Norwegian Environment Minister speaks about the need to reduce meat consumption.

From Arctic initiatives to collaborations to protect the most vulnerable worldwide, Norway has long stood at the forefront of climate change action. Supreme Master Television had the opportunity to speak with Norway’s Environment and Development Minister Erik Solheim to discuss the country’s current policies, including the matter of meat production, which is one of the top three most carbon-emitting activities.

SupremeMasterTV: How is the government’s goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions going to be attained?

Erik Solheim – Environment and Development Minister of Norway (M): In two ways: By reducing emissions from Norwegian factories, the Norwegian oil industry, cars and traffic in Norway, as well as Norwegian owned ships, that takes out a lot of greenhouse gases. And by contributing to reductions in other countries, for example, by building solar panels or windmills in China or by stopping deforestation in Amazon or Congo.

VOICE: The Norwegian government provides website access for citizens to be informed and make “climate pledges.” Minister Solheim firmly supports the call for meat reduction in solving global warming.

Environment and Development Minister Solheim (M): We have to reduce the meat consumption. And one way of doing it is of course that a larger amount of what we eat is vegetarian and everything else other than meat.

VOICE: During the meeting our Association members respectfully presented Mr. Solheim with a sample of soy-based alternative meat products.

Environment and Development Minister Solheim (M): I do not think it’s necessary that it should taste like meat, but this is absolutely, very good tasting.

VOICE: Thank you Minister Solheim and Norway for your wise leadership and your nation’s commitment to reducing the effects of climate change. May ever more urgent consideration be given to the important area of animal agriculture, with citizens everywhere enjoying vegetarian alternatives that are lighter for their health and the environment.

Arctic ice continues to melt at an alarming rate.
 
According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Arctic sea ice in 2008 is approaching what may be the lowest summer ice coverage ever, with ice five years or older that has decreased by more than half since 1985. Habitats for the polar bear and other rare species habitats are quickly disappearing as well. Dr. Martin Sommerkorn, senior climate change advisor at WWF International's Arctic Program said, “If you take reduced ice thickness into account, there is probably less ice overall in the Arctic this year than in any other year since monitoring began… The Arctic is a key factor in stabilizing the global climate so this is a global problem that demands an immediate and global response.”

Thank you, Dr. Sommerkorn and colleagues at World Wildlife Fund for this revealing report. May your findings help awaken us further to the critical state of our planet and the importance of acting now to save lives on our shared global home.

http://www.greenbang.com/5007/arctic-ice-melting-at-catastrophic-rate/ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/09/14/eapolar114.xml

With world food crisis continuing, basic right to food is being denied.

United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Olivier De Schutter, reported to the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland that although food prices have eased somewhat, millions of people cannot fulfill the basic human right to sustenance. Regarding the potential for unrest due to food crisis, Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Program stated, “With poor farmers unable to feed their own families, we are in the danger zone.” The United Nations’ World Food Program is making US$200 million available to ease hunger in needed areas, while the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization is distributing seeds, fertilizer and other farming tools in 78 countries, besides the nearly US$1 billion being spent on direct support.

Rapporteur De Schutter, Director Sheeran, and all United Nations’ agencies, we express our sincere thankfulness and Heaven’s blessings for your help in informing the public while providing for brethren in need. May we all turn swiftly to the lifesaving vegetarian fare to alleviate the food crisis and bring food in plenty to everyone in the world.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=28001&Cr=Food%20Crisis&Cr1=