Concerns mount over Arctic ice.
New satellite data by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has shown that the melt season for Arctic sea ice is now 20 days longer than three decades ago, extending further into both April and September.

Dr. Thorsten Markus of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center highlighted the importance of these earlier melt onset and later freeze dates, due to their immense effect on ecosystems.

The reduced ice cover also means a larger open water area to absorb more heat from the sun, creating even more warming in a cycle that could have a profound effect on global climate.

Moreover, recent first-hand observations by Dr. David Barber of Canada’s University of Manitoba indicate that the situation is even more dire than could be perceived by satellite.

Dr. Barber stated, “Unfortunately, what we found was that the multi-year (ice) has all but disappeared. What's left is this remnant, rotten ice.” Drs. Markus and Barber as well as all participating National Aeronautics and Space Administration and University of Manitoba scientists, we are grateful for your factual observations despite their alarming implications.

Let us all heed the message conveyed by the vanishing Arctic and act quickly to protect the planet for ourselves and our children. With deep concern, Supreme Master Ching Hai has often spoken of the polar ice melt phenomenon, along with a way to halt it, as in an October 2009 videoconference in Germany.

http://www.physorg.com/news183836066.html
http://www.umanitoba.ca/about/barber.html
http://stn.nsc.gov.tw/view_detail.asp?doc_uid=0990116001&kind_no=A04
http://www.thestar.com/news/sciencetech/environment/article/732009---permanent-arctic-ice-vanishing#article

Extra News
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) of India presents Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama with the 2010 Sustainable Development Leadership Award for his initiative to reduce the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions.
http://www.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/05_33.html
http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/News/Dr.-Manmohan-Singh-calls-for-United-Global-Action-to-reach-
Consensus-on-climate-change/4768312010

Members of the Scottish Parliament in the United Kingdom pass the Marine Bill, with a goal of protecting seals while supporting the development of offshore sustainable energy.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8499466.stm

In a survey conducted by the UK-based Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), more than half of the large companies responding said they plan to do business only with suppliers that report and appropriately manage greenhouse gas emissions.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100201/bs_nm/us_carbon_suppliers

The UN-affiliated Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) supports a ban on international blue fin tuna trade, which would also classify the fish as being threatened with extinction.  
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20100206/tts-un-cites-species-fish-ivory-asia-f6a4e2a.html