World Vegetarian Congress highlights need for vegetarian answer to climate change.

From July 27 to August 2, the Kulturpalast of Dresden, Germany hosted the bi-annual World Vegetarian Congress. The event was held in Dresden this year to commemorate the centenary founding of the International Vegetarian Union in 1908.

Supreme Master Television’s correspondent in Germany reports.

Reports: We are here in Dresden, Germany, at the 38th World Vegetarian Congress.
For one week, about 700 participants from over 30 countries meet for an exchange of experiences through lectures and workshops.



VOICE: Participating groups discussed aspects of animal welfare, nutrition, environment and spirituality. The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association also joined, with booths and a lecture on how to adopt vegan options in school systems. The hottest topic, addressed in several lectures, was clearly the link between diet and climate change. The Congress’ general consensus was that stopping the production and consumption of meat is the key to halting global warming.

Reports: Do you think that in the face of global warming the time has come to start a global vegetarian climate alliance?

Dilip Barman, Council member of International Vegetarian Union: I think so. I think there that there is so much that we can do and that we should do about global warming. I am sure you already know about the UN Report that came out almost two years ago, and it identified animal-based agriculture as a much bigger issue than transport, all over the world combined.

Dr. Madan Mohan Bajaj, Indian Congress member, Chancellor of International Kamdhenu Ahimsa University, Director General of the International Scientific Research & Welfare Organization (M): And we have got now a new declaration which is called the Dresden Declaration.

VOICE: Many leading vegetarian authors, activists, film-makers, politicians and scientists were present at the Congress, such as famous author and Green Party representative Barbara Rütting and esteemed theologist Dr. Eugen Drewermann. Vegetarian and vegan activists from all walks of life exchanged ideas on creating more and more awareness among the general public about the benefits of animal-free living.

Reports: According to figures from the German Vegetarian Society over ten percent of Germans are already vegetarians. In your opinion, how can such a congress fill more people with enthusiasm for the vegetarian idea?

Thomas Schoenberger, President of the German Vegetarian Society, Congress organizer (M): Our message from this congress is: Go vegetarian, just start eating less meat in the beginning. Just start with a meat-free day during the week. Try the vegetarian, vegan life! It is attractive, healthy. It is tasty. It is modern, it is future-compliant. And you could make a small but good contribution, to make life on Earth more sustainable, to make it possible for future generations to have a good life on Earth. Thank you!

VOICE: Bravo all participants of the World Vegetarian Congress! At this most crucial time, it is exciting to know that many heroes are and will be advocating vegetarianism through this phenomenal event. Together, we can save our planet!

Study shows the cause of melting Arctic is global warming. 

A study led by the acclaimed climate researcher from Norway, Ola Johannessen, reveals that 90 percent of the decreasing sea-ice is definitively due to increasing CO2 in the atmosphere, with further carbon emissions and melting rates leading to more rapid decreases in the ice than predicted by the United Nations IPCC models. Although the ice caps had been reduced to an historic minimum by September of 2007, scientists predict even bigger melts this year, cautioning that the ice is in danger of reaching a critical “tipping point” from which it cannot recover.

Our heartfelt thanks, Professor Johannessen and all other researchers, for these important findings. May our nations quickly awaken to the urgency of climate change and take the swiftest measures to reduce its harmful effects.

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=695981

Climate change causes growing homeless population in Bangladesh. According to the Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Service (CEGIS), almost 150,000 hectares of land eroded along the country’s major waterways between 1973 and 2007, forcing tens of thousands of village inhabitants to flee.  CEGIS forecasts that another 29,000 people living along the banks of Brahmaputra, Meghna and Padma Rivers will lose their homes in the next year alone.

Our prayers for the safety of the Bangladeshi people and that citizens around the world will act with solidarity in adopting lifestyle changes that halt climate change, to ensure the survival of all beings on our Earth.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=7956, http://www.wca-infonet.org/servlet/CDSServlet?status=ND0xMjMyLjEzNDIwOCY2PWVuJjMzPXdlYi1zaXRlcyYzNz1pbmZv


Arctic Canadian national park closed due to global warming.

Record-high temperatures this summer in Auyuittuq National Park, whose name means “The Land that Never Melts,” have caused glacial melts and unprecedented flash floods, with 22 hikers having to be evacuated via helicopter when trails were washed away. Also, Akshayuk Pass, which has been used for thousands of years to enter the park, is now closed because the glacial erosion has raised concerns about further flooding.

Our thanks, Canada, for sharing these alarming events.  We pray that governments worldwide heed this warning call and take quick steps to help restore the balance of our irreplaceable biosphere. 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7538341.stm