Ministers get close look at Antarctic ice threat
Environment ministers meet researchers in Antarctica. Following their arrival in South Africa to discuss the urgency of climate change, environment ministers and policy makers from more than a dozen nations traveled to Antarctica, where they convened with the US-Norwegian team of scientists returning from a research expedition. With Antarctica containing more than 90 percent of the world’s ice, its potential melt presents one of the most frightening warming threats of this century. Some experts now anticipate sea level rises of a staggering 65 meters, compared to the 0.5 meters originally estimated in the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) last report, which had not anticipated Greenland or Antarctica melting.

Dr. Carl Bøggild, Ice and snow melt researcher, The University Centre in Svalbard, Norway: Glaciers in Greenland and also in Antarctica and other places are moving much faster than we’d previously thought. That kind of dynamics is not accounted for because it is not fully understood yet. But as is, we may have a higher sea level rise than IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) stated a year ago.

Dr. Ted Scambos – National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado, USA (M): Ice shelves are good indicators of climate change because they respond not only to air temperature on the surface, where the rest of the ice sheet responds too, but also to warming in the ocean underneath. The bad news is that when you break the ice shelf away, all of those glaciers accelerate very rapidly, flowing into the ocean. If that happens elsewhere in Antarctica where there are even larger glaciers, we’ll see very sudden jumps in the rate of sea level rise.

VOICE: The scenario before scientists that now takes Antarctic ice melt into account is certainly alarming. Addressing the environment ministers, Norwegian Polar Institute Research Director Dr. Kim Holmen also confirmed the most grave concerns, saying, “This new analysis shows us actually the whole of Antarctica has been warming.”

Your Excellencies and esteemed scientist participants, we laud your commitment in making such a significant journey to verify the fragile situation of our planet. May the visit compel your wise leadership toward actions to preserve the lives of the Earth’s inhabitants.

Supreme Master Ching Hai has frequently spoken with concern about the rising sea levels, which first affect coastal and island countries. In a videoconference with our Association’s Center in New Zealand on August 19, 2008, she expressed her faith in government leaders to guide their co-citizens to safety.

 Simple elixir called a 'miracle liquid'
Hotel makes its own simple, non-toxic cleaners. Housekeeping staff at the Sheraton Delfina hotel in Santa Monica, California, USA, have been introduced to a new eco-friendly cleaning agent that is effective yet chemical-free. Using specially designed equipment, a mixture of tap water and table salt are electrolyzed so that the salt is separated into sodium and chloride ions, which then migrate into separate chambers.

The resulting solutions, which cost just pennies per gallon, are sodium hydroxide, an alkaline liquid that can clean and degrease like detergent, and hypochlorous acid, which acts as an acidic disinfectant. Neither product yields any smell, nor is it abrasive. Approved by US Food and Drug Administration as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, the electrolyzed water is also available in a reduced strength version, which the hotel is using to disinfect produce and keep it fresh longer.

What a fascinating solution! A green salute, Sheraton Delfina for your forward-thinking cleaning technology! We look forward to seeing much more about this eco-friendly elixir!

 Eco-friendly choices make sense for National Parks
National parks in Wyoming, USA growing greener. Yellowstone National Park, which is co-located in the states of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, is adopting eco-conscious practices such as compostable bottles for shampoo and conditioner, Earth-friendly soap and vehicles fueled by biodiesel and hybrid electricity on park roads. Also taking Earth-friendly steps is Grand Teton National Park, which is now powered with 100 percent wind, sun and water energy.

Kudos, national park decision makers in Wyoming for your initiatives to protect the fragile environments of these natural treasures. May their pristine and majestic atmospheres be preserved through many such eco-measures as these.