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On the power of simple choices.
As the world’s meat consumption levels doubled since the 1960s, so did the demand for a solution to the deplorable environmental harms of the farmed animal industry.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization had projected in 2006 that concerns would range over time from lesser to more serious issues such as pollution, climate change and loss of biodiversity.
Dignitaries gathered at the November 16 international conference in Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico, addressed these already gravest concerns as they spoke to the theme of “SOS – A Quick Action to Stop Global Warming.”

In a speech, His Excellency Mr. Alonso Domínguez Ferráez, Coordinator of Environment of the State of Veracruz, emphasized the importance of consumers’ lifestyle choices to overcoming global warming.  

His Excellency Mr. Alonso Domínguez Ferráez, Coordinator of Environment of the State of Veracruz, Mexico (M): An ecological or environmental view of the economy allows us to discard this pseudo-theory that reducing material and energy consumption implies a decrease in well-being. I invite all of you to begin
to act: Let’s change our consumption habits, our eating and purchasing habits and lifestyles, for ways that help us win our battle against climate change.

VOICE: Upon the invitation of Environment Coordinator Domínguez Ferráez’s and the request of the Mexican government, honored guest Supreme Master Ching Hai shared her perspectives via videoconference.
She spoke in particular about overcoming obstacles, such as the meat industry’s strong lobbying practices, to make the needed dietary shift away from animal products.

Supreme Master Ching Hai: It has been well hidden from our view, the truth about the cruelty and damages of animal raising to our health and our planet. And the products that come out of the factories destroy our health, in many ways: like Type 2 diabetes, which, by the way, is the number one cause of death in Mexico, obesity, cancer etc, etc. The list goes on.

But, even though the corporate entities are politically powerful, we have many effective tools to achieve what we need, that is, animal-free food production and animal-free consumption. And no one can prevent us doing what’s right for our lives and that of our planet. We just stop using, eating, buying animal products, then these corporates will just disappear, in no time. So, the power is in our hands.

VOICE: We thank Mr. Domínguez Ferráez, Veracruz state and the Mexican government as well as all other participants of this conference, for your voiced concern and efforts. We extend our appreciation to Supreme Master Ching Hai, for imbuing humankind with the courage we need to use our greatest power of free choice. May all faithful world citizens make the choice for life and love by quickly becoming organic vegans.

US and China agree to encourage climate change accord in Copenhagen.
As part of his first state tour of Asia, United States President Barack Obama visited China, where he met on Tuesday, November 17 with President Hu Jintao and discussed goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Obama: The United States and China are the world's two largest emitters of greenhouse gases that is causing the planet to warm.

Obama: Between myself and President Hu, the United States and China can show leadership.  Because I will tell you, other countries around the world will be waiting for us.  They will watch to see what we do. And if they say, ah, you know, the United States and China, they're not serious about this, then they won't be serious either.  That is the burden of leadership that both of our countries now carry.
 
And my hope is, is that the more discussion and dialogue that we have, the more we are able to show this leadership to the world on these many critical issues. Obama: Truly, this is a nation that encompasses both a rich history and a belief in the promise of the future.

The two leaders concurred on their commitment to a comprehensive plan at the December United Nations climate change conference in Copenhagen. Both presidents also agreed on a settlement in Denmark that would require set emission goals for industrialized nations along with assistance for developing countries in adapting to climate change.

President Obama stated, “Our aim… in support of what Prime Minister Rasmussen of Denmark is trying to achieve, is not a partial accord or a political declaration, but rather an accord that covers all of the issues in the negotiations and one that has immediate operational effect.” Their two heads of state also signed
cooperative agreements in low-carbon technology and spoke of other matters such as trade, Tibet, human rights and Iran.

President Hu later described their discussions as "candid, constructive and very fruitful." On Wednesday, the last day of his visit, President Obama went to the legendary Great Wall, where he reflected on his admiration for the Chinese civilization and the ancient history of the people.

Our respectful accolades, Your Excellencies, on your cordial meeting and shared commitment toward an effective plan to halt climate change. Wishing your countries flourishing relations as all world leaders come together in making wise and compassionate decisions to save our planet.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/world/asia/19wall.html¸
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/17/barack-obama-hu-jintao-climate
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091117/ap_on_bi_ge/climate
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/17/AR2009111701090.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33979715/ns/politics-white_house/page/2/

Immense flooding could be imminent from volcanic glaciers.
This according to Dr.(NFT: PhD) Andy Russell, a scientist at Newcastle University of the United Kingdom, who has been studying the melting effects of glaciers located atop volcanoes.
In evaluating one such glacier in Iceland, the Mýrdalsjökull, Dr. Russell said that such eruptions have happened before and could happen again within decades, striking parts of Europe with tsunamis and massive flooding.

He stated, “We are realizing that meltwater can find its way out of glaciers much more quickly than previously thought. We’re looking at the possibility of a flow the size of the Amazon being released within less than an hour, and that doesn’t give people much time to get out of way.”

Our thanks, Dr. Russell and team for these significant findings. May we quickly work to prevent such disastrous changes by adopting Earth-saving, compassionate ways of living, including the vegan diet.
Ever-concerned for our planetary welfare, Supreme Master Ching Hai addressed these tolls of global warming during an August 2008 videoconference with our Canadian Association members.

Supreme Master Ching Hai: The time of disappearing of the ice means also the spelling of trouble for our planet. Of course it would be better if we already saved the planet before the ice melted. But as it is, we can only do the best we can and trying to inform everybody to save themselves by being vegetarian. If the ice melts quicker, then, of course, we have shorter time to save the planet. But nevertheless because people are joining the vegetarian diet, we still can manage to save the world.

http://www.greenbang.com/sudden-glacial-melts-could-release-amazon-like-floods_12522.html
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press.office/press.release/item/scientists-prepare-for-large-scale-glacial-floods
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/gps/contact/

Extra News
The capital city of Bhubaneswar in Orissa state, India records the highest temperature in over 50 years at 37.6 degrees Celsius, which is a full 7 degrees above normal.
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/enviornment/orissa-records-hottest-november-day-in-
57-years_100275350.html

To protect the rare Bryde’s whales inhabiting the Hauraki Gulf in New Zealand that now may number as few as 50, ships are being asked to slow and look for the whales to prevent collisions.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10609219 http://en.wikipedia.org
/wiki/Bryde%27s_Whale