Methane gas rises from ocean depths off Costa Rica.
After seismic activity of 6.5 magnitude on the Richter scale shook the Central American country, residents in El Golfito, Costa Rica reported two mysterious bubble streams rising from the Pacific Ocean about 250 meters off the coast. Seismologist Dr. Víctor González of the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica (OVSICORI) stated that the gas is likely to be previously trapped methane that was released after the jolting created a fissure in the ocean floor. He also said that it is not known how long the flammable greenhouse gas would continue to rise.

Fellow researcher Dr. María Martínez Cruz, also from OVSICORI in the Laboratory of Geochemistry of Volcanic Fluids of the National University of Costa Rica, showed Supreme Master Television photos of their findings.

Mr. María Martínez Cruz – Coordinator of the Laboratory of Geochemistry of Volcanic Fluids, OVSICORI, National University, Heredia, Costa Rica (F): This is actually the site where the bubbling is. As we can see here in this view, those bubbles had a top diameter of up to two meters. We see that the gas flow is not very big, but enough to lift a water column into a bubble shape.
We could determine there on site, the presence of methane, by doing a gas ignition with matches. And also by the odor and doing a chemistry reaction on site, we could also verify the presence of hydrogen sulfide.

VOICE: The scientists are concerned that a large earthquake could cause the methane deposits in their solid form to quickly become a gas and enter the atmosphere.

Dr. María Martínez Cruz (F): This is worrying, more so as it is observed that reservoirs of natural gas are increasingly being exposed to global warming.
It’s very unstable. And then it would be easily incorporated into the atmosphere, and then there will be consequences again, with respect to global warming.

VOICE: Our thanks, Dr. Martínez, Dr. González and associates for your keen observations about this disturbing change in the ocean ecology. We pray for the well-being of all marine and human life as we strive for greater kindness in our actions to restore balance to the environment.

Supreme Master Ching Hai has on several occasions expressed concern about the risk of methane from the ocean and other sources, as during a live interview in September 2008 with Environmentally Sound Radio in New York, USA.

PGMA pushes for production of healthy, affordable veggie foods
Philippines turns toward fresh, plant-based foods. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is an advocate for expanding the production of healthy and affordable vegetable fare in her country, had authorized funding and assisted in the inauguration of the Benguet Vegetable Processing Center at Benguet State University (BSU) in La Trinidad. The three-year project to be conducted at the center utilizes fresh agricultural produce to create wholesome and inexpensive plant-based products such as noodles, meatless burger patties and veggie-fruit juice drinks. The goal is for the inexpensive foods to reach the disadvantaged as well as to enhance the income of vegetable farmers.

Our respectful accolades and many thanks, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, for your wise promotion of nutritious plant-based foods. Surely with such vibrant leadership as yours, more and more of your fellow dignitaries will see the way to supporting veg as being the best for people and for our Earth.

Climate change affecting Kuwait, Arab region
Arab nations affected by climate change. Mr. Issa Ramadan of the Kuwait Meteorological stations has reported that the effects of human induced global warming are being increasingly felt across the Arabic states. Amongst the weather related shifts are record high temperatures and more extreme events such as previously atypical heavy rains and flooding in countries such as Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Morocco, with drought and desertification now causing violent dust storms in what used to be pastoral areas of western Iraq as well as northeastern Syria and Jordan.

We join your voice of concern about these changing weather patterns in the Arab regions, Mr. Issa Ramadan. With Allah’s grace, may humanity’s increased care of the environment help restore nature’s delicate balance.

Joule to hit SA’s streets in 2010
South Africa plans for the release of electric vehicle Joule. Cape Town-based manufacturer Optimal Electric is set to release the fully electric, 6-seater urban automobile into pilot production in 2010. Once production begins, the company that now employs 80 people will be increasing personnel to 1,000, with an additional 5,000 people who are anticipated to be working in related and supporting industries. The car is expected to have a retail price of approximately US$22,000, with running costs that are one-tenth that of a conventional vehicle.

Our green thumbs up, Optimal Electric and South Africa, for this heartening development in sustainable transportation. We can’t wait to see the clean-running Joule traveling on many South African roads, and beyond.