It’s time to go veg, says US actor, Ed Begley, Jr.

Renowned actor and longtime environmentalist, Ed Begley, Jr. spoke before an enthusiastic audience at the “Green Fair Silicon Valley” in San Jose, California. He cited numerous examples of successful environmental initiatives over the last several decades, including his personal ones.

Ed Begley, Jr.: I started it 38 years ago, 1970, the first Earth Day. I was motivated to do something. I was there; I started recycling; I started composting; I started buying all biodegradable soaps and detergents; I changed my diet; I became vegetarianhttp://suprememastertv.tv. did everything that I could to be… Thank you! Some vegetarians out there.  And I did all this stuff… Thank you. And it felt good…

VOICE: Mr. Begley granted Supreme Master Television an interview following his rousing speech. We asked him about his thoughts on the vegetarian, meaning animal free diet.

Ed Begley, Jr.: I think we need to move to more a plant-based diet. I think that it is healthier for us; then there is the C02 issue which is substantial with cattle. All of it needs to be taken into account. That is why I have stopped eating cows and sheep and pigs and chickens many years ago.
VOICE: His advice for the public is, as usual, heartfelt and delivered in a straightforward manner.
Ed Begley, Jr.: Even if you are a meat eater, okay, but eat less for God’s sake. Now that there are 6 billion of us on the planet, there isn’t enough room to be doing that. So hopefully a lot of people are waking up to that.

VOICE: We salute Mr. Ed Begley, Jr. for your model of environmental leadership, which is noted worldwide. May your star shine forth for the green future of our planet, and our best wishes for many more years of your rewarding eco-living success.



Envisioning a future developed world – in balance.

In this time of the Earth’s crisis and many complex issues being faced at once, Supreme Master Ching Hai has provided clarity on the most favorable direction to follow.
Supreme Master Ching Hai: Vegetarian diet and new technology, yes. And be ‘sparesome’ and be spiritual. That’s what we do.
VOICE: During a candid videoconference with our Association members in Surrey, United Kingdom, Supreme Master Ching Hai answered questions about global warming in the greater context of human development.

(F):If global warming is stopped on time and is reversed, is there a possibility that the poorest and undeveloped countries of the world will be able to catch up on development and reach the same level as developed countries, or will inequality still exist amongst countries?
Supreme Master Ching Hai: It still exists, but they will be helped, by more developed countries.
(F): Yes, Master.
Supreme Master Ching Hai: The main point is, we will have peace between nations, be it developed or not developed. And the main point is, we will have enough food for everyone, developed or not developed. And all the animals will be living in peace, without fear, without suffering; that’s the main point. And it would be good if we also develop spirituality and technology at the same time. Then it would be very balanced. It would be the greatest thing that we can have.
VOICE: Thank you Supreme Master Ching Hai for guiding us toward this bright future for our planet. May all humanity walk together on this ennobling path.
Please tune in to Supreme Master Television's Between Master and Disciples on Saturday and Sunday, June 21 and 22, 2008 for the full broadcast of this special videoconference with Supreme Master Ching Hai with multi-language subtitles.




Antarctic ice shelf continues to break up.

The Wilkins Ice Shelf, south of South America on the Antarctic Peninsula is dwindling further. A 160 km² area broke off May 30 to May 31, 2008. This ice shelf connects the Charcot and Latady islands. In February, the plate of ice was 6km. After the May event it is down to 2.7km. Dr. Matthias Braun from Germany’s Center for Remote Sensing of Land Surfaces at Bonn University, and Dr. Angelika Humbert from the Institute of Geophysics, Münster University, said, “The remaining plate has an arched fracture at its narrowest position, making it very likely that the connection will break completely in the coming days.”
We thank you, Drs. Braun and. Humbert, for this important information. May planetary changes such as these awaken in us the changes needed to save it.


Dead Sea water level is decreasing further.

The Dead Sea, bordered by Israel, the West Bank and Jordan is showing signs of continuing water loss says Mishmar Hamiflas, a Dead Sea conservation group. Citing data from the Hydrological Service of Israel, the group says that this past May the water level in the Dead Sea dropped 10 cm and the month before it dropped 8 cm. Stating that this is likely due to increased water consumption from the Jordan River and other water sources, Mishmar Hamiflas suggests more efficient use of water by the agricultural sector as one possible solution to replenish the Dead Sea. 
We sincerely appreciate your informative findings, Mishmar Hamiflas and Hydrological Service of Israel. May all world citizens conserve and wisely use valuable Earth resources like water.


Governments should focus on global warming as top priority.

A recent report by the European Union’s energy advisory panel, the International Energy Agency (IEA), forecasts that if the world continues along current energy trends, global carbon emissions will increase 57% by 2030, instead of decreasing 50-80 percent by 2050, as recommended by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The IEA states that reducing greenhouse gas emissions to the IPCC’s proposed levels will be unattainable unless governments make climate change the utmost urgent priority with an unparallel degree of international, collective cooperation.
IEA, we join your concerned call in alerting the world to the need for immediate action. With Heaven’s grace, may our steps forward unite in the shared goal of quickly halting global warming.


Orangutan populations are declining with forest loss.

According to Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry, orangutans could face a 50 percent decrease in population over the next 10 years, mainly due to loss of their remaining habitat because of deforestation throughout Borneo and Sumatra. During a recent seminar attended by 100 participants, the forest ministry expressed the government’s commitment to implementing preservation programs intended to stabilize and improve the habitat and populations of the orangutan over the next ten years.
Our sincere appreciation, Indonesia, for your actions to save this intelligent great ape. May your valuable rainforests continue to be graced with flourishing numbers of the unique orangutan.

Alaskan village receives assistance for relocation due to climate change.

The village of Newtok and its 400 Yupik Eskimo inhabitants are receiving US$3 million from the state of Alaska, USA to help relocate to safer and higher grounds. Of the 213 native villages in Alaska, approximately 86 percent are already seeing melting permanent sea ice, sinking permafrost, flooding, intensifying storms and coastal erosion, with six of the villages having to take immediate action to ensure the safety of their people. With the funding from the state, the Yupik Eskimos of Newtok can now start rebuilding their village on higher and more sheltered grounds. The government is allocating a further US$13 million for the protection of the vulnerable Yupik villages next year.
We thank the Alaskan government for your care of the native Eskimos. We pray all lands are restored to the pristine state that our ancestors once knew.


WWF says climate talks need more substantial progress.

At the conclusion of the two-week United Nations talks in Bonn, Germany on replacing the Kyoto Protocol, global conservation group WWF warned that progress on developing an international plan of action for climate change needed to move much faster. Kathrin Gutmann, WWF climate policy coordinator said, “The science tells us that governments need to think at a much larger scale of action than ever before to get climate change under control.” 
Our gratitude, WWF, for your call to more rapid action. May all governments recognize the clear and present danger of climate change and quickly carry out actions to save our planetary home. (*)