As
home to 70% of the Earth’s tropical glaciers, Peru has witnessed a 30%
loss of glacial mass in the last 30 years due to climate change.
Catholic University Research Center Director Bernex Nicol expressed his
concern about the matter in a talk given on the radio station Radio
Programs of Peru.
With shortages already threatening cities like
Lima, where 1.5 million people are currently without water, further
reductions are anticipated from factors such as the disappearance of
freshwater springs in the northern Andes, where over 50% have dried due
to deforestation.
Moreover, Peru’s National University of
Engineering Director Julio Kuroiwa has stated that further shortages are
expected in Lima, where water supplies could decrease by another 25%
over the next decade.
Meanwhile, demands on this fragile
resource are further complicated by metal contamination coming from
mines in the country’s highlands.
Our appreciation Directors
Nicol, Kuroiwa and colleagues for your evaluation and voiced concern
about the vanishing Peruvian glaciers and their effect on people’s
lives.
Let us act in unison now to stabilize the security and
survival of the Peruvian people and all inhabitants of our shared
Earthly home. As on previous occasions, Supreme Master Ching Hai spoke
during a September 2009 conference in Peru about the country’s water
crisis and how to bring relief to this global problem.
Supreme Master Ching Hai: In Peru, the loss to glaciers is equivalent to 10 whole years of water supply for Lima city.
With
8 of the country’s water basins already noted as being insufficient to
meet people’s needs, Peru’s President Garcia announced in 2008 the
construction of two desalination plants to try to address the water
scarcity. It’s that urgent already in Peru.
Dwindling water
supplies have caused escalating tensions and even conflicts to erupt as
many people, including disadvantaged farmers, don’t have enough water,
or are struggling for their share.
So please, before the
situation gets any more out of hand – let’s choose the vegan diet. The
future effects will be greatly eased. Only then will we have a
manageable situation.
Be veg, go green, so we can all save the planet.
http://www.peruviantimes.com/limas-water-supply-to-decrease-by-25-percent-over-next-10-years/075683 http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/sci/2010-03/28/c_13227756.htm http://www.peruviantimes.com/brack-limas-water-supply-secure-over-next-years/285418