Bolivian conference recognizes the rights of Mother Earth.
Initiated by Bolivian President Evo Morales, the gathering described by some as a 『people’s summit』 that has also been welcomed by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has brought together more than １３０ countries this week in Cochabamba.

Many of the participants represented the world’s indigenous communities, who contribute traditional values of sustainability and respect for nature even as they are often the first to be afflicted by global warming.
Supreme Master Television’s correspondent shares an update on the summit’s collaborative efforts, which culminated in a final document to be submitted to the United Nations Climate Change Conference leaders for the November ２０１０ meeting.

Correspondent (M): Day three of the 『World People's Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth,』 １7 different work groups have formed their conclusions.

These groups, ranging from topics such as action strategies, and agriculture and food policy, were open to all who came, and everyone was welcome to voice their concerns. 

Now these conclusions will be compiled into a final document. Panels that convened today focused on the rights of Mother Earth and how communities can enact legislation that will recognize and protect those rights.

Mari Margil – Associate Director, Community Environmental Legal Defence Fund (F): And worked with them to draft and adopt a law which, as one of the first communities in the United States, recognized the legally enforceable and inalienable rights of nature within Blaine Township.

Correspondent (M): Scientists and community leaders continue to point to livestock as a primary cause of our environmental crisis.

Alberto Acosta – Equadorian politician and economist (M): I think it's one of the activities that cause more problems, in the way that produces a large amount of greenhouse gases, and also forces the assignment of large expanses of land to produce huge quantities of meat as demanded by the world market.

Correspondent (M): In a press conference, Bolivian President Evo Morales said that Mother Earth's rights are of the utmost importance, and humanity's interests are fundamentally tied to those of the planet.

Evo Morales – Bolivian President (M): Here, there is something deep, who gives us life, is Mother Earth, that’s why it is said Mother Earth. Now, it is more important to defend the rights of Mother Earth than defend human rights. Defending the rights of Mother Earth,we defend fundamentally human rights.

Correspondent (M): Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association members passed out over a thousand delicious vegan sandwiches to conference attendees.

Conference participant (F): Animals also have rights, they are living beings like us, and I also would agree because somehow it would lengthen our lifetime, right? We would have a much healthier kind of life.

Correspondent (M): May representatives of the world's peoples, international organizations, and government leaders coming together for dialog, lead the world into a new age of unity between Mother Earth, known here as Pachamama, and the peoples who rest in her arms.From Cochabamba, Bolivia, this is Supreme Master Television.

VOICE: Our appreciation, all leaders and delegations contributing to this fruitful conference. We pray that the swift and wise actions recommended by this forum will include the most Mother Earth-friendly remedy to climate change, that is, an organic vegan food policy.

In an October ２００９ videoconference in Indonesia, Supreme Master Ching Hai once more urged for more eco-conscious lifestyles, referring to indigenous environmental wisdom.

http://www.alertnet.org/db/blogs/64201/2010/03/21-095240-1.htm
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2010/04/201042120510405334.html

Volcanic ash obstructing Europe linked to global warming.
Scientists state that the ash plume, which recently covered much of Europe, paralyzing air traffic and stranding tens of thousands of passengers, was made worse by unusual wind patterns stemming from climate change.

According to Drs. Christophe Cassou and Eric Guilyardi of the European Center for Research and Advanced Training in Scientific Computation in Toulouse, France, normally prevailing western winds that would have kept Europe’s air space clear were blocked by a type of high-pressure weather system that is aggravated by global warming.

Meanwhile, volcanologists are concerned that Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano may erupt again. They warn that neighboring volcano Katla could also become active as well.

In the １7th and １９th centuries, Katla not only erupted soon after Eyjafjallajökull, its ash plumes were at least １００ times larger.

Drs. Cassou, Guilyardi and associates, this cautionary news is indeed a reminder of the vulnerability of our planetary home. Let us all turn toward sustainable and compassionate lifestyles that avert further disaster and protect our precious Earth.

http://en.rian.ru/natural/20100420/158660189.html
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18794-blame-the-volcano-trouble-on-sun-and-global-warming.html

Extra News
British broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough, famed for his presentation of acclaimed BBC nature programs, traveled to both the South and North Poles to record 『Frozen Planet,』 highlighting the impact of climate change in the regions and set to air on BBC One in ２０１１.
http://www.france24.com/en/20100417-veteran-british-broadcaster-reaches-north-pole
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20100417/tuk-polar-joy-for-david-attenborough-6323e80.html

Due to smoke density and hazardous health implications, Forestry Tasmania in Australia issues an immediate and unprecedented state-wide ban on all forest burnoffs, advising residents to take respiratory precautionsin affected areas.
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/04/19/140745_tasmania-news.html
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/19/2877011.htm
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/04/19/140745_tasmania-news.html
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/19/2877011.htm

With nearly one-third of native plant species in the US northeast having vanished due to extinction over the past ２００ years, scientists report that spring is now arriving some １０ days earlier,further jeopardizing the survival of plants and animals alike.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63J4RF20100420
http://trueslant.com/davidknowles/2010/04/20/spring-now-arrives-10-days-early-thanks-to-climate-change/
http://www.ucsusa.org/about/

With support of the NGO Compassion in World Farming, the city council of Cape Town, South Africa unanimously votes to endorse one meat-free day a week for health benefits and reducing climate change.
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20100415045410705C670896
http://www.thestar.co.za/?fSectionId=492&fArticleId=vn20100415045410705C670896
http://www.capetowngreenmap.co.za/blog/cape-town-supports-meat-free-day