Climate change biggest jeopardy to human health.
To bring climate change concerns to the healthcare community, a new report by British researchers at the University College London in the leading medical journal, The Lancet, describes the many anticipated impacts of global warming, from life-threatening heat waves, food and water scarcity, to extreme weather events like droughts and floods.

With many countries already reporting effects of climate change, the authors cite examples such as the 2003 heat wave in Europe that claimed up to 70,000 lives, saying that warmer weather will also increase the risk of insect and bacteria-borne diseases such as malaria and salmonella. In shifting the focus to solutions, study author Dr. Anthony Costello of the UK’s University College London said, “If we move society toward a low-energy, low-carbon lifestyle, we will have reduced levels of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, lung disease from pollution and obviously stress.” The authors intend to create a body of work that can be presented at climate change forums to help mitigate the adverse health effects through a combination of preventive and treatment measures.

Dr. Costello and University College London colleagues along with The Lancet, we are grateful for your work together on the human health aspect of climate change. May the medical community join in seeking the most sustainable ways for everyone to coexist and to secure a still beautiful world for our children.

Fully aware of the range of climate change impacts on humanity, Supreme Master Ching Hai has often urged for constructive action, as in an August 2008 international gathering with our Association members where she further explained about a sure solution for the Earth’s current crisis.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8049061.stm
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&sid=aPYpAHibVkE0&refer=canada 


Conservation measures protect wetlands in Ugandan mountains.
A wetland site in Uganda’s Rwenzori Mountains expands over 99,500 hectares of Africa’s tallest mountain range. Its ecosystem, which supports many unique and rare species, is key to the region’s ecology and hydrology. However, climate change effects such as the shrinking Rwenzori glaciers along with the demands of a growing population have placed its survival in danger. Thus, it has been included under the protection of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, an intergovernmental treaty that now monitors the preservation of nearly 2,000 wetlands regions. This will lead to national measures and international efforts to conserve and manage the wetlands and its resources.

Many thanks, Uganda, for securing the protection of your precious wetlands areas. Let us quickly act to support the environment so that all may enjoy the Earth’s treasured biodiversity for centuries to come.

Countries to find pesticide alternatives in preventing malaria.
In a recent meeting cosponsored by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Environment Program, 40 of the signatory nations to the Stockholm Convention said that they are planning to stop using the harmful pesticide DDT in mitigating malaria. Successful DDT-free projects have been carried out in several Latin American countries, where malaria cases have also been reduced by 60 percent.

Congratulations World Health Organization, United Nations Environment Program and all nations committed to better health for citizens and the planet. May such beneficial endeavors continue expanding to improve the quality of life for all.