Relentless drought
puts Chinese at risk.
China is experiencing
the worst drought in
crucial agricultural areas
in 60 years, with
Shandong Province
potentially facing
the worst drought
in 200 years if rains fail
to materialize by the end
of this month.
The situation is so severe
that the UN Food and
Agriculture Organization
released a warning that
the drought is threatening
the ,
of the world's largest
wheat producer, and also
creating shortages
of drinking water.
Given the number of
people needing sustenance
across the country,
the global grain market
could be also affected
if precipitation patterns
fail to improve
and China is forced
purchase grain from abroad.
Food prices have also
been increasing in China,
despite officials'
assurances that
there is ample supply
to meet demand.
Fortunately, 90% of
China's wheat harvest
is spring wheat, which is
planted in March
and harvested in June,
providing time
for improvements
in the situation.
The government has also
announced an allocation
of US$15 billion in
an effort to assist farmers
in coping with the situation,
with other attempts
to mitigate
the dry conditions
including the drilling
of additional wells
for irrigation and
seeding clouds to
encourage precipitation.
Our prayers, farmers
and people of China,
for ample rain to bless
the region
and many thanks for the
Chinese government's
efforts to help.
May we step in concerted
endeavors toward
sustainable lifestyles
that support
abundant harvests
for people worldwide.
Speaking during
a September 2009
videoconference in Peru
with concern
for the plight of
those enduring the tolls
of climate change,
Supreme Master Ching Hai
reminded of
the critical actions
needed immediately
to restore our planetary
balance and abundance.
Supreme Master Ching Hai : The truth is, we are
already not able to handle
such situations in places
where global warming
is already reaching
extreme degrees.
Some countries
and communities have to
cope with worsened
drought situations.
There is not enough water
to raise crops
or even to drink.
Their rivers and lakes
are drying up
or completely gone.
We are not ready
for the changes
that are coming.
All the leading scientists
we have spoken to
tell us one and the same:
that we must handle it
now, not tomorrow.
The smartest way would be
to stop the worsening
of global warming
by being vegan.
It sounds very simple
but it is the best solution,
the most effective
and the effect of it will be
felt almost immediately.
Moreover, the problems
we already face now -
such as
the warming atmosphere,
water shortage,
food scarcity,
desertification - we can
quickly eliminate by
stopping meat production.
Stop it now, no further!
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-02/17/c_13737197.htmhttp://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/chinas-drought-has-global-implications/article1910465/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12497459http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/09/business/global/09food.html
UK government forsakes
plans to sell public forest.
As confirmed by British
Environment Secretary
Caroline Spelman,
previous plans to
sell 258,000 hectares of
England's public forests
have been set aside
upon hearing the calls
of the public.
Following a statement on
Wednesday, February 16
by Prime Minister
David Cameron,
who said that he was not
satisfied with the idea of
privatizing the forests,
Secretary Spelman
offered a public apology,
saying, “I am sorry,
we got this one wrong,
but we have listened to
people's concerns.”
She also said, “If there is
one clear message, it is
that people cherish their
forests and woodlands
and the benefits
that they bring.”
A big bravo and
our thanks,
Secretary Spelman and
the government of
the United Kingdom, for
your decision to continue
as stewards of your
nation's public forests.
May British citizens
everywhere enjoy
their refreshing beauty
and balance, and come to
cherish these gifts
of nature even more.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12488847
http://www.tinygreenbubble.com/eco/environmental/item/1552-will-public-outrage-stall-the-forest-sell-off-in-britain
http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/house_of_commons/newsid_9400000/9400420.stm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/feb/17/forest-sell-off-abandoned-sorry-caroline-spelman
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/17/us-britain-forests-idUSTRE71G43A20110217Extra News
Saying that neglecting
the environment
is as fatal
as the outcome of war,
Deputy Director-General
Najibullah Yamin of
Afghanistan's National
Environment Protection
Agency announces
the launch of a program
to first document
and then mitigate
the country's greenhouse
gas emissions.
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/LSGZ-8DXHET?OpenDocument
Groups comprised
of local community
volunteers in Nepal
help protect rhinoceros'
from illegal poaching
on the borders of
Chitwan National Park,
in an effort to help
recover populations
from decline suffered
in recent decades.
http://www.france24.com/en/20110210-community-volunteers-take-nepals-rhino-poachers,
http://www.mysinchew.com/node/53009
According to agricultural
financial firm Rabobank,
bee colony failures
in recent years have
increased to an annual
rate of 30-35%, causing
rising concern among
farmers since nearly
a third of the world's
crop yields depends on
their help for pollination.
http://www.theage.com.au/environment/animals/plight-of-the-honey-bee-sends-shivers-around-globe-20110211-1aqkm.html
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