email to friend  اینرا به دوست خود ایمیل کنید   If you want to add this video in your blog or on your personal home page, Please click the fallowing link to copy source code  copy source code   Print

Climate change forces movement from the Brahmaputra River.
In the Indian state of Assam alone, persistent flooding and droughts are driving more than 500,000 people to leave their homes near the river. Many are small-scale farmers whose families have lived there for generations.
However, especially in the last five years,the river’s unpredictable fluctuations have destroyed crops and thus, livelihoods.

Repeated flooding has also washed sand down the river, leaving large areas unfit for agriculture. In what is being called the second wave so far this year, Assam state has seen disastrous flooding as rivers branching off the Brahmaputra breached embankments, with more than 50,000 people rendered homeless as waters spilled into some 50 villages.

Farmers choosing to stay in the region are trying various approaches such as planting different varieties of rice, such as ones that can tolerate deep flooding next to species that can grow with less water.

We are glad to know of the people’s efforts to overcome the challenges of global warming, even as we are saddened by the suffering and migration that so many must endure. May all humans join in solidarity to protect our planet through life-sparing acts such as choosing plant-based fare.

During a November 2008 interview on Ireland’s East Coast Radio FM, Supreme Master Ching Hai spoke of the plight of climate refugees as a consequence of global warming, while highlighting how such situations could be prevented.

Supreme Master Ching Hai: If we don’t have global warming, then no one would be a climate refugee. I ask everyone to please imagine if that were yourself in the refugee’s situation, experiencing all these troubles – insecurities, hunger, lacking all comfort, humiliation, undignified situation, uncertain of the morrows
of your future and the future of your helpless children.

Just imagine it. Then try to solve this tragedy by helping in whatever way we can. And above all, and most urgently of all, be veg, go green to save the planet, to prevent such trauma and to build a bright future for the world, for our co-citizens.
http://www.calcuttanews.net/story/615799
http://www.alertnet.org/db/an_art/60167/2010/02/23-162831-1.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmaputra_River

2010 Champions of the Earth commended.
In a ceremony on April 22 that also celebrated Earth Day in Seoul, South Korea, six people were bestowed with the highest award for eco-leadership by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner stated, “The six winners represent some of the key pillars upon which society can build Green Growth and a development path to unite rather than divide (the world’s) six billion people.”

The winners included Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed for Policy Leadership; Japanese earth scientist Dr. Taro Takahashi for Science and Innovation; President Bharrat Jagdeo of Guyana for Biodiversity Conservation & Ecosystem Management, co-founder of Sun Microsystems and green energy entrepreneur
Vinod Khosla; and the award of Inspiration & Action, which was shared between Chinese actress and eco-advocate Ms. Zhou Xun and Afghan Prince Mustafa Zahir, who is the Director General of his country’s National Environmental Protection Agency.

A standing ovation, Champions of the Earth, for your dedicated efforts and deserved recognition! May your efforts inspire many others towards actions that sustain a beautiful, flourishing planet.

http://www.france24.com/en/20100422-chinese-actress-wins-un-environment-award
http://www.goodafghannews.com/2010/04/22/afghanistans-mustafa-zahir-wins-major-environmental-leadership-
award/
http://www.unep.org/champions/
http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=620&ArticleID=6538&l=en

Extra News
 In a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the two leaders reaffirm their countries’ commitment to an effective and comprehensive solution in the upcoming November climate summit.
http://medindia.net/news/India-Brazil-Reaffirm-Commitment-To-Reducing-Impact-of-Climate-Change-
67806-1.htm


Russian oceanographer Natalia Lapina and  researchers find that organic matter in the Arctic Ocean nearly doubled from 1996 to 2008, a change that could represent increasing thaw of Siberian permafrost.
http://www.southkoreanews.net/story/625901

Around 8,000 residents of Manila, Philippines join the annual “Tour of the Fireflies,” bicycling around the city to raise awareness of this clean and eco-friendly transportation while urging the government toward more green policies.
http://www.demotix.com/news/304751/annual-bike-ride-ecology-tour-fireflies-manila
http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/ns_asia/2010-04-20/789713599131.html
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/127176017135.htm

Finland’s government outlines its plan to meet the European Union requirement that 38% of the nation’s energy come from sustainable sources by 2020.
http://www.physorg.com/news191003168.html
http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/htimes/domestic-news/politics/10708-finnish-government-decides-on-renewable-
energy-package-.html


The 17 nations with the highest total emissions meet in Washington, DC, USA to discuss financing for developing countries as agreed in the December 2009 Copenhagen Accord, to assist them in coping with and adapting to climate change.  
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/enviornment/major-emitters-meet-to-narrow-climate-differences-after-
copenhagen_100350624.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63J06F20100420