canadians continue to consume large
quantities of gas.
Title: Toronto
Wind Power Project Gets Government of Canada Environmental Approval
Source: Environment Canada
PRECIS:
The Toronto Renewable Energy Co-operative (TREC) proposed The Wind Power Project. If successful, it would cause less damage
to the environment.
CHAPTER 12
Title: BP Canada Partners with Nature
Conservancy of Canada to help save Wild Spaces
Source: Canada NewsWire
PRECIS: BP Canada is providing
the Nature Conservancy of Canada with $1 million to
assist in securing Canada's biodiversity through habitat conservation.
Title: Professional Forestry
established as Self-Regulating Profession in Ontario
Source: Canada NewsWire
PRECIS: The Professional
Foresters Act of 2000 will increase the level of sustainability in Ontario's forests through improved management practice.
Since foresters in Ontario are now meeting professional standards (like doctors, lawyers and engineers), the responsibility
and qualifications for membership are enhanced.
CHAPTER 13
Title: Twenty-Eight Federal Departments and
Agencies Present Sustainable
Development Strategies to Parliament
Source: Government of Canada
PRECIS:
Changing the way governments "do business" is one way to highlight the lifestyle choices that are required to achieve
sustainability. In 2001, 28 federal government agencies developed strategies that embrace the sustainable development approach
as a way to make decisions.
Title: Urbanization
vs. Environment
Source: Lycos
PRECIS: The human population of California is steadily growing and this
has called for the construction of more houses. The ecosystem is being damaged due to the increasing urbanization of the state
and environmentalists are concerned with this trend.
CHAPTER 14
Title: Georgia Basin Ecosystem
Initiative Highlights Progress and Strengthens Partnerships
Source: Canada NewsWire
Web site:
PRECIS:
The accomplishments made in the Georgia Basin Ecosystem Initiative are outlined. It provides an example of what can be done
when all stakeholders in a region provide the commitment to effective action.
Title: Government
Applauded for Re-Introduction of Marine Park Legislation
Source: Canada NewsWire
PRECIS: The Government
of Canada has introduced legislation to establish marine parks. This will increase protection of Canada's marine biodiversity,
another necessary step as we move to a more sustainable society.
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