Food and Water First
Food Water FirstNature on the Edge
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- Published on Thursday, 21 February 2013 21:53
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A patchwork of remaining farmland and green space in Ontario's rapidly growing Golden Horseshoe region provides millions of dollars in services and benefits, according to a David Suzuki Foundation study. The report examines the Whitebelt Study Area, more than 94,000 hectares of unprotected farmland, fields and forests in the municipalities of Durham, York, Halton, Hamilton and Peel. The fate of these lands remains uncertain as the provincial government considers whether to approve proposals to develop prime farmland and green space as the region grows.
To read David Suzuki's report, "Nature on the Edge", please go to: http://www.davidsuzuki.org/publications/reports/2013/nature-on-the-edge-natural-capital-and-ontarios-growing-golden-horseshoe/
Recycled Aggregates Use Set to Grow in Middle East
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- Published on Tuesday, 22 January 2013 15:55
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The Al Dhafra plant in Abu Dhabi, managed by Leighton Services, has capacity to produce 5000-8000 tonnes of recycled concrete aggregate per day.
The use of recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) is set to soar in Abu Dhabi, after having been specified in a number of major projects, including in the Etihad Rail project in Abu Dhabi.
Produced by the Al Dafra waste plant, use of RCAs all but came to a halt, and the plant was forced to shut down, with a stockpile of 1.6 million tonnes of material ready to be crushed.
But it roared to life again, when Al Jaber engineering ordered 750,000 tonnes of aggregate for use on the Etihad Rail project. This was followed by further orders, and according to Tim Harwood, executive general manager of Leighton Services, which manages the plant, the total orders of RCA for Etihad Rail total 1.2 million tonnes.
Demand is set to grow, and next year in Abu Dhabi, 40% of the aggregates used in the construction of new roads will be recycled, something that will be written into the specification, though the exact details will vary between projects.
By Stian Overdahl, Jan 21, 2013
Posted on "ConstructionWeekOnline.com"
You Have Dodged a Bullet for Now
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- Published on Wednesday, 09 January 2013 00:26
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Please note: The following article is an opinion posted on the blog, "Mining for the Truth in Melancthon", a tongue and cheek political blog. Although the opinions don't reflect the views of NDACT, the Blogger raises some good issues based on strong elements of truth.
................ They have lied from the beginning.
The limestone is still there.
And whether you punch a hole in a 2 foot balloon or a 6 inch balloon, it still causes devastation, so even if they come back with a 300 acre proposal digging below the water table in that location can NOT happen.
EVER.
Council has dodged a bullet.
Posted in "Mining for the Truth in Melancthon", January 8, 2013
East York MP happy with withdrawal of ‘mega-quarry’ plan
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- Published on Sunday, 23 December 2012 18:15
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Photo by Morgaine Craven/Toronto Observer
Elaine Perkins, constituency assistant to Beaches-East York MP Matthew Kellway, in the New Democrat’s Main Street office — which is decorated with some of the anti-quarry posters.
It’s proof that a peaceful protest can still be a productive protest.
On Nov. 21, the Highland Companies withdrew their application for a “mega-quarry” — a quarry that would have spanned over 2,300 acres and be over 20 stories deep — that it planned on digging into farmland in Dufferin Country, north of Orangeville. The quarry would have affected water, transit on two major highways, and urban sustainability. Half of the potatoes eaten in the GTA are from the Dufferin Country area. It’s no surprise then that those who stood against the quarry were both from the rural country and the big city.
A time for celebration, but also a time for preparation
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- Published on Thursday, 06 December 2012 13:29
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We must celebrate! Last week, Highland Companies – the corporate potato farmers providing cover for the world’s ninth largest hedge fund, Boston’s Baupost – pulled the plug on their plans to build North America’s second-largest quarry just north of Toronto.
This would have been no ordinary quarry. It was to be a hole that would bury an area equal to 60 per cent of our riding, 20 stories below ground. It would have required 600 million litres of water to be pumped – per day. It would have sent 7,200 trucks full of aggregate headed to Toronto – per day. And it would have required us to look much further afield to find about half the potatoes we eat in this city.
From one perspective, nothing’s changed – the status quo prevails. Moreover, it was a fight that consumed the time and challenged the faith, patience and good humour of thousands.
By Matthew Kellway, MP, Beaches/East York
Posted in the "Beach Metro Community News", December 4, 2012