Vegetarian Diet Could Cut Climate Change Mitigation Costs by 70%, If Enough Of Us Make the Switch
Scientists offer hope in addressing global warming. Despite a week filled with bleak updates on the speed at which the effects of global warming are being felt, scientists at the Copenhagen Climate Change conference last week concluded that our world could still be saved and that the tools for addressing climate change are at hand. Conference organizer Professor Katherine Richardson of the University of Copenhagen pointed out how combined efforts in the past had reversed seemingly insurmountable problems such as removing harmful chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from the atmosphere.

Professor Peter Gregory – Scottish Crop Research Institute (M): While we knew a lot of things were changing, we've come to realized that they're actually changing much faster than we thought be… than we thought before. So we have much less time to actually act.

Professor Pete Smith – Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen (M): We’ve definitely had a significant impact on the planet and on the atmosphere but it’s not too late to do something about it, to counter the big dangerous climate change problems that we have in the future.

Professor Dale Jamieson – Director of Environmental Studies at New York University, USA, Vegan (M): I think as far as new goals go, we know what we have to do, the question is really doing it.

Professor Peter Gregory – Scottish Crop Research Institute (M): We have the knowledge. I think increasingly, we have the will. We can make steps individually to change our style of life, to insulate our homes, make sure that we don't waste energy, to use our transport efficiently, to produce our crops and eat effectively and healthily. And I think all of these things are things that we can do as individuals. We don't have to wait for governments to act on those things.

VOICE: Our gratitude international conference scientists, for your prevailing optimism even while delivering the dire facts about global warming. We join you in confidence that humanity’s swift adoption of practices such as the vegan lifestyle will rapidly reverse this trend and restore our Earth.

In a videoconference for the Climate Change International Conference with experts on health, science and the media, on July 26, 2008 in California, USA, Supreme Master Ching Hai explained why being vegan is the priority solution at this crucial time.


Rebroadcast of Live Videoconference with Supreme Master Ching Hai
“Climate Change International Conference” July 26, 2008 – West Hollywood, California, USA

Supreme Master Ching Hai: So, I have only one solution, that is being vegetarian, and the sooner the better, and then everything else we will have time to take care. We will have time to develop different technology, we will have time to invent new cars, we will have time to tackle many other things that right now are not that urgent as the planetary warming.

Because truly it might destroy the whole planet and we will all go. And this is still a very beautiful planet, it’s still repairable. So just one request: vegetarian diet. Then everything else, we will have time to do and to think of. So, just spread out the vegetarianism, spread out all that information about the benefit of it. And that’s the best thing we can do for the planet and for our children. I wish all of you all the best. God bless you and your mission.

마케도니아 국민이 하루에 5백만 그루의 나무를 심었습니다.
마케도니아 국민이 하루에 5백만 그루의 나무를 심었습니다. 환경의식 고취와 국토 재조림을 위해 마케도니아는 세 번째 식목 사업 "식목일-미래를 심자'를 지원했습니다. 행사에는 니콜라 그루에브스키 초리 같은 정치인과 캠페인 창립자인 유명한 오페라 가수 보리스 트라자노브가 함께 했습니다. 유네스코가 세계 평화음악인으로 지정한 트라자노프 씨가 대형 산불로 유실된 나무를 보충하기 위해 작녀에 이 캠페인을 시작했습니다. 이런 고귀한 노력으로 그는 최근 칭하이 무상사에게 빛나는 세계 보호상을 받았고 3만 유로를 캠페인 지원금으로 받았습니다. 수백만 그루의 나무를 심은 마케도니아 국민과 트라자조브씨께 박수를 보냅니다. 이런 하나된 협력은 어머니 지구에서 지속 가능하게 살기 위해 노력하는 우리 모두에 분명 영감을 줄 겁니다. 

 Prince Charles receives climate change award
Prince Charles honored with environmental award. The “Friend of the Forest and Climate Award” was presented to His Royal Highness while he was in Brazil, for his pioneering environmental work to preserve the Amazon rainforest. The award coincided with the Prince’s visit to the region to encourage urgent action in halting deforestation of the world's largest rainforest.

Your Royal Highness, we respectfully congratulate you on this esteemed recognition, and it is certainly our honor to have your wise leadership in this perilous time. May all the world’s citizens soon heed the call of striving to preserve our precious ecosphere.