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Good news report from Canada

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29 November 2007

17 November was the 17th day of the fifth month of the 2nd year of Canadian national consciousness rising to invincibility, as indicated by the following press reports:

17 November 2007

Reuters Canada - Canadian consumer confidence higher: TNS survey (16 November 2007) Canadian consumer confidence has risen in November, buoyed by a strong currency and rising employment, according to a study by marketing research firm TNS Canadian Facts. The survey's 'present situation index' for November, which looks at Canadians' attitudes towards the overall state of the economy, rose to 122.8, its highest level in three years, from 119.8 last month. 'With employment at record levels and the high dollar strengthening purchasing power, consumer optimism is translating into an early good news story for retailers as they enter the important holiday season, as long as they can head off the resurgence of cross-border shopping,' said TNS Vice-president Richard Jenkins. The study, which interviewed 1,015 people between 5 and 8 November, found that respondents plan to spend C$986 on Christmas gifts, decorations or other holiday items this year, a 12 per cent increase over 2006 spending, which averaged C$877. 'With confidence overflowing, consumers are poised to open their wallets this holiday season,' said Jenkins, who is the director of the firm's monthly consumer confidence index tracking study. The 'expectations index', which measures consumers' outlook for the economy, household income, and employment in six months, also rose. The November index value is 103.6 compared with 103.1 in October.

CBC News - Canada-U.S. alliance will help provinces, Charest says (16 November 2007) Six US states and seven Canadian provinces have launched a new business forum to boost trade between the two countries. Quebec Premier Jean Charest and Gov. Sonny Perdue of Georgia in the US announced the association Friday after a two-day meeting of southeastern US states and eastern Canadian provinces in Montreal. The United States is still Canada's biggest trading partner, Charest said. The Southeastern United States/Central and Eastern Canadian Provinces Alliance involves Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador on the Canadian side. The US states are Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama. The meeting of state governors and provincial leaders is the first of its kind.

The Toronto Star - Municipal buildings to draw on solar power (16 November 2007) The Toronto City Council is expected to approve an ambitious plan next week that will see up to 20 government buildings around Toronto get their heat from a new kind of energy provider: the solar utility. The city plans to select a company that will install, own, and operate solar thermal equipment on city buildings. Solar thermal systems use the sun's energy to heat buildings and water. In return, the city will sign a long-term contract—lasting 10 years or longer—agreeing to pay a fixed price for the renewable heat the systems produce at a rate that's equal to or less than the existing rate for natural gas. But unlike natural gas, solar heat produces no emissions and isn't subject to price volatility. 'There's no downside to it,' said Bruce Bowes, the city's chief operating officer. The buildings won't be completely free of using natural gas (or electricity) for heating, but the solar energy produced over a year typically reduces the need for fossil fuels by more than a third. Bowes said 20 buildings are likely just the start for the city. 'If this is quite successful, there's no reason to not continue,' he said.

The Ottawa Citizen - Solar-powered homes (10 November 2007) The hot water heater accounts for up to one-quarter of a household's energy consumption. A solar power system will meet 50 to 60 per cent of annual hot water needs without the greenhouse gas emissions of conventional hot water heating. A system for a family of four costs around C$6,500. With federal and provincial grants and rebates factored in, the system should have paid for itself in seven to eight years.

The Canadian Press - B.C. set to introduce first laws to ensure emissions will be cut as promised (17 November 2007) Legislation will be tabled this week in British Columbia legally enshrining Premier Campbell's ambitious commitment to combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions 33 per cent by 2020. According to the Premier, this legislation will entrench that target, and several interim benchmarks, into law. It will require the province to establish 'the most credible, aggressive and economically viable sector targets possible' for 2012 and 2016. Recently, a climate action secretariat has been set up within the premier's office. According to a government official, ideas cribbed from California will have a major effect on the province's efforts to curtail emissions. He said the commitment to adopt that state's tough tailpipe and low-carbon fuel standards soon, coupled with several other transit and planning initiatives, should reduce emissions by up to nine million tonnes by 2020. That amounts to nearly one-quarter of the estimated 36 to 40 million tonnes of reduced emissions needed to reach B.C.'s target. It is also expected to look at California's carbon-sensitive building code in revamping its own regulations in the near future.

CanWest News Service on final UN climate change report (17 November 2007) A landmark scientific report from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) lays out the case for global action to curb greenhouse gas emissions. The panel of more than 2,000 scientists spelled out the evidence in detail in the first three volumes released earlier this year. Saturday's report, the fourth and final volume, sums up the scientists' case. 'The science is powerful,' Environment Minister John Baird said. 'It's becoming stronger every day and it compels governments to take more action.' Baird says he expects the report to spur on the talks toward a new global climate deal. 'We need huge cuts in emissions,' says Andrew Weaver, a climatologist at the University of Victoria and IPCC co-author. Werner Kurz, a senior researcher at the Canadian Forest Service and co-author of the IPCC report, says he remains optimistic. He says the threat can be reduced if the world decides to make global warming a 'priority'. Options for curbing emissions include improving energy efficiency, use of more non-carbon forms of energy, and capturing carbon by replanting forests or burying it underground.

From a Vancouver Sun report on this: The fourth study may be the most critical because it is the one upon which governments will base future action to deal with climate change. 'I think people know now that climate change is something we must deal with and the status quo will cost us more than actually acting prudently—and I think not just prudently but directly and explicitly to change behaviours and to change the way we interact with the world,' B.C. Premier Campbell said on Friday. B.C. has a 33-per-cent reduction target by 2020. 'I think we will exceed this goal because I think we will surprise ourselves with how much can be done,' Campbell said. 'There is lots of stuff we can do that just requires us to think differently.'

From an Edmonton Journal report on this: 'This report is clear in its findings in terms of the scientific certainty, and the fact that we have so many technological solutions available that could go a long way to solving this problem in an affordable way,' said Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

From Canadian Press reports on this: The report points out that many key technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are already commercially available. For example, it advises governments to legislate in favour of higher fuel efficiency, capturing carbon before it enters the atmosphere, and tougher building codes. Federal Environment Minister John Baird welcomed the report. 'The science is clear and Canada, like the rest of the world needs to take immediate action on climate change,' he said.

These are a few of the news reports reflecting Canada's rising invincibility from the growing Yogic Flying groups across Canada and the Invincible America Assembly at Maharishi University of Management and Maharishi Vedic City, USA.

For further information on creating invincibility for your nation, please visit: www.globalgoodnews.com/invincibility.

Copyright © 2007 Global Good News(sm) Service

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