The weather’s bad here in Edmonton today, with wind chills approaching minus 20. Here’s the best headlines of the day:
Iceland first to feel the blast of global cooling
For much of the past decade, Iceland, with its tiny population of little more than 313,000, has been one of the fastest growing economies in Europe, making Icelanders the sixth richest people in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
. . .
But those good times have come to a juddering halt. Iceland has become the latest flashpoint in the global financial crisis. Critics have compared the country to a “toxic hedge fund” built on debt that could be about to go spectacularly wrong.
Why flowers have lost their scent
Pollution is stifling the fragrance of plants and preventing bees from pollinating them – endangering one of the most essential cycles of nature, writes Environment Editor Geoffrey Lean.
Drain Canada Dry?
CALGARY — It was here in southern Alberta, a century ago, when Canadians first learned of U.S. plans to take our water supplies. It would be the first and last battle over fresh water the two neighbours would fight. But Canadians have worried ever since that the day will come again when Americans will come after our fresh water. And if you believe certain nationalist groups, we may be powerless to do a thing about it.
“Calgary Dollars was created to complement Canadian dollars, creating an interest-free, non-debt-based currency backed by the goods and services of Calgarians”
Congress Tells Bush: ‘Stop the Closed-Door Diplomacy and Allow Legislative Oversight’
The House of Representatives sent a letter to President Bush this week advising him to
stop all plans to advance the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) of North America until there has been full congressional oversight. The letter, which was authored by Reps. Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), is brief and simply states that the U.S. Congress “objects to a process that permits the executives of the respective countries to bypass constitutionally mandated review” and that all SPP negotiations should be halted until the details of this closed-door diplomacy “are made transparent and proper legislative oversight is established.” The letter reached President Bush on the eve of the fourth North American summit,
which will be held in New Orleans on April 21st and 22nd.
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