Climate change conference in Seoul, South Korea
Climate change conference in Seoul, South Korea. On Sunday, April 26, the “Save Our Earth Conference 2009: Protecting the Environment & Respecting All Lives” was held in Seoul, South Korea. Organized by the South Korea-based Chungnyunsa Publishing Co., Ltd., and supported by the South Korean Ministry of the Environment, the event united dignitaries and members of the public alike to discuss the urgent global matter of climate change. Numerous VIPs attended, including South Korean Congressman the Honorable Kang Chang-il, Congressman Gong Seong-Jin, and Congressman Lee Seok-Hyun. The conference also celebrated the launch of the Korean edition of the #1 international best-selling book by Supreme Master Ching Hai, “The Birds in My Life,” which quickly became a top seller in Korea and was ranked #1 in the general category at Kyobo bookstore, the largest bookselling franchise in South Korea.

Videoconference with Supreme Master Ching Hai
Save Our Earth Conference 2009: Protecting the Environment & Respecting All Lives South Korea – April 26, 2009

The conference began with insightful lectures by distinguished individuals including former Administrator of the Korea Meteorological Administration, Mr. Jung Soon-Gap and Australian holistic veterinarian and animal telepathic communicator, Dr. Michael Bascombe.

As the meeting’s honored guest, Supreme Master Ching Hai graciously attended via videoconference, responding to questions from distinguished leaders and experts in the fields of law, journalism, education, religion, arts and others. Question topics ranged from Supreme Master Ching Hai’s care and communication with her birds, based on her international best-selling book, “The Birds in My Life,” to what kind of government policies should be implemented to save the Earth.

Guest participant, Professor Kim Young-Hwa of Yonsei University, former manager of the Nature Preservation Department at the nation’s Ministry of Environment, as well as Director of the Korea Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (KIEST), asked Supreme Master Ching Hai what crisis management measures the government should implement, in case global warming is not halted.

Supreme Master Ching Hai: Thank you Professor Kim for joining us today for this thoughtful question, which is very, very important. Please do not lose hope yet. We still have a chance to halt global warming and should be optimistic. We don’t have much time but we still have time. Although the change is little slow in some cases. We meanwhile do our best by adopting the quickest and the most efficient measure to reverse climate change. We must change to a vegan diet ourselves, so that we become a part of the solution.

To help the government to change so that it can avoid the kind of crisis management. We can write letters explaining how a vegan diet is a solution for the planetary crisis, is the most practical way to prevent future calamities due to global warming. Because the plant-based lifestyle is more sustainable, and opens up land that can be used for cultivating crops for human. It restores the balance of our ocean and forest and preserves our finished natural resources. This is truly the best way to restore our environment and ensure the highest degree of peace. Thank you Sir for your concern. Such a simple solution, being veg, that’s it.

VOICE: Following the conference, “A Concert Celebrating the Korean Edition of The Birds in My Life” was held, with Supreme Master Ching Hai as the special honored guest.

Our gratitude to all the caring participants of this important gathering. We are thankful to Supreme Master Ching Hai for her time and devotion to raise the understanding and better our fragile world. May our united strength be put into action to conserve our beloved planet.

Please tune in to Supreme Master Television’s Words of Wisdom for the full rebroadcast of this live event at a later date, with multi-language subtitles.

Threat to European biodiversity 'as serious as climate change'
Intense species and habitat loss in Europe. With global warming as its latest threat, the European Environment Agency (EEA) has reported that biodiversity is critically at risk in up to 85% of habitats and 70% of species across the 40 European countries. In the United Kingdom alone, eight out of 10 habitats and 50% of the species that have already been given the highest level of European protection are in "unfavorable" condition. Besides being valued for their uniqueness and beauty, these species contribute in vital ways to ecosystem components like clean water and fertile soils. EEA Executive Director Jacqueline McGlade stated, "Much of our economy in Europe relies on the fact (that) we have natural resources underpinning everything. The losses of wildlife and habitat are a threat to being able to live sustainably within the environment in the future.”

Our sincere gratitude, Executive Director McGlade, European Environment Agency and all other concerned citizens and officials, for informing us so clearly of this tragic and alarming trend. Let us join in saving the irreplaceable flora and fauna that sustains all life on our planet.

In her concern and tireless work to alleviate the devastating effects of global warming, during a March 2009 videoconference in Xalapa, Mexico, Supreme Master Ching Hai once again spoke of the Earth’s distressed state and our need to pursue the most effective solution to halt climate change.


 Bushfires intensifying as they feed climate change, scientist warns
Wildfires induced by climate change on the rise. Australian University of Tasmania Professor Dr. David Bowman, who has been studying bushfires in Australia for thirty years, states that such blazes in the past were considered catastrophic but are now becoming the norm. Saying that bushfires also feed climate change because they release huge quantities of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and change the Earth’s reflective surface, Professor Bowman urged, “We have got to understand increased bushfire activity as a direct consequence of uncontrolled climate change.” He has thus requested that the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) dedicate a complete chapter to the topic in their next report.

Professor Bowman and University of Tasmania, we thank you for lending your expert voice to our understanding of wildfires in climate change. Let us strive toward greater consideration in lightening our footprints on this shared Earthly abode.

100 restaurants offer low-price veg meals to save the planet
Vegetarian restaurants offer low-cost veggie meals in Formosa (Taiwan). For three days starting on Earth Day last week, some 200 vegetarian restaurants and eateries in Taichung city, Formosa (Taiwan) offered healthy vegetarian meals at record low prices. Over 10,000 lunch boxes at 20 Taiwan dollar or US60 cents per box were made available in efforts to raise awareness of the opportunity to consume delicious food that also is the most effective way to reduce our carbon footprint. Presenting assorted dishes with soy meat and colorful vegetables, the offer attracted long queues of customers.

Wow! Way to go restaurants in Taichung city! Our grateful thanks, all participating vegetarian restaurants and eateries, for your generous promotion of the Earth-saving veg diet. May the joy and blessings of plant-based meals become a part of daily life in Formosa and around the world.