Climate change conference delegates appreciate encouragement from Supreme Master Ching Hai.
It was not an easy task for the delegates from more than 190 countries to endorse a final agreement on curbing global warming. However, the outcome of the two-week negotiations in Cancún, Mexico was hailed by many as a success, with the meeting's chair, Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa saying that it heralded “a new era of international cooperation on climate change.”

Arriving at the invitation of Mexico's Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources, Supreme Master Ching Hai set aside time in her schedule to lend her support for the decision-makers' crucial task of restoring the planet - not only through her prayers but also her presence in their sessions.

Some of the attending dignitaries who had the chance to speak with Supreme Master Ching Hai included the President of Mexico, His Excellency Felipe Calderón; US Deputy Special Envoy for Climate Change Dr. Jonathan Pershing; Deputy Director of the Office of Global Change, US Department of State, Mr. Trigg Talley, and Moldovan Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Gheorghe Şalaru.
 
Supreme Master Ching Hai: My respectful salute to all your endeavors for Mexico.

H. E. Felipe Calderón - Mexican President (M): Thank you. Thank you very much.

Supreme Master Ching Hai: I love your people.

H. E. Felipe Calderón - Mexican President (M): I love you too.

Supreme Master Ching Hai: Are you happy with the meeting? Vous etes content avec le meeting?

Minister (M): 50/50

Supreme Master Ching Hai: We have to wait a bit more. Il faut attendre encore. (huh?) Vous attends encore.

VOICE: National ministers and UNFCCC National Focal Point representatives received a copy of the new book, “From Crisis to Peace: The Organic Vegan Way Is the Answer," which Supreme Master Ching Hai graciously signed.

Togo's National Focal Point to the UNFCCC Ambassador Komi Tomyeba; Head of the Climate Change Department at the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, Dr. Ezzat Lewis Hannalla Agiby, and Ugandan Environment Minister Her Excellency Jesca Eriyo, were among those also expressing their gladness upon meeting Supreme Master Ching Hai, who conveyed her encouragement for their efforts.

Supreme Master Ching Hai: I just support your work. H. E. Komi Tomyeba - Togo National Focal Point,

UNFCCC (M): Yes, yes.

Supreme Master Ching Hai:We are here to support your work.

H. E. Komi Tomyeba (M): Hi, Master. Thank you very much.

Supreme Master Ching Hai: I know you're busy.

H. E. Komi Tomyeba (M): We need your support.

Supreme Master Ching Hai: I pray Allah bless you.

Dr. Ezzat Lewis Hannalla Agiby - Head of Climate Change Central Department, Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (M): We need it.

Supreme Master Ching Hai: Allah bless you.

Dr. Agiby (M): Thank you.

Supreme Master Ching Hai: Good luck to your country.

H.E. Jesca Eriyo - Ugandan Minister of State for Environment (F): Thank you. (Okay.)

Supreme Master Ching Hai: I pray for your people…

Ugandan Minister (M): Thank you very much.

Supreme Master Ching Hai:…and for the best outcome for Africa.
 
H.E. Jesca Eriyo - Ugandan Minister of State for Environment (F): Sure. Thank you very much.

VOICE: Supreme Master Ching Hai's heartfelt wishes for the leaders to act with courage came just as scientists from the US National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) announced 2010 as the hottest year on record due to accelerating climate change.

Supreme Master Ching Hai: Please save my planet.

Dr. Jonathan Pershing - US Deputy Special Envoy for Climate Change (M): Okay. We're ready to make it happen.

VOICE: Meanwhile, international environmental groups including Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund commended COP 16 representatives for renewing the momentum, goodwill and sense of purpose regarding climate change policy.

However, some concerned society members continued to urge for more bold and immediate actions to halt global warming, as expressed in one young activist's t-shirt, which read: “You have been negotiating all my life. You cannot tell me you need more time.” These words were originally spoken by Christina Ora, (female name) a Solomon Islander youth delegate who had addressed the COP 15 meeting one year ago in 2009.

Christian Ora - Youth delegate from Solomon Islands addressing COP 15 plenary (F): I was born in 1992. You have been negotiating all my life. You cannot tell us that you need more time. Because you hold our future in your hands.

VOICE: We send our appreciation for the government decision makers' efforts in Cancún, as our gratefulness also goes to Supreme Master Ching Hai, whose steadfast support throughout the summit was felt by many an encouraged participant. May our world be steered to safety through our leaders' noble endeavors, the most crucial of which is the planet-cooling organic vegan policy.

Supreme Master Ching Hai's book, “From Crisis to Peace: The Organic Vegan Way Is the Answer,” is freely available to read at www.Crisis2Peace.org.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-12/11/c_13645274.htm

Extra News
Peter Wittoeck, head Belgian delegate to the climate change conference in Cancún, Mexico, reaffirms the European Union's pledge of US$9.5 billion towards climate change efforts from 2010 to 2012, with US$2.9 billion for 2010 alone. http://english.cntv.cn/program/newsupdate/20101201/102052.shtml

A new report from officials in Yunnan province, China indicates that approximately 100,000 plants belonging to such rare species as cycads and yews, perished in the severe 2009 drought, thus threatening biodiversity in the region.
http://english.cri.cn/6909/2010/11/29/1821s607669.htm

A report from UK-based environmental group National Trust conveys concerns that the decline of the country's traditional apple orchards, where the small mistletoe thrives, may lead to the plant disappearing or becoming much more difficult to obtain. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/dec/07/mistletoe-vanish-20-years-national-trust

The world's second-largest reinsurer, Switzerland's Re, highlights the increasing severity of storms, stating that more than 260,000 human lives were lost worldwide to catastrophes in 2010 compared to 15,000 in 2009. http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2010/12/05/gps.what.world.disasters.cnn , http://www.property-casualty.com/News/2010/11/Pages/Swiss-Re-Insurers-Hit-With-36B-In-Losses-From-2010-Catastrophes-.aspx

insertion*  [quotes pending] insertion** Togo's National Focal Point to the UNFCCC Ambassador Komi Tomyeba; Head of the Climate Change Department at the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, Dr. Ezzat Lewis Hannalla Agiby, and Ugandan Environment Minister Her Excellency Jesca Eriyo, were among those also expressing their gladness upon meeting Supreme Master Ching Hai, who conveyed her encouragement for their efforts. [more quotes pending]