CFWE Radio News - July 10-2015

Premier Rachel Notley implements United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Premier Rachel Notley has sent a letter to her 11 cabinet ministers, asking them to review their ministries and come up with a plan on how they will implement the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

In it she gives her cabinet ministers specific instructions to come up with a practical plan to protect constitutional rights, aboriginal land and “self-reliant and culturally strong communities.”
Each ministry must work closely with indigenous leaders, including the Métis Nation of Alberta Association and the Métis Settlements General Council.

Work has already begun, Premier Notley noted in the letter. Employees can’t discriminate based on race or ancestry. Schools are introducing mandatory education to teach students about residential schools and indigenous culture. The province is also working to return sacred ceremonial objects from around the world back to Alberta communities.
 

Low flow condition for South Saskatchewan

The South Saskatchewan River Basin is experiencing low flow conditions, prompting the Government of Alberta to notify users to reduce their water consumption.

Monitoring results show the South Saskatchewan River Basin is experiencing below normal flows in its rivers and tributary streams. When this happens, water withdrawals may increase stress to fish and wildlife by lowering the amount of available water.

Temporary diversion licenses are being suspended on streams without storage facilities until the flow improves. Environment and Parks is directingusers to streams and reservoirs that have available water.

This advisory affects the city of Medicine Hat and surrounding communities.

Bumblebees can't move north to cope with warmer temperatures, and climate change is wiping them out in many areas where they lived several decades ago, a Canadian-led study suggests.

The researchers aren't sure why the bees are not moving north, but they believe it's because they're unable to establish new populations fast enough. One bumblebee species that has the rare ability to expand northward is Europe's buff-tailed bumblebee, which builds unusually large colonies.

So what can be done to save the bees? One possibility that the researchers suggest is for humans to physically move some bees north.

For now, the researchers behind the study suggest focusing on conservation in areas hit by climate change, but making sure bees have the habitats they need to survive.

According to the Canadian Red Cross 51 communities have been evacuated by the wildfires in northern Saskatchewan.

The shelters located in Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Regina, North Battleford and Cold Lake continue to provide the basic needs of evacuees such as: cots, blankets, three meals per day which are staggered to keep up with demand, and snacks are provided.

There have been reports of canvassers asking for cash donations. The Red Cross would like to remind the community that asking for cash is not standard procedure and donations should be done so through the website at www.redcross.org/donate

The federal government has also offered support to the fire affected areas and has shipped more than 65-hundred blankets and 4-thousand beds; in addition they will send gowns, pillows, and towels to various evacuation centres in Saskatchewan and Alberta.