These vast and ancient ice glaciers bordering India and Tibet are second only in size to the polar ice caps.

Billions of people in China and the Indian subcontinent rely on their vital freshwater to supply seven of  the world's largest Asian rivers across the planet's most densely populated regions.

However, global warming is causing the glaciers to melt for the first time since their formation 20,000 years ago, at a pace more rapid than anywhere else in the world.

Over the last 25 years, the Gangotri glacier alone has retreated more than 850 meters. (Source: NASA)

Dr. Jagdish Bahadur; Indian Glaciologist:
Himalayan glaciers are in general on retreat as anywhere else on the planet due to global warming.
VOICE:Continued melting at the current rate will result in massive flooding.

Dr. Jagdish Bahadur:Immediately when glaciers recede they release more water.

VOICE:…followed by severe drought.

Dr. Jagdish Bahadur:But over a period of time when glacier mass is reduced; the water supplies will be in short. So water deficit will affect one and all.

Swami Sundaranand; Hindu Monk (Hindi language):All these glaciers feed the Ganga. If these glaciers disappear,
the Ganga is gone.

Videoconference with Supreme Master Ching Hai with Supreme Master Television staff Los Angeles, California, USA – November 26, 2008

Supreme Master Ching Hai: Through the scientists and research, it’s been proven already that it’s melting faster than we have expected and that we have imagined.
The Ganges River feeds millions of people, depending on the glacier of the Himalaya and if it melted all, then first of all, we’ll have a lot of flood and then we will have drought and dryness afterwards.

Supreme Master Ching Hai: Because water will not be distributed evenly like it has been done for centuries.

Cities will be drowned, people will die and flood will be everywhere and later we will have
no water even. No reservoir anymore. So either way, either a lot of flood or drought, it’s very dangerous for the people, especially the people who depend on the Ganges River and the glacier to survive. I am really worried, but I just pray and hope that the people who are in power will do something.


Supreme Master Ching Hai: The only solution is vegetarian diet for everybody and it’s so easy to do. So we just have to do our best and be patient.

Be Veg.
Go Green.
Save the Planet.

Himalayan glaciers 'could disappear within 30 years' due to global warming (Dailymail - 13 Nov 2008)
Himalayan glaciers 'melting fast' (BBC - 14 Mar 2005)
HIMALAYAN GLACIERS MELTING By Meghna Bhattacharjee, Water Center ...(columbia.edu)
Himalayan Glaciers at Risk (forestrynepal.org)