Submerged Islands - Climate Refugees Fleeing

25 Million People Uprooted In 2007 Due To The Rising Seas . . .

As the climate continues to warm, entire islands are sinking below rising waters caused from melting glaciers. Mr. Achim Steiner - United Nations Under Secretary General & U.N. Environment Programme Executive Director. Indeed there are many island nations who are doomed already now, condemned if you want to disappear. Therefore there is no question that we have to act. And that is just the beginning of the visible impact of climate change. The invisible part, the bits that we have not necessarily understood that are happening around us are also on their way.

At Least 18 Islands Submerged Around The World:

• Lohachara, India 10,000 residents
• Bedford, Kabasgadi and Suparibhanga islands near India 6,000 families
• Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, USA 13 islands
• Kiribati 3 atolls
• Half of Bangladeshs Bhola Island permanently flooded 500,000

Islands Sinking Or At Risk From Rising Sea Levels - Over 40 Nations

There may be more islands, either uninhabited and/or not reported, that have submerged or are sinking due to climate change:

* Tuvalu 12,000 residents with no more fresh drinking water and vegetable plots have washed away
* Ghoramara near India 2/3 submerged as of 2006 with 7,000 residents already relocated
* Neighboring island of Sagar 250,000 residents also threatened
* Some 50 other islands jeopardized in the India-Bangladesh Sundarbans, with a population of 2 million
* Kutubdia in southeastern Bangladesh lost over 200,000 residents, with remaining 150,000 likely soon to depart
* Maldives 369,000 residents in the Indian Ocean, whose president wants to relocate the entire country
* Marshall Islands 60,000 residents
* Kiribati 107,800 residents, approximately 30 islands submerging
* Tonga 116,900 residents
* Vanuatu 212,000 residents, some of whom have already been evacuated and coastal villages relocated
* Solomon Islands 566,800 residents
* Carteret Islands in Papua New Guinea 2,500 residents whose land no longer supports agriculture
* Shishmaref in Alaska, USA 600 residents
* Kivalini in Alaska, USA 400 residents
* Over 2,000 other islands in Indonesia
* Dubai 1.2 million residents in the United Arab Emirates considered at risk

http://forum.stopthespray.org/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2543

The Vegan Food Pyramid

Click the picture to enlarge it.

The Age of Stupid

The Age of Stupid is a 90-minute film about climate change, set in the future, which will have its world premiere in London on March 15th 2009 and then be released in UK cinemas on March 20th 2009, followed by other countries.Oscar-nominated Pete Postlethwaite (In The Name of the Father, Brassed Off) stars as a man living alone in the devasted world of 2055, looking back at "archive" footage from 2007 and asking: why didn't we stop climate change when we had the chance?

Indonesia Risks Losing Islands Due to Climate Change

With global warming accelerating, Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI) researcher Dewi Fortuna Anwar has stated that the outermost islands of the nation are in great danger of being submerged due to rising sea levels. With a total of 17,504 islands, some of which are thought to have already been lost to the sea, it is anticipated that a one-meter rise in sea level would cause 2,000 islands to completely sink along with the disappearance of 405,000 hectares of coastal land.

Our sincere sympathies for those whose lives are impacted by the encroaching coastal waters of climate change. We pray that measures for sustainable living are adopted in nations worldwide for the renewed stability of all lives.

In December 2008, Supreme Master Ching Hai spoke with our Association members about the international threat of sinking islands and other calamities linked to global warming.
Supreme Master Ching Hai: We have already at least 18 islands already sink under the sea. Six meters under the sea already. And another 2000 are sinking or at risk of sinking. It's more or less like that. It will be many places. Earthquakes are everywhere now. Storm, flood everywhere, more than ever before. Every day you see on Supreme Master TV always something.People begin vegetarian a lot because they want to save the planet. And saving the planet means saving lives.

http://suprememastertv.com/blog/

2009 Food Trend: Flexitarianism

By: Jessica Vandelay
According to a recent study by the American Dietetic Association, already a quarter of Americans fit the description of a flexitarian, eating meatless meals at least four days a week. A flexitarian diet is exactly what doctors, nutritionists, dieticians and public health advocates have been recommending for many years because the emphasis of the eating trend is on produce rather than protein consumption. Most flexitarians meet the recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables, whereas meat-eaters do not.

There are many reasons why people choose to be flexitarians rather than vegetarians. Some of the most popular reasons are social, pragmatic, cultural ore nutritional. Like most diets, there is a wide range in the circumstances of flexitarian dietary practices.

Futhermore, studies show that people who follow the flexitarian approach to eating generally weigh less and have lower rates of hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and prostate and colon cancer.

Flexitarian diets, just like vegetarian diets can meet all the recommendations for nutrients. The key, as in any diet, is to consume a variety of foods and the right amount of those foods to meet your calorie needs. Nutrients that flexatarians may need to focus on include protein, iron, calcium, zinc, and vitamin B12. You should consult the food pyramid for the correct amount of calories for your age group, height and weight.

Flexetarians can get enough protein as long as the variety and amounts of foods selected are adequate. Protein sources from the Meat and Beans group for vegetarians include beans, nuts, nut butters, peas, and soy products like tofu, tempeh and veggie burgers.

There are many resources for people considering vegetarian or flexitarian lifestyles, especially in cooking and food magazines. Among the top food magazines is Vegetarian Times magazine. Vegetarian Times magazine is published nine times a year and provides readers with information, news and trends on the forefront of the vegetarian-eating movement. The magazine also provides delicious recipes, wellness tips, environmentally-friendly lifestyle solutions and health and nutrition advice from nutritionists and doctors.

Other food magazine with plenty of vegetarian and flexitarian recipes and meal-planning ideas are Cooking Light, Gourmet, Cook's Illustrated, Bon Appetit and Food and Wine. These magazines also offer advice and lists on which chain and local restaurants best accommodate vegetarian diners and modifications to menu items by providing meatless alternatives. The magazines also provide readers with which cuisines, like Indian and Chinese, are most vegetarian-friendly. (read more)

Australia's Great Barrier Reef - Dealing with Climate Change

Australia's Great Barrier Reef, listed as a World Heritage Area in 1981 for its exceptional natural beauty and qualities, extends for over 2,000 km along the northeast coast of the continent and covers 35 million hectares; about the size of Italy. It is also the largest protected marine ecosystem in the world.

Internationally renowned for its size, beauty and biodiversity, the Great Barrier Reef is comprised of a network of almost 3,000 reefs formed from over 360 species of hard coral. Home to thousands of species, they provide complex habitats that support a great variety of reef-associated flora and fauna.

The impact of climate change on coral reefs is a major concern from both the Australian and international perspectives. Two of the reef's main research, protection and management bodies: the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority are implementing strategies to deal with the global warming effects. However, they realize if key issues are not immediately addressed, the consequences for Australia's coral reefs could be devastating despite their safeguarding efforts.

Scientifically documented data from all around the world directly link the rise of sea water temperatures to the bleaching of coral reefs, known as "coral bleaching events." Although the well-managed and protected networks of reefs can endure much of the localized human pressures, they are not protected against global warming or changes in the ocean's chemistry. As global temperatures continue to escalate, the frequency of these bleaching events also increases.

Dr. Janice Lough, Principal Research Scientist and leader of the Responding to Climate Change Team at AIMS, has been studying the impacts of climate change on coral reef systems for several years. In a recent interview, Dr. Lough explained how the corals form special symbiosis relationships with little algae, from which massive calcium carbonate skeletons are created, forming the backbone of the reef. "And it's actually these algae, the photosynthetic pigments in those little plants, that give corals their colors." However, the corals are very sensitive and when they become stressed, for instance, through rising water temperatures, they throw out the algae and the tissue layers become transparent so the corals lose their beautiful coloring. It's referred to as bleaching because instead of the colorful corals, all that's left are the white skeletons. Dr. Lough further explained that, "As a consequence of coral bleaching, there are various outcomes. The coral might recover once the stress has disappeared, it might partially die, or it can die completely."

In recent years, the Great Barrier Reef has experienced major bleaching events. In 1998 and in 2002, about 50% of the reef was affected, and again in the southern part of the reef in 2006. Fortunately, the reef is a well-protected system; so the chances of corals recovering from bleaching events are very high. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Authority Park monitors, controls and insures good usage of the reef. However, in order to protect it from further bleaching events, we need to drastically reduce our greenhouse gas emissions to prevent the sea water temperatures from increasing any further.

The Great Barrier Reef is also at the mercy of changes in ocean chemistry, where the oceans are becoming more acidic due to their absorption of atmospheric carbon dioxide. These changes are also detrimental to our coral reefs because ocean acidification weakens their structures, creating more problems for the reef ecosystem. Many marine organisms use calcium and carbonate ions from seawater to produce calcium carbonate, which is how the corals form their skeletons. Increased carbon dioxide in the oceans decreases the availability of carbonate ions, thus reducing the ability of marine organisms to form skeletons and shells – the very backbone of a coral reef. This is a very serious threat because weaker reef structures means slower growth and reduced resilience to the natural forces of erosion, leading to a slower recovery of coral, if at all, after a bleaching event.

Allowing the Great Barrier Reef to disintegrate due to human-induced climate change would be a terrible loss because the world would be losing something incredibly beautiful. Actually, the coral reef is not just a bunch of corals; it's comprised of a whole stream of other organisms that depend on the coral, including fish and turtles and other marine life. Furthermore, coastal areas such as mangroves, wetlands, estuaries and sea grass beds are intimately linked to the reef, so we would be losing an entire ecosystem!

Under the current global climatic changes, coral reefs may not entirely disappear. However, their appearance, structure and community make-up have been changing drastically; so if we continue to allow our greenhouse gas emissions to rise without conscience, we humans will be the source of destruction of such an astounding ecological unit. This is why urgent greenhouse gas mitigation strategies are necessary to prevent any further damage and alterations to the coral reef environment. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is encouraging the general public to: plant more trees, use sustainable energy, choose energy efficient products, drive less, car pool, use public transport, walk or cycle, spread the word to others, and offset or neutralize our greenhouse gas emissions any way we can. Further to these, by adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet we will considerably reduce our emissions, helping to save one of the most beautiful and unique marine ecosystems in the world – the Great Barrier Reef.

Vegetarianism in Religion

French Get a Sober Warning to Give Up Wine for Their Health

From The Times
February 20, 2009

Charles Bremner in Paris
With gloom all around, President Sarkozy's Government might have chosen another moment for its latest campaign. This one tells the French people to stop drinking wine.

To the anger of the drinks industry and disbelief of many patriots, the Ministry of Health has made alcohol one of the chief villains in a drive against cancer.

"The consumption of alcohol, and especially wine, is discouraged," say guidelines that are drawn from the findings of the National Cancer Institute (INCA). A single glass of wine per day will raise the chance of contracting cancer by up to 168 per cent, claims the ministry's brochure.

Forget those 1980s findings that antioxidants in wine were good for health, said the French experts. "Small daily doses of alcohol are the most harmful. There is no amount, however small, which is good for you," said Dominique Maraninchi, INCA's president.

Authorities elsewhere have been telling people in recent years to go dry if they want to stay healthy. But the advice was especially sobering, coming from the Government of France, a country where wine is part of life and the national heritage.

The pleasantly illustrated ministry brochure makes grim reading. The INCA collated hundreds of international studies and summarised the relation between types of cancer with food, drink and lifestyle. Apart from wine, the dangerous stuff is red meat, charcuterie and salt. A pavé de rum-steakmight not sound so mouth-watering after reading: "The risk of colon-rectal cancer rises by 29 per cent per 100-gramme portion of red meat per day and 21 per cent per 50-gramme portion of charcuterie."

Alcohol facilitates cancers of the mouth, larynx, oesophagus, colon-rec-tum and breast, say the guidelines.

The wine producers are crying foul, accusing the health lobby of trying to kill one of the glories of the nation. They note the suspicious coincidence that France now has its first teetotal President. Mr Sarkozy sips mineral water and orange juice when all around him are knocking back the champagne and burgundy.

"This persecution of wine has to stop," said the General Association of Wine Producers. The growers say that the scientific evidence is contradictory and they point to a World Health Organisation study which found that moderate consumption helped to prevent cancer.

Xavier de Volontat, president of the wine producers' assocation in the southwestern Languedoc region, said: "The extremists must not be allowed to take consumers hostage... Wine consumption has dropped by 50 per cent over the last 20 years in France but cancer has increased. You have to admit, that's a paradox." (read more)

European Parliament Conference Addresses the Meat Impact on Climate Change

European Parliament conference addresses the meat impact on climate change, world hunger and animal rights.



European Parliament conference addresses the meat impact on climate change, world hunger and animal rights. "Feeding the World under the Climate Threat?" was the question posed in the forum on November 12 to 13 that was hosted by Swedish Member of the European Parliament and vegetarian Jens Holm. International experts discussed the harmful impact of mass-producing livestock on the environment and vulnerable populations.

Jens Holm - Swedish Member of European Parliament, Vegetarian: The greatest impact you actually could do, that would be to reduce your meat consumption or stop eating meat totally. You would create a surplus of crops that could be used to feed the people who are starving today.
The conference addressed potential measures from the European Union to tackle the animal agriculture sector's increasing greenhouse gas emissions.

Jens Holm: Today, European subsidies going directly to advertisement campaigns for meat consumption. It should be the other way around. We should have awareness campaigns for vegetarian consumption, because that is the solution.

It's the solution not only for solving hunger and climate change, but according to Parliament member Holm, who is also a staunch animal advocate, vegetarianism protects countless animal lives.

Jens Holm: My hope for the children of the future is that they can live in a world which is in accordance to nature; also in accordance with the animals so that we don't breed animals; we don't transport animals, of course we don't kill the animals.

European Parliament Leads the Way: Reduce Meat Consumption to Stop Climate Change

European Parliament's Temporary Committee on Climate Change: '...reduce meat consumption'
Brussels, 02/12/2008

A report voted today by the European Parliament's Temporary Committee on Climate Change, drawn up by Conservative MEP Karl Heinz Florenz, concludes the work of this committee by putting forward a series of recommendations for a future EU integrated policy on climate change.

Speaking after the vote, Roberto Musacchio (GUE/NGL, Italy), Vice-Chair of the Committee, said he was satisfied with the report which he said stresses the importance of adopting sectoral targets on energy efficiency as well as using public procurement to support renewable energies.
"I am particularly satisfied that nuclear energy is not considered as an alternative or renewable energy contributing to the reduction of CO2 emissions," he said.

Expressing his satisfaction that the Committee had approved a reduction in meat consumption, particularly in the industrialised world, Jens Holm (GUE/NGL, Sweden), shadow rapporteur for GUE/NGL, said that the meat industry was one of the "world's greatest climate villains. It's almost historical to get such a wide support for the demand to reduce meat consumption".

http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=40260

Aussies advised to eat less red meat, dairy to help the environment

Melbourne, February 2 (ANI): A leading public health group has advised Australians to have less red meat and dairy for their own good and that of the environment as well.

According to the Public Health Association of Australia, a more integrated approach was required towards dietary guidelines, in place of sole concentration on nutrients.

The Association's Chief, Michael Moore suggested cutting down on red meat and dairy products to help reduce carbon emissions.

"A small reduction in eating red meat and dairy would be a positive step for the environment and generally a positive step for health," News.com.au quoted him as saying.

"Reducing the amount of food that comes from cattle would actually have a greater impact on the environment than sourcing (food) locally."

"Australians tend to eat more red meat than is necessary," he added.

He further handed out advice that eating in groups, such as with family and friends, further eggs on healthier eating habits than dining alone. (ANI)

http://skytimes.co.uk/aussies-advised-to-eat-less-red-meat-dairy-to-help-the-environment/

A Delicate Balance - The Truth

A Delicate Balance - The Truth is a 2008 documentary created by Aaron Scheibner, outlining the disastrous effects of our diet on health and the environment. A Delicate Balance documents the latest discoveries by some of the most prominent experts on nutrition in the world. Over 50 years of research is skilfully woven into what may be considered as much needed revelation into what has struck affluent countries with an almost ill health epidemic: disease has been escalating over the last 50 years resulting in 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women being diagnosed with cancer.

Three years in the making, A Delicate Balance is a succinct production featuring candid, heartfelt interviews with some of the world's leading experts. It gives you answers to the questions you never thought to ask, and sets you on the path to asking the questions the animal products corporations hoped you never would... Most importantly, it proves that life is a delicate balance - and we can all tip the scales. Watching this film will help you make informed choices about your health and the environment around you and how to reduce your personal impact. A Delicate Balance debunks the myths surrounding the production and consumption of animal products and exposes the harsh realities ...

* Why are you three times more likely to die of colon cancer if you eat meat?

* How is meat production causing water shortage, starvation and poverty?

* Are you inflicting Type 1 diabetes on your children by feeding them milk?

* Why don't our medical schools teach doctors about nutrition?

* Can becoming a vegan really lead to worldwide social equity?

Available to stream online at http://www.adelicatebalance.tv/. DVD purchase is also available online with NTSC formatting available for USA and Canada and PAL for elsewhere.

The young filmmaker Aaron Scheibner

In 2009 A Delicate Balance is going on a University Tour, offering free screenings to students and the community. For the moment this tour includes USA and Australia. Please go to http://www.adelicatebalance.com.au/screenings.php to express interest in screenings and http://www.adelicatebalance.com.au/streetteam.html to join the street team.

The following is some of the comments from people who have watched the preview:

Lori: awesome!!! more and more of these films need to come out..I think that were really are all crying out for this type of film.i no longer am entertained by violence and sex..i want to be educated and make changes..i am one but i can do much..if we all think this way we can turn things around..it has to start somewhere..Let it be with you!! Peace and Love

Cheri: I too got goose bumps just from the preview! This is obviously a film that needs to be revealed to all humans on this planet. All other sentient beings know full well there is a Delicate Balance because they are loosing. I agree we need solutions, not just the message but I meet so many folks that still don't want to hear that message. This might just be powerful enough to turn more heads and stimulate more thinking towards solutions.

Marie: Yes Lori, I agree with your thoughts. if we all pull together and do our bit to spread the word surely we can educate those who are ignorant of the facts or too deeply entrenched in their everyday routines to even consider the truth... For too long there has been brainwashing through the media, consumerism dictates our lifestyle rather than conscience... It's a case of 'The Emperors New Clothes' and if one speaks out then more will follow!we have to open our eyes and save the planet before it's too late.
read more...

View the interview with the filmmaker Aaron Scheibner by Supreme Master TV:
A Delicate Balance -the Truth" with Filmmaker Aaron Scheibner Part 1 http://suprememastertelevision.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=featured&wr_id=238&goto_url=&url=link2_0
A Delicate Balance -the Truth" with Filmmaker Aaron Scheibner Part 2 http://suprememastertelevision.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=featured&wr_id=238&url=link2_1#v

2 Minutes To Change

2 Minutes To Change-the Single Most Significant Thing You Can Do To Halt Global Warming.
Come to find out the single most significant thing you can do to halt global warming. It is more effective than changing to a fuel efficient car, changing to energy efficient light bulbs, all forms of transport & recycling put together.


PRLog (Press Release) – Feb 11, 2009 – Through on-going concern for the well being of our planet, the members of the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association Australia will be gathering together peacefully for a public utility event with worldwide repercussions in various places on the 22nd February at 12pm to raise awareness of the vegetarian diet and the effect of the non-vegetarian diet on climate change.
Join us to find out the single most significant thing you can do as an individual to halt global warming. Full colour vegetarian recipe books filled with delicious vegetarian dishes will be given out for free and there will be a question and answer session for any pressing questions.
We will be joined by local vegetarian and environmental groups making a unified stand for the Earth, so make a date and please join us! Visit http://www.feb22event.com/for more information or contact:
Northern Rivers Centre
Natalie Dougherty
(02) 66899422 or 0402500342
annai.smtv@gmail.com
# # #

About The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association: The Association comprises hundreds of thousands of people in over 300 centres on all continents. It is a non-profit and humanitarian spiritual organization promoting world peace through meditation and a vegetarian lifestyle based on compassion for all beings. For more than two decades, the Association has devoted considerable efforts towards providing humanitarian relief to disaster victims and the less fortunate. Some of their activities include disaster relief, helping the homeless, destitute, poor and vulnerable, visiting old age homes, cleaning the environment, reforestation within local communities and promoting a nobler, healthier way of life.

The Bottom Line on Climate Change: It's What's For Dinner!

The Bottom Line on Climate Change: It's What's For Dinner!

Let's Act Now tells the public the other inconvenient truth - our meat eating habit is a principal cause of global warming and a meatless diet can stop runaway climate change




February 2nd, 2009, New York /PRNewswire/- Let's Act Now launched today a nationwide Public Service Announcement campaign stressing the urgency of climate change and its connection to our food choices. The campaign urges the public to understand their own personal responsibility in stopping global warming. According to a special report from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, animal farming produces more greenhouse gases than all global transportation combined. A switch to a plant based diet is the single most effective action a person can take to mitigate the effects of accelerating climate change.

According to the chief climate scientist at NASA, Dr. James Hansen, "There are many things people can do to reduce their carbon emissions, but changing a light bulb and other things are much less effective than changing your diet. Because if you eat further down on the food chain rather than animals which have produced many greenhouse gases, and used much energy in the process of growing that meat, you can actually make a bigger contribution in that way than just about anything. So in terms of individual actions, it is the best thing you can do."

Animal agriculture, including"sustainable," locally-raised animals, is a huge cause of global warming, creating nearly one-fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions. It also uses up most of our water, is responsible for the majority of rainforest destruction in the Amazon, and is a direct cause of global hunger. Changing our diet to a meat-free, dairy-free, egg-free vegan diet can significantly and rapidly reverse global warming, lower emissions, reduce deforestation, avoid drought, and help feed the hungry.

Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and winner of the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize, along with Al Gore, has this to say about the matter: "If you were to take into account the entire chain of meat production and consumption, it is hugely intensive in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. Therefore I always say that if you eat less meat, you will be healthier and so would the planet. We consume far too much meat in this world! It would help the global community enormously if we ate less meat, the entire meat cycle is very, very intensive in terms of carbon dioxide emissions…more than anything else, it is a win-win solution if we eat less meat."

The Let's Act Now website (http://letsactnow.org) stresses that the simple act of reducing meat consumption in our daily diets would have a major impact on global warming. As a coalition of concerned groups and citizens, the Let's Act Now website includes extensive data published in "Livestock's Long Shadow," a study of factory farming produced by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in 2006. Also on the website are analyses of the impact a plant based diet has on food and water resources, and public health, as well as discussions of ethical and moral considerations. Moreover, it has links to many other data-rich sources, such as CNN, the New York Times and Supreme Master Television.

All lives on earth are interconnected. Just imagine the power we have when we make our simple daily decisions. We can determine our own well-being and the well-being of others; we can choose to protect or threaten the welfare of animals; and most of all, we can choose to help save or destroy the planet we all live on. We have come to the critical moment when we have to decide which direction we want to go.... Let's Act Now!

PSA Directed by Award Winning Producer Lionel Friedberg
The Let's Act Now PSA was produced by the multi-award winning producer/director/writer/cinematographer Mr. Lionel Friedberg. His film,"A Sacred Duty," is a stark reminder of the cruel and unsustainable practices of factory farming. According to Mr. Friedberg, "It may sound outrageous or far-fetched, but the only way to avoid an irreversible ecological catastrophe from destroying our world is to switch to a plant-based diet. From studies undertaken by dozens of organizations, including the United Nations, meat-eating is undermining our planet in so many ways. Beyond that there are the proven health benefits that are derived from a vegetarian lifestyle. And let us not forget that we are so distanced, detached and divorced from our food sources that people who eat the flesh of other beings pile not only toxic, tarnished and unhealthy commodities on their plates, but also heaps of unmitigated misery. The suffering endured by creatures destined for human consumption is beyond comprehension."

Climate Change Puts Human Health at Risk

UN: Climate Change Puts Human Health at Risk
GENEVA, Switzerland, April 8, 2008 (ENS)

Bringing a rise in air and sea temperatures and extreme weather patterns, global warming endangers not only the planet but also threatens human health, top United Nations officials warned on Monday - World Health Day - which marks the founding of the UN World Health Organization on April 7, 1948.

"The core concern is succinctly stated - climate change endangers human health," said Dr. Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organization, WHO.

"The warming of the planet will be gradual," she said, "but the effects of extreme weather events - more storms, floods, droughts and heat waves - will be abrupt and acutely felt."

She noted that human beings are already exposed to the effects of climate-sensitive diseases, including malnutrition, which causes over 3.5 million deaths per year, diarrheal diseases, which kill over 1.8 million people a year, and malaria, which kills almost one million people every year.

"Although climate change is a global phenomenon, its consequences will not be evenly distributed," said Dr. Chan. "In short, climate change can affect problems that are already huge, largely concentrated in the developing world, and difficult to control."

Recent events such as the European heat wave in 2003; Hurricane Katrina, which struck the United States in 2005; and cholera epidemics in Bangladesh are just a few examples of what can be expected in the future.

"These trends and events cannot be attributed solely to climate change but they are the types of challenges we expect to become more frequent and intense with climate changes," Chan said. "They will further strain health resources which, in many regions, are already under severe stress."

To address the health effects of climate change, WHO is coordinating and supporting research and assessment on the most effective measures to protect health, particularly for the most vulnerable such as women and children in developing countries.

WHO is advising member states on the changes they must make to their health systems to protect their peoples, and will work with them in the future to develop effective means of adapting to a changing climate and reducing its effects on human health.

"Nearly 10 million children under age five die every year of largely preventable diseases," said Ann Veneman executive director of the UN Children's Fund, or UNICEF. "Many of the main global killers of children - including malaria and diarrhoea - are sensitive to changes in temperature and rainfall, and could become more common if weather patterns change."

Women and children tend to be most affected by hurricanes and flooding, which climate change experts say will increase in intensity and frequency in coming years. The destruction of homes, schools and health centers resulting from natural disasters reduce services available to families.

"The voices of women and children must be heard and their needs assessed as part of the international response to prospective changes to the environment, and they must have access to the knowledge and tools necessary to protect themselves and their communities," UNICEF said.
(read more)

Main Climate Change Solution - Vegetarianism

Supreme Master Ching Hai - a world-renowned spiritual teacher, artist, and humanitarian
"The root of our problem is that we have been unkind to our co-inhabitants: the living, feeling, walking, acting, loving beings, like animals, of all size and shapes. And we have also been unkind to our environment. We have been massacring our co-inhabitant animals, and we have been destroying our environment, like deforesting and destroying the water and destroying the air. So, in order to solve the problem that we are facing right now, we have to reverse our actions. We have to be kind to our co-inhabitants. Instead of killing them, massacring them, sacrificing them, we have to take care of them. And instead of deforestation, we have to plant trees again. Take care of whatever environment that we have."

Dr. James Hansen - NASA's top climatologist
"There are many things that people can do to reduce their carbon emissions, but changing your light bulb and many of the things are much less effective than changing your diet, because if you eat further down on the food chain rather than animals, which have produced many greenhouse gases, and used much energy in the process of growing that meat, you can actually make a bigger contribution in that way than just about anything. So, that, in terms of individual action, is perhaps the best thing you can do."
"My message to you is: Be Veg, Go Green, Save the Planet."

Dr. Rajendra Pachauri - The chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
"the entire cycle of meat production and consumption, it's hugely intensive in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. And therefore, I always say that if you eat less meat you would be healthier and so would the planet!
I think it would help the global community enormously, if we consume less meat. But I am only highlighting the fact that the entire meat cycle is very very intensive, in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. "
"I would say Go Veg, Be Green and save our planet!

Andrew Bartlett - Former Australian senator, animal welfare advocate

"Global warming is probably the most important issue facing all of us and for taking the long term view we're facing an extremely serious threat of major climate change. And frankly, if we allow the current growth in livestock production to continue to occur, then all of the other things that we try and do in changing the way we generate our energy is going to be cancelled out."

Maneka Gandhi - India Parliament Member, former Indian Environment Minister

"Unless we change our food choices, nothing else matters, because it is meat that is destroying most of our forests, it is meat that pollutes the waters, it is meat that is creating disease which leads to all our money being diverted to hospitals. So it is the first choice for any body who wants to save the Earth."

For more information, please visit:

http://www.suprememastertv.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=environment

Methane and Climate Change

The rapid release of methane into the earth's atmosphere 635 million years ago caused rapid warming and mass extinction of species, disrupting the climate for more than 100,000 years.and may happen again in the near future, reported in Nature .

The concern is that it could take a relative small rise in temperature to start unleashing the gas, which would then trigger an unstoppable warming cycle.

The first evidence that millions of tons of methane 72 times more potent than carbon dioxide over 20 years is being released into the atmosphere from beneath the Arctic seabed has been discovered by scientists at Sep 2008 according to The Independent.

The livestock industry is the number one producer of methane which is the most potent greenhouse gases. The UN reports that meat production emits 37 percent of the world's methane gas.

Are we short of water?

Are we short of water?

１ serving of BEEF Over 1,200 gallons of water used
１ serving of CHICKEN 330 gallonsof water used
１ Complete VEGAN meal with TOFU, RICE, and VEGETABLES 98 gallons of water used

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Meat Eating and Food Shortage

Rising food prices have plunged an additional 75 million people below the hunger threshold, bringing the estimated number of undernourished people worldwide to 923 million in 2007.

But are we really short of food?
1/3 of the world's cereal harvest and over 90% of soya is used for animal feed, despite inherent inefficiencies. Grain currently fed to livestock is enough to feed ２ billion people.

It takes 10 kg of animal feed to produce 1 kg of beef
4 to 5.5 kg of grain to produce 1 kg of pork
2.1 to 3 kg of grain to produce 1 kg of poultry meat
Source: FAO, 2006; CAST 1999; B. Parmentier, 2007

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Monkey Waiters

The amazing monkey waiters that serve tables in a Japanese restaurant
By Daily Mail Reporter


A Japanese restaurant has changed the face of customer service by employing two monkeys to help with the table service.


The Kayabukiya tavern, a traditional 'sake house' north of Tokyo has employed a pair of uniformed Japanese macaque called Yat-chan and Fuku-chan to serve patrons.


Twelve-year-old Yat-chan is the crowd-pleaser as he moves quickly between tables taking customer drink orders.



The younger of the two, Fuku-chan is quick to give the diners a hot towel to help them clean their hands before they order their drinks, as is the custom in Japan.

Yat-chan and Fuku-chan, who are both certified by the local authorities to work in the tavern are well appreciate by customers, who tip them with soya beans.

'The monkeys are actually better waiters than some really bad human ones,' customer Takayoshi Soeno said.

Tavern owner Kaoru Otsuka, 63, originally kept the monkeys as household pets - but when the older one started aping him he realised they were capable of working in the restaurant.'Yat-chan first learned by just watching me working in the restaurant,' he said.

'It all started when one day I gave him a hot towel out of curiosity and he brought the towel to the customer.'


A regular of the tavern, 58-year-old Shoichi Yano, says the animals are like her children.
'Actually, [they're] better,' she said. 'My son doesn't listen to me but Yat-chan will.'
Some clients, like retiree Miho Takikkawa, say Yat-chan appears to understand their exact orders.

'We called out for more beer just then and it brought us some beer," she said. "It's amazing how it seems to understand human words.'


The monkeys work in shifts of up to two hours a day due to Japanese animal rights regulations.
But the owner is hoping to bring up the next generation of monkey waiters, and is already training three baby monkeys to work as waiters.