Island residents become “climate change refugees.” With global warming resulting in rising sea levels that are making the islands uninhabitable, the government of the Carteret Islands in the South Pacific, has begun to search for land where his approximately 1400 residents can relocate. Saltwater flooding has destroyed the fresh water reserves and contaminated the arable land on which the islanders grew banana, taro and other crops. The citizens are expected to begin temporary relocation this year to the Bougainville mainland, 86 kilometers away.
Our heartfelt prayers that the Carteret Islanders will be able to make a smooth transition to their new homes. May residents around the world quickly realize the dangers inherent to global warming and awaken toward action to preserve all life.
In a videoconference on December 12, 2008 with dignitaries and the media in California, USA, Supreme Master Ching Hai spoke on coastal erosion and the solution to stopping it.
Supreme Master Ching Hai: So many islands have sunk under water already. Many coastal cities’ land has been eroded. Two thousand more islands are sinking, and 18 islands, what we have known, maybe more, but we don’t know, 18 islands including small nation islands already gone, disappeared under water, sometimes 6 meters under water already, and another 40 are or at risk of sinking, or uninhabitable or begins to be uninhabitable because they cannot cultivate any more because the land become inundated with salty water already.
I want to plead with all the planet people. Please stop killing animals. Please have compassion. Please turn to vegetarian diet. Please be vegan; that is to save yourselves and your children.
Supreme Master Ching Hai: So, organic vegan diet is the answer.
Oh, You Are So GREEN! The HYmini Handheld Wind TurbineGreen energy recharger for small electronic devices. The handheld “hybrid” device that stores both wind and solar power, called HYmini, can be strapped to a bicycle or worn to collect energy via the wind, which it then stores to re-charge mobile phones, digital cameras and MP3 devices. The mini power collector can also collect energy through its own mini-solar panels, or can even be plugged into a wall or computer via USB, if necessary.
Kudos HYmini and many thanks for this affordable solution for staying sustainably connected.
Islands sign up for experiment to be waste freeIslands volunteer to develop waste-free living system. Eleven islands in the North Sea, home to 50,000 residents and part of Germany, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands and Britain are participating in the “Cradle to Cradle Island” project. This initiative, supported by US$4.5 million from the European Union and ideas from numerous European universities, will introduce sustainable energy and products that are fully reusable or made of organic matter that can safely decompose. Some other green solutions that will be employed include seawater desalinization, waste water purification and electric cars.
European Union, universities and all island participants, Heaven smiles on your pioneering commitment to a sustainable and idyllic future. We look forward to seeing this project come to green fruition for the benefit of many.
Pretoria to get SA's first 'green living precinct'South Africa establishes first green tech community. Construction is beginning in Pretoria to create the Menlyn Maine City Project, an environmentally conscious combination of commercial and residential space. With a goal of a 30 percent less energy consumption through sustainable building techniques such as using recycled items and water recycling, developers have also designed the community for local accessibility to minimize transportation emissions. Their hope is that Menlyn Maine will represent a standard in the development of green, connected micro cities.
What an exciting concept, South Africa! Blessed be your eco-community in becoming a blueprint for planet-friendly living throughout your beautiful land.