…is the message we are getting loud and clear from climate change experts talking about the latest and greatest break in the world's largest remaining ice shelf.

When ice breaks away like this, it floats away and melts, flooding surrounding areas with water. This flooding drowns islands, limits access and destroys eco systems once separated from the oceans with thick layers of ice.

Rising sea levels, destroyed natural habitats, displaced people. If the melting continues to worsen, the consequences are endless.

The full story is in the Globe and Mail.

As all of North America continues to struggle with rising fuel costs, solutions to end our dependency on foreign oil are crucial. Especially south of the border where though economic times are hitting hard. The latest is a plan from billionaire oilman T. Boone Pickens.

After years of getting rich from Texas oil, Pickens urges us all to consider how important it is to invest in other energy solution – like wind. He plans to invest over $2 billion in the world's largest wind farm, to span from the Canadian border down through to West Texas.

If an old Republican oil baron from Texas can get behind renewable energy technologies, what's next?

Read more at CNN.com.

Ever considered a "green" collar job? Everything from solar panel installation to sustainability research positions and scientifically heavy lab jobs are popping up all over the place.

Take California for example. The last few years has shown an crazy jump in the amount of jobs related to solar power. With over 7,000 solar jobs already, they plan to expand the industry by another 2,000 positions within the next year!

So for all of you worried about the dwindling American economy and scared about how it will contribute to your employability, think green. Think about greening your collar.

For more info about green jobs visit: Green Living Online.

And to learn more about California's green projects, check out the San Francisco Chronicle.

FLICK OFF knows it is crucial that we find opportunities to talk about the issue of global warming and learn ways to combat the greatest crisis of our time—together. So what better way to help spread the word than FLICKING OFF this Earth Day?

Both EARTH DAY and FLICK OFF are all about raising awareness and moving along the enviro dialogue. A match made in heaven, some might say. So, raise your voice, and raise it loud.

We all need to do our part. Think of starting your very own environmental club. Make climate change the topic of your next class assignment. Or just have fun with it and tell everyone you know to FLICK OFF—other students, teachers, even your principal. Now is the time.

And FLICK OFF can help. We have great Gear, Action Kits, Handouts and more, all available online. Just check it out. And if you need a little extra inspiration, take a look at MuchTalks Climate Change, an environmental documentary featuring Sum 41. It's fun, fast-paced, and you'll learn a lot.

So, FLICK OFF for EARTH DAY!

Cities all over the world came together on Saturday night to make sure their voices were heard. Together we flicked off our lights in one of the largest global acts of environmental participation, to date!

It’s clear. People believe in the cause. We believe in environmental reform. We believe we can make a difference, if we all act together.

So why stop there? If the time to act is now, we have to remember it is our responsibility to change our habits each and every day. One hour in one day is not going to change the energy consumption habits of a generation. One hour in one day is not going to change the world.

But with awareness high and our willingness to change on the front page of newspapers all over the world, we can surely encourage each other to keep up the good work - to FLICK OFF every single day hereafter.

To read more about Canadian’s participation in Earth Hour, see www.thestar.com.

Imagine a mountaintop, just blown to smithereens, hitting homes, businesses and mountain people below.

What could possibly justify all of the destruction? Why would anyone knowingly pollute a land that has nourished families for generations?

The answer is coal. And the newest, dirtiest way to get it: mountain top mining.

Nearly 500 mountains in Virginia have been destroyed this way. For the large corporations that do the mining it’s the cheapest and most efficient solution to harvest coal buried deep below the mountaintops – it’s a goldmine.

But the falling debris is destorying homes, polluting water supplies and causing rivers to flood over onto previously rich farmlands. It’s killing the valleys below, all to feed our insatiable hunger for energy.

It’s just not worth it.

To find out more, please read the Toronto Star’s complete coverage of coal mining in the Appalachian mountains.

…from Toyota and GM. According to both Bob Lutz, GM's vice chairman, and Toyota's president, Katsuaki Watanabe, the technology is expensive and we just don't have to means to distribute hydrogen in mass quantities.

Instead both companies believe we need to focus on lithium-ion batteries, which have to potential to make hydrogen fuel cells obsolete.

The bottom line? Finally enough thought and research is being put into these issues. The right solution may just be around the next corner.

Read more in the Technology Review, published by M.I.T.

Richard Branson is at it again, making headlines in the pursuit of viable fuel alternatives. Last Sunday, Virgin Atlantic along with Boeing and General Electric were able to test the first plane powered by biofuel made from… nuts and coconut oil!

With so much debate over the sustainability of biofuels made from things like soy and corn, Branson is eager to find a similar technology that won't contribute to deforestation or compete with the availability of staple food supplies.

Read the story in The New York Times.

To help reduce pollution and make the air a little cleaner, London has introduced Low Emission Zones in various parts of the city. What exactly do they do? Well, these zones use a system of cameras to identify the worst polluting diesel trucks and charge the drivers £200—nearly $400—for simply passing through.

Sounds pretty ideal, doesn't it?

Well how's this for an idea: everywhere should be a Low Emission Zone. Come on Canada; let's take a hint from overseas. Better yet, let's one up them!

Get the full story at thestar.com.

Together with the David Suzuki Foundation, concerned citizens can raise their voice and make sure Dalton finally bans the use and sale of lawn and garden pesticides in Ontario.

Raise that voice, do it here.

This one is a real no-brainer. Lawn and garden pesticides are simply unnecessary. And allowing the use of these pesticides is about as ridiculous as banning clotheslines because they look kinda ugly.

Lucky for us, the Ontario government is currently calling for public input on this issue too. So, let them have it – really, really loudly. Send all of your clothesline ban input by March 21, 2008, directly to:

Alan Kirschbaum,
Senior Policy Advisor
Conservation Branch, Office of Conservation and Strategic Policy
Ministry of Energy
6th Floor, 880 Bay Street
Toronto, ON M7A 2C1
Phone: 416 325-5767
Fax: 416 325-6972
E-mail: alan.kirschbaum@ontario.ca