Clipmarks | jetcloud's 'canada' clips

An Exploding Asteroid

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 04:55:23 GMT

clipped by: jetcloud

A new study shows that a comet or asteroid may have exploded over Canada and caused the Earth's climate to change at the end of the last Ice Age some 12,900 years ago.

During the period known as the Younger Dryas, large mammals like wooly mammoths became extinct.
Credit: USGS

Many scientists hypothesize that mass extinctions our planet’s history may well have been due to comet and asteroid impacts.
Credit: NASA ARC

Samples of diamonds, gold and silver that have been found in the region have been conclusively sourced through X-ray diffractometry in the lab of UC Professor of Geology Warren Huff back to the diamond fields region of Canada.

The only plausible scenario available now for explaining their presence this far south is the kind of cataclysmic explosive event described by West’s theory. "We believe this is the strongest evidence yet indicating a comet impact in that time period," says Tankersley.

Cree remove blockade - drivers blast through

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 05:47:30 GMT

clipped by: jetcloud
clipper's remarks: The blockade was to remain until Monday to mark National Aboriginal Day, as other aboriginals marked the day with marches and celebrations, but was taken down on Saturday.

The band had notified oil and gas companies operating in the area of its intentions, and many of them agreed to stay off the road until the blockade ended, Anderson said.

Most oil workers had been extremely understanding, he said. Residents and other drivers had been allowed to pass through. "

Clip Source: www.cbc.ca

The Kelly Lake Cree Nation took down a highway blockade near the Alberta-B.C. border Saturday because of a close call with angry and dangerous drivers, band spokesman Clayton Anderson said.

Anderson said he was walking toward a vehicle at the blockade on Highway 52, about 180 kilometres southeast of Chetwynd, in northeastern B.C., when "this guy just steps on the gas and practically runs me over."

He was nicked, Anderson said, and then "these two big rigs and a pickup sped through here and literally just about running over my people."

The protesters were stopping oil and gas service trucks to express concerns about the volume of exploration work in the area, Anderson said Friday.

"We've talked about it to death and something's got to be done about it," he said, such as upgrading the narrow road or building a bypass around the community.

External Links

Kelly Lake Cree Nation

Tags: kelly lake cree nation, blockade alberta-b.c. border, canada

drunk driver jailed 20 years

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 07:57:36 GMT

clipped by: jetcloud
clipper's remarks: "The collision occurred on Jan. 20, 2006, the day Yellowknee had just been released from jail. He had been drinking all day and, by 5 p.m., he was staggering around the Sawridge Truck Stop in Slave Lake, a bottle of Silk Tassel Rye tucked into his jacket, trying to hitch a ride up to Wabasca.

Slave Lake is about 250 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.

Minutes later, he was behind the wheel of a stolen white pickup truck, speeding out of Slave Lake on the highway with the police in pursuit, lights on, sirens blaring. He fishtailed, hit the shoulder, shot over the yellow line and slammed head-on into a black car.

He killed everyone inside. Misty Chalifoux, 28, died instantly, as did two of her daughters - nine-year-old Trista Chalifoux and 13-year-old Michelle Lisk. Six-year-old daughter Larissa was airlifted to hospital. She died the next day.

Yellowknee's blood alcohol level was .22 that night, nearly triple the legal limit of .08."

Clip Source: www.canada.com

SLAVE LAKE, Alta. - In a precedent-setting decision Thursday, an Alberta judge sentenced a drunk driver who killed four people to more than 20 years in prison, and moved to block people convicted of similar crimes from serving their sentences in the community.

Provincial court Judge Ernie Walter declared Raymond Yellowknee a long-term offender and sentenced him to 20 years and six months behind bars for drinking, driving and crashing head-on into an oncoming car. The crash killed a young mother and her three little girls.

The sentence is believed to be the longest yet handed down for drunk driving causing death in Canada.

Walter also said for the first time that drunk driving causing death is a "serious personal injury offence" in Alberta, an unprecedented legal label that adds deadly drunk drivers to the category of convicts who cannot apply to serve their sentences in the community under house arrest.

Tags: drunk driver, 20 years in prison, slave lake, alberta, canada

Rapid permafrost thaw expected

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 06:09:32 GMT

clipped by: jetcloud
clipper's remarks: "Climate warming is degrading permafrost, and roads, runways and building foundations in many parts of the North have been buckling and cracking as the top layer of the ground thaws. The increasingly mushy ground also has created "drunken forests," where trees now lean at strange angles.

At least 30 per cent of all the carbon stored in soils worldwide is found in the North -- and scientists worry rising temperatures will release carbon dioxide and methane, both potent greenhouse gases, now locked in the permafrost.

"To me, probably the biggest uncertainty is whether methane emissions are going to go up, and if they are, by how much," says Lawrence.

Last summer, the Arctic sea ice shrank to more than 30 per cent below average, setting a modern-day record. Temperatures over land in the western Arctic also were unusually warm, reaching more than 2 C above the 1978-2006 average and raising questions about whether the ice retreat was tied to the warming temperatures over land."

Clip Source: www.canada.com

researchers warn

Melting could happen much more quickly than previously thought, putting towns and roads at risk, study says

Permafrost, which covers close to half of Canada and threatens to release vast stores of carbon into the atmosphere, could undergo a much more rapid thaw than previously thought, according to an American study.

The rate of climate warming over northern Canada, Alaska, and Russia could more than triple if Arctic ice continues to retreat rapidly, says the report, which highlights the vulnerability of permafrost and the roadways, communities and ecosystems now sitting on the frozen ground.

"We are expecting the Arctic to warm faster than the rest of the world, and this suggests that in relatively short, 5-10 year periods that rate of warming can really go up," says David Lawrence, lead author of the study conducted at the U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research.

Tags: permafrost, arctic, climate warming, canada, drunken forests

Canada first in the world to pass climate act

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 22:16:30 GMT

clipped by: jetcloud

Clip Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

TORONTO: The Canadian House of Commons has become the first parliament in the world to pass a climate act, which commits the country to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent from 1990 levels by 2050.

The House passed the Climate Change Accountability Bill on Wednesday. It was moved by the leader of the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) Jack Layton.

The two other opposition parties - the Liberal party and the Bloc Quebecois - supported the bill.

"This is a world first," Layton said in a statement later.

"Our legislation sets tough but achievable targets that will ensure Canada does its share to avoid the dangerous two-degree increase in average global temperature that scientists warn us about," he said.

The bill sets an interim target of 25 per cent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2020 and requires progress reports from the government every five years.

Tags: climate change, canada, new democratic party (ndp), jack layton

Family found safe after six days lost in Arctic

Fri, 09 May 2008 19:53:39 GMT

clipped by: jetcloud
clipper's remarks: "During the day, the couple pulled the sled with the children inside, attempting to reach Hall Beach.

Meanwhile, ground crews began searching for the family on Sunday when they failed to arrive. It wasn't until Thursday that the weather lifted and a helicopter and airplane were able to join the search.

Bill Kennedy, a search co-ordinator in Repulse Bay, told The Canadian Press it was a group of Rangers -- mostly aboriginal military reservists -- who eventually found the family.

They followed a set of tracks that led to a burned-out snowmobile that the family appeared to have set on fire as a smoke signal to rescuers, CP reported. However, heavy cloud cover had made it impossible for rescuers to see the plume of smoke. "

Clip Source: www.ctv.ca

A family of seven that spent six days lost in the Canadian Arctic survived by huddling inside a tent set up inside a makeshift igloo.

The family -- with five children under 12 -- was found safe Thursday, with the parents dragging a sled carrying their children.

None of the family members were injured in the ordeal.

They had been on a 250-kilometre trek, by snowmobile and sled, from Repulse Bay to Hall Beach, Nunavut when they took a wrong turn and got lost.

They had set out from Repulse Bay on May 1.

"We followed the tracks and we took a wrong turn," Merrill Siusangnark, the father, told CTV's Canada AM on Friday from Hall Beach.

"When I finally realized I didn't know the land that we were on, that we were in the wrong place, I tried to turn back to where I knew the land but my Ski-doo couldn't drag the komatik (sled)."

The family survived the frigid Arctic nights in a tent set up inside a makeshift, igloo

around a small stove

with a

supply of seal oil to burn

The Siusangnark family

Tags: canadian arctic, survived

North Pole could be ice free in 2008

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 03:11:44 GMT

clipped by: jetcloud

Clip Source: environment.newscientist.com

You know when climate change is biting hard when instead of a vast expanse of snow the North Pole is a vast expanse of water. This year, for the first time, Arctic scientists are preparing for that possibility.

"The set-up for this summer is disturbing," says Mark Serreze, of the US National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). A number of factors have this year led to most of the Arctic ice being thin and vulnerable as it enters its summer melting season.

In September 2007, Arctic sea ice reached a record low, opening up the fabled North-West passage that runs from Greenland to Alaska.

[Video]

"There is this thin first-year ice even at the North Pole at the moment," says Serreze. "This raises the spectre – the possibility that you could become ice free at the North Pole this year."

Tags: north pole, arctic ice, canada, climate change

The Video Google Censored - The 9/11 Solution - RESTORED

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 13:20:55 GMT

clipped by: jetcloud
clipper's remarks: "Earlier this year, we posted a video
called the "9/11 Solution."

After a huge run up a viewers it was
removed from Google Video three days
later.

I tried to post it to YouTube and it was
rejected by YouTube too.

I appealed to subscribers to repost the
video on as many sites as possible.

Someone re-posted the video to YouTube
Canada and surprisingly it stuck.

The result?

So far 585,567 views which makes it
one of the most viewed News videos on
YouTube Canada of all time.

Currently, this video is the most discussed
new video on YouTube Canada of all time.

On YouTube Canada the video is called:

"Here's the video that Google Video pulled down!""

Clip Source: www.brasschecktv.com

[Video]

"The 9/11 Solution" shows that even as the World Trade Center was burning and immediately after the collapses, a stream of disinformation laying down the key official 9/11 myths was being actively being put in place via the US mass media (i.e. the impact of the planes weakened the structures, the "intense" fires caused the collapses, Bin Laden was the only possible suspect.)

Foul play suspected in death of native activist

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 23:24:50 GMT

clipped by: jetcloud
clipper's remarks: " The settlement reached in September gives an estimated 70,000 former students $10,000 each for their first year in school, plus an additional $3,000 for each year of residence beyond that. The compensation comes as a one-time payment. "

Clip Source: www.nationalpost.com

TRURO, N.S. -- Police suspect foul play in the death of residential schools activist Nora Bernard in Truro.

Ms. Bernard played a leading role in winning the largest class-action suit in Canadian history for abuses committed at the residential schools -- a $1.9-billion settlement from the federal government for 70,000 former students across the country.

She died Thursday afternoon in her home. Police were called to the home after a 911 call from a family member inside the house.

On Friday, police confirmed they suspect foul play and are continuing to investigate.

Her family, however, has said a heart attack or stroke was likely to blame.

ms. Bernard attended Nova Scotia's Shubenacadie residential school for five years. In an interview in 2005, she described it as a place where students were taught to "love, honour and obey. The honour and obey was beaten into us, and love, we did not know anything about."

Tags: canada, nora bernard, residential school abuses, foul play

CTV picks high-flying loonie as 2007's top story

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 22:07:58 GMT

clipped by: jetcloud

Clip Source: www.ctv.ca

In mid-November, CTV News editors and anchors gathered around the national assignment desk to pick the top Canadian stories of 2007. Thus began a debate among the news experts who bring you national news programs every day. So passionate are these editors that a debate begat an argument. It went on for more than a month.

Some argued for big-theme stories like the environment and medical breakthroughs. Others fought for stories on the Harper government and tax cuts.

The high-flying loonie was the obvious choice as the top Canadian story of 2007. The dramatic rise of Canada's currency affects every single Canadian, which is a key factor in evaluating its inclusion and ranking on the list. Indeed during the autumn, the loonie's climb against the U.S. greenback was the lead story night after night, week after week.

Tags: canada, loonie

Time names loonie as Canada's story of the year

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 22:07:44 GMT

clipped by: jetcloud

Clip Source: news.sympatico.msn.ctv.ca

Canada's soaring loonie -- which this year hit US$1.10, its highest peak in generations -- has been named Time magazine's Canadian Newsmaker of the Year.

Tags: canada, loonie

Aurora planes to continue getting upgrades

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 22:37:38 GMT

clipped by: jetcloud

Clip Source: www.cbc.ca

The government has announced it will continue upgrading the Aurora surveillance planes.

The federal government has agreed to continue upgrading some of Canada's aging fleet of Aurora surveillance planes.

Defence Minister Peter MacKay announced Tuesday night that 10 of the 18 aircraft will continue to undergo technical and structural upgrades. Ottawa has already spent more than $900 million on refurbishing the CP-140s.

"The investment will keep the aircraft safe and operationally viable until 2020."

The aircraft are capable of flying 9,000 kilometres without refuelling and are used to patrol coastlines and the North.

Tags: upgrading, aurora surveillance planes, canada

girl dies after being buried under snowbank

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:14:33 GMT

clipped by: jetcloud
clipper's remarks: More:
Police said the Grade 2 student was home from school because of the massive storm that struck Eastern Canada on the weekend.

On Sunday, a 16-year-old boy died at the scene of a crash in Nova Scotia after the same storm hit the province. Police say slippery roads may have been a factor in the accident, which took place on Highway 101 in the Kentville area.

The driver, a 17-year-old boy, was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

An unidentified woman was killed near London, Ont., on Sunday when she stopped on the shoulder of a highway to fix a windshield wiper on her van.

The woman's vehicle was struck by a snow plow, killing her instantly. Two passengers inside the van, related to the victim, were taken to hospital for shock.

Clip Source: www.ctv.ca

Children stand outside the Levis, Que. house where a seven-year-old girl died after a snow fort collapsed on her on Monday, Dec. 17, 2007.

Video

CTV Montreal: Snow tunnel collapse being blamed 3:05

A seven-year-old girl from Levis, Que. is dead after a snow fort she was playing in collapsed on Monday.

The girl had reportedly made a tunnel following last weekend's snow storm and was in it yesterday afternoon when it collapsed.

She was found by her father and had no vital signs when emergency officials arrived at the house, located near Quebec City.

Levis police spokesman Const. Alain Gelly said first-aid workers did attempt to resuscitate her, reports The Canadian Press.

However, she was declared dead at Hôtel Dieu de Lévis Hospital a short time later.

Tags: snow-storm-deaths

Canadians heading home after Dubai amnesty

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 17:40:24 GMT

clipped by: jetcloud

Clip Source: www.ctv.ca

Bert Tatham, who worked advising farmers of alternatives to poppies, works in a poppy field in Afghanistan.

Three Canadians imprisoned in Dubai, United Arab Emirates will be spending the holidays with their loved ones after being pardoned by the ruler there.

Sheik Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum issued an amnesty order on Monday for 377 inmates to mark the Eid al-Adha Islamic festival.

One of those Canadians is Bert Tatham, 35. The other two Canadians freed have not been identified.

Video

Canada AM: Charles Tatham, son freed in Dubai 2:35

Tags: united arab emirates, pardon, imprisoned-canadians

Bali Baird in Flip-Flops? Canada's Youth Delegation Tells It like It Is

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 08:43:25 GMT

clipped by: jetcloud

Clip Source: www.desmogblog.com

The first bit of this video provides some great insight into just how bad things are going for Canada's Minister of Environment, John Baird at the United Nation's climate conference underway in Bali, Indonesia.

[Video]

Tags: canadian youth delegation, bali, bali global warmin unfccc, john baird, climate change, global warming