Scientists call for reduced carbon emissions to prevent oceanic catastrophe.
Scientific academies from 70 nations issued a joint statement urging the participants of the recent Bonn, Germany conference to more drastically reduce CO2 emissions. Their concern in part stems from the oceans’ current absorption of approximately 30 percent of the CO2 emissions, which has already caused acidification of the water. This particularly threatens shellfish, corals, and other animals with shells made of calcium carbonate.

Dr. Katharine Richardson – Marine scientist, University of Copenhagen, Denmark (F): All sorts of different marine organisms make this calcium carbonate. And calcium carbonate, and acid don’t go together very well. If you go into the kitchen and you put baking soda and vinegar together, you can see the baking soda dissolves, and that’s basically what’s happening to many marine organisms as well.

VOICE: If the CO2 levels in the atmosphere rise from 387 parts per million to 550, scientists say coral reefs may disappear worldwide. Furthermore, other side effects may actually cause the oceans themselves to emit CO2 into the atmosphere.

Dr. Katharine Richardson (F): There are so many processes when the ocean becomes warmer. For example, the bacteria become more active, and that means the plants break down before they get to the deep ocean. So you release the CO2 again to the atmosphere. That process alone would be enough to increase the CO2 in the atmosphere in the future by so much that it would actually change whether or not we think we can reach the goals we’re looking for.

VOICE: Dr. Richardson, University of Copenhagen and all concerned scientists, we are grateful for this vital information. May humanity quickly awaken to the plight of our world’s oceans and act to save marine environments and ourselves.

In a June 2008 videoconference with our Association members in the United Kingdom, Supreme Master Ching Hai expressed once more her concern about the precarious warming of our biosphere that must be halted.


Reference
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/06/01/
01greenwire-science-academies-urge-co2-cuts-to-protect-oce-74403.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/5420048/CO2-levels-may-cause-underwater-catastrophe.html


Afghanistan’s new law protects wildlife.
Following the announcement of the country’s first national park, Afghanistan’s National Environment Protection Agency in collaboration with organizations such as the USAID-funded Wildlife Conservation Society, has issued a first protected species list, intended to help animals and plants recover from impacts of previous hunting and habitat loss.

Some of the 33 threatened and endangered species now safeguarded include the paghman salamander, Asiatic black bear, gazelle, wolf, snow leopard and Himalayan elm tree.

This list is the first in a series and will continue being developed over the coming year.A big bravo Afghan National Environment Protection Agency, Wildlife Conservation Society and all others involved on these advancements to restore habitat safehavens for the wondrous species of plants and animals that beautify your lands. May Allah grace your nation with flourishing biodiversity for years to come.

Reference
http://www.livescience.com/animals/etc/090610-afghanistan-issue-its-first-endangered-species-list.html
http://afghanistan.usaid.gov/en/Article.673.aspx

US president launches national ocean protection plan.
President Barack Obama has announced a plan to safeguard the oceans, coasts and lakes from pollution, habitat loss, fishing impacts and climate change. Along with designating June as National Oceans Month, the plan will include a national policy to be recommended within 90 days by the White House environmental adviser, Nancy Sutley, and her selected team.

President Obama stated, "The oceans are critical to supporting life. The base of the oceanic ecosystem provides most of the oxygen we breathe, so oceans are critical to our survival."

Our respectful accolades, President Obama, for your swift actions to protect precious water bodies and their inhabitants. Wishing you support and success for this noble endeavor.

Reference
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE55B6CJ20090612