Large Methane Release Could Cause Abrupt Climate Change As Happened 635 Million Years Ago

Methane release may trigger exponential global warming in our lifetime. Australian and US scientists have released a report in the journal “Nature,” stating that a rapid warming that took place 655 million years ago occurred due to the release of methane gas from the melting of frozen methane clathrates. The researchers are concerned that the current warming of our Earth could trigger a similar event. Dr. Martin Kennedy of the University of California Riverside, who led the study, stated, “This is a major concern because it’s possible that only a little warming can unleash this trapped methane.” With methane being over 25 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than CO2, such a release could catalyze a magnitude of change that scientists are calling “runaway” warming, which would be very difficult to halt. Our appreciation for your vital research, Dr. Kennedy and colleagues. We pray that all of humanity takes sufficient quick action to mitigate climate change and avoid such an event on our Earth.

Energy Globe Awards at the European Parliament: Annan, Gorbachev, Gandhi and Morissette to attend - 26 and 27 May

Energy Globe Awards recognize local efforts for world sustainability. The 9th Energy Globe Awards were presented by the leaders of the European Parliament’s Plenary Hall in Brussels, Belgium. The awards recognized projects from 109 countries around the world for promoting clean and sustainable energies in five different categories: Earth, Fire, Water, Air and Youth.

The first place in the Fire category went to Spain for a solar technology that stores energy for later use. Henry Gladen, Solar Millennium, Spain, Energy Globe Award winner in Fire category: Solar panels directly convert the sun rays into electricity; we first make heat out of the sunlight and this is the big advantage because we can store this heat very cheaply so that we can use the steam turbine also during nighttime when the sun is not shining and this is I would say the most valuable energy you can produce.

VOICE: The winner of the Air category was Austria’s fuel cell maker Fronius, for developing emissions-free hydrogen batteries. And the popular audience vote went to Austria for the overall World Energy Globe Award.

Congratulations with your award tonight. How do you feel about it? Fronius: Thank you very much. I think it’s a dream come true.
 
VOICE: Special guests included celebrities such as Indian actor Aamir Khan and Canadian singer Alanis Morissette as well as former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan.

Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations: The Energy Globe for the element Water goes to Mozambique.

VOICE: Winners in other Energy Globe categories include Peru for the Earth element, Spain for Fire element, and South Africa for the Youth Award.

Hans-Gert Poettering, President of the European Parliament: I think this was a great evening because of the intellectual and emotional commitment to fight climate change. South African representatives, Energy Globe Award in Youth category: I think people don’t realize how much of a difference a small change makes. And I think that’s what we tried to do, is show them that.

VOICE: A special honorary award for lifetime achievement went to former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. India’s former environment minister Maneka Gandhi, who recently called for a carbon-free world, also attended, and shared with Supreme Master Television her own message of sustainability, which centers around meat-free living.

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’s meat that pollutes the waters, it is meat that is creating disease, which leads to all our money being diverted to hospitals. So it’s a first choice for anybody who wants to save the Earth.

VOICE: Congratulations all national and international winners of the Energy Globe Award! May your brilliant endeavors be shared all over the world to create a truly sustainable, clean green world for all!

Central Asian countries highlight Aral Sea crisis for int'l help

Central Asian nations call for support to ease Aral Sea environmental crisis. At a UN sponsored meeting, ambassadors of Central Asia unanimously requested help from the international community to rehabilitate the Aral Sea, which borders all of their nations. What used to be the world’s fourth largest lake is now one-tenth of its original size, largely due to lack of resource management over time. Tajik UN Ambassador Sirodjidin Aslov said that the lake could be restored through international support to help fund regional collaboration. Thank you Central Asian countries for taking steps to preserve this rare natural water reservoir on our planet. May your call be met with a fruitful response to save the beautiful Aral Sea.
 
Formosa president Ma will realize more vegetarian to reduce co2

Formosan (Taiwanese) president suggests green measures. President Ma of Formosa (Taiwan) is planning initiatives for eco-friendly government practices such as recycling, energy-efficient lighting and carpooling. Individual government ministries are also initiating ways to save energy. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications, for instance, is planning greater use of videoconferencing equipment for a lighter carbon footprint, along with an energy-saving network that automatically adjusts lighting and air conditioning.
 
President Ma will announce details of the measures on World Environment Day, June 5th. Bravo Your Excellency and Formosan government for leading the way in the environment. May your green initiatives remind us all of ways we can tread more lightly on our earthly abode.
 
Arctic fox needs help in Nordic region

Climate change poses new threats to Arctic fox. Nearly extinct due to extensive hunting in the beginning of the 20th century, the number of snowy white Arctic fox has doubled in the last decade, thanks to the efforts of the Swedish-Finnish-Norwegian Arctic Fox Project. However, the latest threat to their numbers comes from climate change effects, as red foxes are moving north. The arctic fox is thus finding less to eat and is being confined to a smaller habitat.

Sweden’s Dr. Tom Arnbom of the global conservation organization WWF stated, “Our unique Swedish moorland, which is the habitat of arctic foxes and many other unique animals and plant species, could just be a memory if we don't cut carbon dioxide emissions.” Dr. Arnbom, a heartfelt thanks for calling our attention to how a warming planet is threatening the survival of this beautiful co-inhabitant on the Earth we all share. We pray for quick action to save all unique beings on our planet.

How the ice breaks too early in the land of the rising sun

Japan’s Shiretoko region warms up. A UNESCO world heritage site, the Shiretoko region of Japan, which is also the southern-most point in the northern hemisphere where Arctic sea ice can be found, is feeling the full extent of global warming. According to local metrological records, the region’s Abashiri coastline averaged 90 days of ice from 1971 to 2000. However, over the past three years the average has been only about 65 days. Hokkaido University reports that the average water temperature in the area has gone up 0.6 degrees Celsius in the past 50 years and could rise by another 3-4 degrees in the coming decades. Mr. Sakae Gorai, former mayor of the local town of Shari, said, “We can't wait another 40 or 50 years. We need political leadership on climate change right now.” We share your earnest wish, former Mayor Gorai, that world leaders and citizens will act now to save the wonderful and irreplaceable Shiretoko region and the world from climate change.
 
Changes to Antarctic ice suffocating seals

Climate change impacting Antarctic animals. A team of US scientists led by ecologist and evolutionary biologist Terrie Williams found that the dislodging of a giant iceberg named B-15 due to global warming caused significant disruption to animal life in the region.
 
Through extensive filming both underwater and above the ice, Dr. Williams’s team found that the area’s Weddell seal mothers began abandoning their pups because of stamina problems resulting from a lack of breathing holes in the new ice shelf that had formed after the iceberg broke away. A similar impact was observed in the Adelie penguins, whose already-arduous trek from their nesting ground to the sea had increased even more due to the new ice shelf’s length, causing many to never return. Many thanks, Dr. Williams and team, for your dedicated work in the Antarctic to be able to share these findings. We urge our fellow humans to recognize the impact of our actions and seek immediate solutions to global warming.

Macedonia hit by record-breaking heatwave for May

Macedonia struck by unseasonably early heat wave. Temperatures have already reached all-time record highs for May, with forecasts for up to 38 degrees Celsius. Doctors are advising people to stay indoors, limit activities and drink lots of water. Neighboring Bulgaria and Serbia have also experienced hundred-year record heat levels this month. These higher temperatures are consistent with predictions for hotter May weather due to climate change as reported by the United Kingdom’s Hadely Centre. We send our prayers to all those affected, that your health may be maintained during this period. We pray for cooler weather for you along with action to curb climate change for the long-term wellbeing of all Earth’s inhabitants.