More evidence of global warming in the Canadian Arctic.
Three British explorers of the Catlin Arctic Survey team have returned from 73 days in the Canadian Arctic, where they say they found more signs of climate change and its toll on the world’s ice. After making 1,500 measurements, from which they had been expecting to find older ice measuring three meters in thickness, instead they found only thin, first-year ice about half that thick, which is likely to melt in the summer. Expedition leader Pen Hadow, remarked, “Whereas the scientists who had been advising us had predicted it would be a mixture of this (new ice) and the older, thicker, multi-layer ice, we saw no evidence of that.”

Expedition leader Hadow and members of the Catlin Arctic Survey team, we appreciate your dedicated efforts to bring this first-hand information to the public. Let us quickly act to halt the worrisome thaw of vital ice by transitioning to more considerate lifestyles.

Supreme Master Ching Hai has long expressed her care for humanity in light of these and other climate-related changes on the planet. On December 25, 2007, during an international seminar with our Association members, she cautioned about their effects.


Formosan (Taiwanese) conservation success.
Thanks to the conservation efforts of Guandu Nature Park, the bird known as the black-winged stilt is returning to southern Formosa (Taiwan), with families of this graceful bird now becoming regular residents of the Guandu wetlands region. They join other species that are also being seen more frequently in nature preserve. Park Section Chief Sam Lin said, “When people are enjoying their holiday, we hope that they will also come to witness the joy of life in the park.”

A big green salute, Section Chief Sam Lin, and all Guandu Nature Park personnel for your nurturing care of this bird. May the black-winged stilt and other feathered co-inhabitants flourish as we care more diligently for the planet and our animal friends.

Manado Ocean Declaration agreed.
Meeting in Manado, Indonesia, representatives from 76 countries attended the first World Ocean Conference. There, they agreed on the Manado Ocean Declaration, a pledge to protect oceans through a recognition of the ecological importance. The Declaration will also help put ocean issues on the priority list of discussions at the pivotal United Nations climate discussions in Copenhagen later this year. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, said, “We must do more to protect our oceans and preserve the long-term health of our planet and its people.”

World Ocean Conference participants, our thankfulness for your commitment to address the urgent matter of ocean preservation. Together with leaders acting in wisdom for the environment. we can restore the beauty and vitality of our Earth.