Calls for organic farming resound worldwide.
 In India, a paper published for the Punjab state Farmers Commission is advocating organic growing practices, while the Punjabi organization Kheti Virasat Mission (KVM) has called on all farmers to grow produce organically for the sake of endangered biodiversity and to protect humans and animals from toxic chemicals. In the Philippines, the consortium Go Organic! reports that 91 out of the 144 rice paddy fields in the country can no longer provide sufficient yield because of depleted soil nutrients. In addition, exposure to chemical pesticides and fertilizers have been found to cause detrimental health effects such as skin and respiratory problems, and even fatalities. Go Organic! is thus already preparing to convert 10 percent of 1.9 million hectares of Philippine rice lands into organic rice fields.

A green hats off, Kheti Virasat Mission, India, Go Organic!, the Philippines and all others involved in making the lives-saving change to growing produce organically. We pray that endeavors such as these and the adoption of their plant-based harvests are evermore widely implemented for the restoration of our unique planet.

In an August 2008 videoconference with our Association members in Sydney, Australia, Supreme Master Ching Hai explained the key role of government in furthering the trend of organic farming.

 Tunisia: Environmental Bus visits hundredth school
Eco-education bus visits schools in Tunisia. Sponsored by the Tunisian Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development with the help of German and Spanish non-governmental organizations, the bus just made its 100th stop in bringing eco-consciousness to young students throughout the country. Aboard the vehicle are conceptual learning tools to inform about aspects of climate change such as desertification, along with hands-on demonstrations of how to better care for the environment.

What an innovative concept! Bravo, Tunisia’s Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development and all organizations involved for helping youths understand the importance of caring for our Earthly home. Let each bus stop help build greater momentum for the stewardship needed to restore our jeweled planetary globe.

Pedalling for the environment
Indian women cycle for global warming. Seven women, including teachers, students and a government official, rode 350 kilometers through hundreds of villages in India to spread the word about climate change and its risks to life on Earth. Arriving in Mumbai, they remarked on the openness of the people they met, many of whom were already coping with warming effects such as early blooming seeds that destroyed crop yields as well as heat and drought conditions. Campaign organizer Homai Modi, who is also Secretary of the state chapter of the Indian Red Cross, highlighted the humanitarian aspect of the group’s message, saying, “Unless the grassroots community gets involved in all preventive efforts, it would be very difficult to… protect communities that are at risk.”

Ms. Modi and other devoted participants, we laud your commitment in alerting co-citizens to the urgent reality of climate change. Blessed be noble efforts such as yours in guiding humanity toward sustainable living practices that stabilize our ecosphere.

Telekom Austria's First Wind Turbine-Powered Mobile Phone Base Station
Austria launches wind -powered cell phone station. As part of its efforts to reduce CO2 emissions, parent company Telekom Austria Group has installed a new base station that derives 80 percent of its energy from wind turbines. The company plans to expand this green project, which has been nominated for the environmental award of the City of Vienna 2009.

We applaud your fresh green advancements, Telekom Austria Group. May eco-friendly endeavors such as yours soon lead to a world powered by clean, sustainable energy.