Jarring, visceral and all too plausible, Alex Garland’s Civil War is a must see

In his filmmaking career, Alex Garland has terrified us with zombies, infectious alien hybrids, murderous men and A.I. run amuck. Civil War, the writer and director’s latest film, is not only his most ambitious entry but also his most plausible. The press notes for Civil War describe the setting as “near-future America,” but it feels like … Read more

No water, no oil: How the parched western provinces could hamper the oilpatch

Persistent and severe drought conditions across Western Canada could have a devastating effect on the oil and natural gas sector, which has drilling operations in some of the driest areas, according to a new report by Deloitte. Limited water supply could have significant effects on the production of oil and gas, the report warns, and … Read more

Canada is still backing the fossil fuel industry with billions, report finds

A new report says the federal government is providing billions of dollars in financial support for the fossil fuel industry, despite measures announced last year to limit certain types of subsidies for the oil and gas industry. The analysis, released today by the advocacy group Environmental Defence, estimated that Ottawa offered up at least $18.6 … Read more

NWMO reaffirms safety of Canada’s 1st nuclear waste repository but there’s still heavy pushback

The body tasked with selecting the future storage site for Canada’s nuclear waste has reaffirmed its confidence in the project’s safety, but others remain concerned about the potential risks of burying spent nuclear fuel hundreds of metres below the earth’s surface. By the end of this year, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is expected to decide … Read more

North Bay, Ont., and DND move to remediate ‘forever chemicals’ site that contaminated drinking water

The City of North Bay, Ont. and the Department of National Defence (DND) are set to begin a $20-million project this spring to remediate a site contaminated with perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — often referred to as “forever chemicals.” From the early 1970s to mid-1990s, DND conducted training exercises at the city’s Jack Garland Airport with aqueous film-forming foams that contain … Read more

Hundreds of Czech farmers protest against EU regulations – POLITICO

“Today’s demonstration does not have much in common with the fight for better conditions for farmers,” Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on X. “The demonstration is organized by people who, for example, do not hide their support for the Kremlin and pursue goals other than the interests of farmers.” “We deal with those who really … Read more

Russia takes full control of Avdiivka, as Kyiv decries ‘artificial deficit’ in ammo – POLITICO

U.S. President Joe Biden said “Ukrainian soldiers had to ration ammunition due to dwindling supplies as a result of congressional inaction, resulting in Russia’s first notable gains in months.” Biden called on lawmakers to approve $60 billion in aid to Ukraine that has been held up in the U.S. Congress. The fall of Avdiivka is Russia’s biggest gain … Read more

Massive blast, flames seen in Iranian chemical production factory

A large explosion was observed near the Iranian city of Shahriar, near the capital Tehran, on Thursday evening, according to local media and footage shared on social media. Iranian media reported that a large fire broke out at a chemical solvent production factory. According to reports, the blast was so large it was seen … Read more

The environmental costs of EV batteries that politicians don’t tend to talk about

Along with the massive recent manufacturing investments in electric vehicle (EV) technology and talks of a greener, decarbonized future, there are some not-so-green problems.  In its latest New Energy Finance report, Bloomberg News predicts there will be some 730 million EVs on the road by 2040. The year before, Bloomberg predicted half of all U.S. vehicle sales would be battery electric by 2030.  … Read more