The Fight for Fish Lake (Teztan Biny) (Sat, 21 Jan 2012)
This Earth Focus report sheds light on the struggle of the Tsilhqot'in and Xeni Gwet'in people of British Columbia, Canada to stop the construction of Prosperity Mine, a gold and copper mine proposed by Taseko Mines Ltd. The mine would destroy Fish Lake (Teztan Biny), a body of water held held sacred by the Tsilhqot'in and Xeni Gwet'in people. The Lake is part of a pristine watershed that runs to the Fraser River. Featuring the film Blue Gold made by Canadian filmmaker Susan Smitten and her team to document the impact of the proposed mine on the environment and the cultural heritage of British Columbia's native people. An Earth Focus original report in collaboration with R.A.V.E.N (Respecting Aboriginal Values and Environmental Needs), a Canadian charitable organization. read full article

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Earth Focus: Meet the New World Climate Leader - The United States? (Wed, 21 Dec 2011)
With US carbon emissions down 7% in four years and bigger drops coming, the United States may emerge as a global leader in cutting carbon and stabilizing climate. Lester Brown, President of the Earth Policy Institute, tells Earth Focus that new forces including life style and demographic changes are reducing the use of both coal and oil in the United States. He expects that carbon emissions could decline by as much as 20% in the United States by 2020. read full article

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Earth Focus: The Carbon Con - Investigating the True Cost of Carbon Offsetting (Wed, 21 Dec 2011)
This original investigative report by The Ecologist Film Unit and Link TV's Earth Focus, which is now leading to calls for an overhaul of how the UN does business, shows the consequences of incentive programs like the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). A plant owned by India's energy giant Reliance Power is set to become the largest coal power project awarded carbon credits under the UN's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) -- which lets industrialized countries offset their pollution by investing in greenhouse gas reducing projects in developing nations. This investigation shows what can, and does, go wrong. It documents the displacement of village communities to make way for plant construction; the exclusion of villagers from the decision making process; and the broken promises -- the benefits promised but never delivered to villagers like free education, employment and healthcare. Thousands of acres of forest land are being destroyed to make way for the plant. Critics say that the project sets a dangerous precedent because it shifts investment away from renewable energy and supports coal, an industry seen as a leading cause of carbon emissions. Campaigners are now calling for an urgent overhaul of the way the Clean Development Mechanism is governed. read full article

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