Tibetan Plateau glaciers
in dramatic decline.
According to a study
conducted by
China's Geological
Survey Bureau,
temperatures rising at
a rate of approximately
0.3 degrees Celsius
every decade over
the past 30 years have
contributed to an average
glacial decrease of
130 square kilometers
annually.
Moreover, the glacial
retreat in the region
known as the
“the roof of the world”
and the planet's
“third pole” has been
accelerating even more
in recent years,
with some parts that
have already retreated
by more than 10%.
According to
the researchers,
climate change caused
by increasing greenhouse
gases and black carbon
are responsible.
At current rates,
without even considering
continued acceleration
due to global warming,
the scientists estimate
that the glacier area will
be reduced to less than
75% its original size
by mid-century.
Speaking of
the dangerous implications
to the region, Qin Dahe,
former head of
the China Meteorological
Administration, stated,
“The Tibetan glaciers
are retreating at a higher
speed than in any
other part of the world.
In the short term,
this will cause lakes to
expand and bring floods
and mudflows.
In the long run, the
glaciers are vital lifelines
for Asian rivers,
including the Indus
and the Ganges.
Once they vanish, water
supplies in those regions
will be in peril."
Our sincere thanks,
scientists, for your efforts
to raise awareness
about the perilous state
of the Tibetan Plateau.
May we heed these
urgent signs and act to
cool the planet through
our eco-conscious
lifestyle choices.
Supreme Master Ching Hai
has often cautioned
of the magnitude
of devastating change
that could occur
without effective
human intervention,
as during an August 2009
videoconference
in Thailand, during
which she offered the
most sustainable solution.
Supreme Master Ching Hai : Everything is heating up
so quickly,
as we can see from
the scientists' reports on
such alarming upheaval,
such as rising sea levels
and glaciers melting.
This is now
causing excessive floods
but eventually
will cause drought
and vastly diminished
water supplies as well.
So we must work quickly
to avoid such
unwanted outcomes.
And the most effective way,
as I have mentioned,
is the organic vegan diet,
organic
vegetable farming.
This is also the fastest way
to reverse the increased
warming climate
to prevent further
damage and disaster.
The more people who
understand and change,
the more chance
our world
will be saved in time.
http://www.china-observer.de/?x=entry:entry110208-141522,
http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2011-02-08/044621923116.shtmlhttp://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g1eE4Xw3njaW1MKpJRYOch4hOdLQ http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=656847&publicationSubCategoryId=77
Extra NewsIn Guatemala,
international organization
Rainforest Alliance,
in partnership
with the Sustainable
Agriculture Network,
releases a new climate
module as a tool to help
farmers become more
aware of the impacts
of climate change and
to support agricultural
practices that reduce
greenhouse gas emissions.
http://eponline.com/articles/2011/02/14/new-tool-to-help-farmers-mitigate-and-adapt-to-climate-change.aspx,
http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/newsroom/news/san-climate-module-release
Snowfall and irrigation
efforts in Beijing
and northeastern China
help alleviate drought
conditions considered
the worst in 60 years,
with more precipitation
needed to prevent
up to two-thirds of
the nation's wheat crop
from being affected.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2011/02/201121092641953853.htmlhttp://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/02/10/china.weather/index.html,
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2011/02/10/beijing-drought.html