Although no single event
can be attributed
to climate change,
scientists believe
the intensity of
the prolonged rains
and flooding endured
by residents of
the Australian states
of Queensland and
New South Wales are
indicative of the types
of events that are linked
to global warming.
Meteorologists
have already noted that
flooding is more severe
this year because
the cyclical La Niña effect,
which already results
in more seasonal rain.
Then there is
the aggravating effect
of global warming itself,
as explained by
Dr. Matthew England
of the University
of New South Wales'
Climate Change
Research Center,
who stated, “The waters
off Australia are the
warmest ever measured,
and those waters
provide moisture
to the atmosphere
for the Queensland
and northern Australia
monsoon.”
In addition, scientists
state it is possible that
the warmer temperatures
may be further fueling
the La Niña effect,
especially as it has
already been noted that
this year is bringing
what could be
the strongest La Niña
in recorded history.
As observed by
University of Melbourne's
Earth Sciences expert
Professor David Karoly,
“Australia has been
known for more than
a hundred years
as a land of droughts
and flooding rains,
but what climate change
means is Australia
becomes a land of
more droughts and
worse flooding rains."
Our appreciation,
Drs. Karoly and England
for helping us to understand
how climate change
creates conditions
that are increasingly
devastating and dangerous.
May we quickly choose
wiser ways of living
so that the climate
will return to being more
conducive to human
and planetary survival.
As in an August 2009
videoconference
in Thailand,
Supreme Master Ching Hai
has often expressed
concern about climate
change-related disasters
on a global scale,
reminding of humanity's
ability to diminish
or even halt them.
Supreme Master Ching Hai : If we look around,
we can see the growing
frequencies and strength
of disasters everywhere.
Flood events worldwide
are now three times
higher than in the 1980s.
Now,
thanks to the millions
of people who have
become vegetarian
or vegan recently,
already some of
the disasters that were
already at our doorstep
were mitigated or,
in some cases,
even dissolved completely.
But you see, even so,
we must still continue to
spread the urgent message.
I want to plead
with everybody,
with everyone in power,
with every media agency,
every reporter,
everyone that has power,
everyone that has
some power, everyone
who is ordinary citizens,
please be veg
to save our planet.
We have to stop the
cause of global warming
and the cause of
destruction to our planet -
that is the meat industry.
If we do not heed
the scientists' warning
and all the evidence
and become veg,
then more disaster
will keep on coming,
and one may be worse
than another.
Maybe we will
not be able to cope.
http://www.theage.com.au/environment/fates-conspire-to-concoct-a-recipe-for-disaster-20110111-19mp7.htmlhttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41041650/ns/us_news-environment/