Past natural disasters the result of human activities.
The Nasca culture that flourished in South America is famous for its mysterious lines, best viewed from the air, that depict animals and other shapes across the deserts in Peru.

While being aware that the Nasca civilization ended suddenly between the 6th and 7th centuries, scientists at the University of Cambridge in the UK have recently revealed that the Nasca demise was related to deforestation.

This was due to their clearing of huarango trees, whose deep roots played a key role in regulating moisture and soil richness. Thus, removing so many trees eventually caused a tipping point to be reached, after which the ecosystem was irreversibly damaged and the climate became more and more dry.

The study's authors say that these findings are highly relevant in view of parallels with humanity’s situation today.

Meanwhile, experts from the Leibniz Oceanography Institute in Kiel, Germany announced their discovery of signs that a severe natural disaster occurred in the Atlantic Ocean two millennia ago.

According to the scientists, the edge of an African continental shelf broke off, scattering debris over 150,000 square kilometers across the deep Atlantic off the coast of Morocco, south of the Canary Islands.

This event could have set off a massive tsunami that some say impacted the lost city of Atlantis, believed to have existed in the Atlantic basin before being engulfed by the sea.

What intriguing findings! Thank you University of Cambridge and Leibniz Oceanography Institute scientists for your reports that offer insights into past civilizations.

Let us strive to prevent the repeating of such devastations through our increased stewardship of the environment. During a videoconference in Togo in May 2009, Supreme Master Ching Hai gave a spiritual perspective on such cases in history as well as ways for humanity to choose a safer course today.

Supreme Master Ching Hai: At least 2 major times, our planet has undergone major destruction due to detrimental human activities. It may be that past civilizations on Earth did not last also because their moral standard did not develop along with their technical power.

Spiritual development and compassion are what ensures the safety and balance of every other endeavor. I pray that our civilization will be different, will be wiser, and more advanced in many beneficial ways.

So, let us not neglect to cultivate our virtues. If we want good things then we have to do good. If we want life, we have to spare lives. Because that means we spare life, we want life, we want constructive energy, we don’t want destruction. So vegan is the answer.

http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSTRE5A100O20091102
http://www.kew.org/science/anniversary-conference/Kew-250thConferenceProgramme.pdf
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/scienceshow/stories/2008/2432894.htm
http://www.naturalnews.com/028358_deforestation_human_civilization.html
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/315771,oceanographers-find-signs-of-atlantic-disaster-2000-years-
ago.html
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/europe/news/article_1543702.php/Oceanographers-find-signs-
of-Atlantic-disaster-2-000-years-ago
http://en.mercopress.com/2010/03/27/german-scientists-find-evidence-of-major-tsunami-in-the-atlantic-
2000-years-ago

International ecological conference held in Turkmenistan.
Hosted in Turkmenbashi and organized by the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan, a two-day forum brought together international scientists and other experts to discuss environmental projects such as the Turkmen lake, Altyn Asyr, created in 2009 to collect drainage water from different regions and re-use it for needed purposes such as agriculture.

Addressing attendees, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov spoke of goals such as enhanced regional cooperation as well as ensuring adequate resources throughout the Central Asian region.

Many thanks, Your Excellency, Academy of Sciences and all participants for joining in shared concern to address these ecological issues. Wishing you a fruitful gathering and renewed inspiration for preserving our cherished ecosphere.  
http://en.trend.az/news/politics/foreign/1658316.html
http://turkmenistan.ru/?page_id=3&lang_id=en&elem_id=16594&type=event&sort=date_desc

Extra News
In Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima province, more than 26,000 hectare of cassava crops are weakened by disease as drought-stricken farms can no longer access water from local reservoirs.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/34828/farms-battle-drought-bug-pest-in-isan
http://www.thephuketlandbuster.com/Thai_to_Metric.htm


Residents of South Uist Island in Scotland, United Kingdom, convey their concerns to visiting Parliament member Alasdair Allan, as they highlight the island’s changing landscape due to climate change, saying that portions of land will soon be lost to the sea.  
http://news.scotsman.com/inverness/Global-warming-will-split-.6185268.jp


Researchers in Âu Lạc (Vietnam) report only four Hoàn Kiếm turtles left in the world, with two in their native Sword Lake in Hà Nội, and two in China where efforts are also being made to prevent their extinction.  
http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/Nature/Environment/2010/3/80433/

Citing extensive dry conditions, Cuban officials report that over 1,000 forest fires have struck the country in the first quarter of 2010 alone.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-03/25/c_13224306.htm
http://www.ubalert.com/a/16429