This week:

• We turn the green lens to economics as we focus on the current recession and what it means for environmental realities – and environmental opportunities – in the coming years. We first speak with Douglas Porter, Deputy Chief Economist of BMO Capital Markets, about greening the economy in a time of recession.
• Later on the program, Ecological Economist Peter Victor joins us to consider how we might be able to make room for steady-state economics within a shifting economic context.

The headlines in brief:

• Debate over such issues as the provincial carbon tax, and private run-of-the-river power projects has dominated the last part of the BC provincial election campaign.
• The province of Saskatchewan has announced defeat in the fight against GHG emissions, saying it will not meet previously set targets of a 32% emissions reduction by 2020.
• The Sierra Club of Canada is once again taking the Federal Government to court over its decision to axe environmental assessments as part of its plan to stimulate the economy.
• Ontario is going ahead with what will be the toughest pesticide ban in Canada, despite international trade agreement challenges to a similar ban in Quebec.
• Representatives of Indigenous groups from around the world met in Alaska this week to discuss their future contributions to action on global warming.
• Prince Charles is planning an attack on big business through the release of an environmentally oriented book and film.

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- Photo credit: Swisscan -

This week:

• We feature a lecture by NOW Magazine columnist Adria Vasil, who presents her views on the ins and outs of getting by in good health and good ecological conscience in this age of dodgy consumer products. A compilation of her weekly column is available in her book, Ecoholic. (originally aired on January 25, 2008).
• Pundit Kevin Farmer and host Jordan Poppenk discuss the origin of Earth Day and some “Earth Day resolutions” to consider this year.

The headlines in brief:

• Ottawa’s top advisory panel on environment and the economy has recommended a nation-wide carbon market be implemented for consumers and businesses.
• The BC NDP has included repealing the province’s carbon tax as one of its key policies in next month’s provincial election.
• Environment Canada has rejected a study it commissioned that calls for stronger regulations to protect caribou.
• The concept of a carbon tax has been reintroduced in policy discussions by grassroots members in the federal Liberal Party.
• The United States is plagued with an outbreak of pesticide resistant bedbugs.
• The global recession has spurred a gold rush in the Amazon.
• April 22nd is Earth Day.

You can download the show here (right click, save as…), or listen in the player ** Note: player will close if you surf away from the page**

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This week:

• WWF Canada communications director Josh Laughren reflects on some early participation numbers from Earth Hour 2009, which involved a respectable fraction of the human race, contemplates the value of Earth Hour symbolism, and addresses some common criticisms.
• The TGM news team considers new international pressures on Canada to change course on global warming policy.

The headlines in brief:

• The Canadian government has admitted that it may have to come in line with new American regulations on global warming.
• Ontario has passed a new public health bill that requires larger industries to publish a list of all toxic chemical usages to the public.
• Ecojustice Canada filed for a new approval hearing for Shell tar sand expansions after the company cancelled plans to implement green-house gas reduction strategies.
• Ontario announced this week that provincial institutions would be required to buy exclusively locally grown food from now on.
• The world’s oil giants are found to be investing less in renewable energy on average than countries without oil in a new study.
• The first full-scale deep ocean mining project is set to take place off the coast of Papua, New Guinea in 2011.

You can download the show here (right click, save as…), or listen in the player ** Note: player will close if you surf away from the page**

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- Photo credit: Denmar -

** Whether you’re a radio or web listener, your support is needed to keep Canada’s only environmental news hour on the air. Help us get green information out there: click here to pledge or call toll-free at 1-888-204-8976. Be sure to specify your donation is for The Green Majority. **

** Pledges of $25 or more to CIUT noting support for The Green Majority will be entered for a draw for one of two $50 gift certificates to The Big Carrot Natural food market. Pledges must be placed before 11:59pm on April 9 to be eligible. **

This week:

• The TGM cast speaks about programming at CIUT and why it’s important to support your community media by making your pledge. The program features informal discussion with regular cast members Chris Berube, Daryn Caister, Katherine Brown, Ken Stowar, Kevin Farmer, Jordan Poppenk as well as special guest Alejandra Ribera.
• Special thanks to Danny Leskiw, Hanah Chapman and Ron Burd for volunteering to man the phones and take pledges.

The headlines in brief:

• Innu hunters and government regulators clashed in Newfoundland this week over the right to hunt endangered caribou.
• A provincial shake-up on the Metrolinx Board has removed all elected officials to be replaced with private consultants.
• New results from Canadian, British and American researchers continue to cast doubt on the viability of carbon-sequestration based technologies.
• Earth Hour was considered a success by organizers, but was also found to have no significant impact on limiting global internet use.
• Investment in clean technology has declined steeply in the first quarter of this year across the globe.

You can download the show here (right click, save as…), or listen in the player ** Note: player will close if you surf away from the page**

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We’re excited to announce two new radio hotspots where you can tune into the latest episode of TGM. To the West, we welcome Regina, Saskatchewan; to the East, we welcome Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Our first Nova Scotia partner in the TGM project is CKDU 88.1 FM, Dalhousie University’s volunteer radio station and the only campus-community radio station in Halifax. The station’s 3200 watt transmitter transmits alternative voices, music and news to the Halifax Regional Municipality and beyond 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and you can now hear the Green Majority on CKDU on Tuesdays from 12-1AM (ADT).

Another provincial first is CJTR 91.3FM, which, in broadcasting out of Regina, is our first community partner in Saskatchewan. The station is operated by the non-profit corporation Radius Communications, which brought the station on-air in 2001; it is also the unofficial campus radio station of the University of Regina. Be sure to tune into CJTR on Thursdays from 9-10AM (CST) to catch our latest episode.

Together, CKDU and CJTR bring to the number of partners in the TGM project to twelve.