Lead poisoning affects thousands in Nigeria.
Following a recent episode of illegal mining in Zamfara state, the country’s Ministry of Health stated that over 160 people have died thus far from lead poisoning, with 355 others diagnosed as affected.
The Nigerian government requested the help of such groups as the World Health Organization (WHO), Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières), and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Testing by the CDC has revealed extremely high blood levels of lead in thousands of adults and children in the contaminated region.  The toxic effects of the lead have left many survivors with afflictions such as blindness, deafness, or loss of all motor skills.

Agency spokesperson Vivi Abrams said, “The scope of the poisoning is unprecedented in CDC's work with lead poisoning worldwide.” The international health agencies are now urgently training local residents in effective clean-up and containment procedures, hoping to stop the toxic substance from spreading with seasonal heavy rains expected in the coming month. Our deep thankfulness, Nigerian government and all the helping organizations working to alleviate the suffering of innocent villagers.

We join in sadness for the lives lost and pray for the comfort and recovery of the afflicted as we strive to eliminate such tragedies through our more conscious care of the planet.

Supreme Master Ching Hai has long called on humanity to act with greater regard for the ecosphere, for the sake of both the environment and all life on Earth, as during a July 2008 videoconference in Formosa.


http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2010/0608/1224272053162.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6561TQ20100607
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ijnJN8e_o1Ik8H7yUQlfAoUNRc0wD9G798S80
http://www.tribune.com.ng/sun/index.php/front-page-articles/1244-251-now-dead-in-zamfara-poison-tragedy-
residents-flee-govt-votes-n240m-to-fight-spread

UNEP developing new science-policy platform to protect biodiversity.
The conference co-hosted by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the South Korean Environment Ministry concluded on June 11 with the governments in attendance agreeing to the creation of a new mechanism to help stop the unprecedented decline of biodiversity and ecosystems by linking scientific research more closely with government policy.

South Korean correspondent (F): This past week here in Busan, South Korea, delegates from 97 governments and 50 organizations gathered to establish a new panel to protect nature: the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (or IPBES). 

Achim Steiner – Executive Director, UNEP (M): We are seeing tipping points, not just in theoretical scenarios anymore; we are witnessing them in the real world.

Correspondent (F): Wildlife species and ecosystems are being destroyed at an alarming rate. As a result, it is estimated that humans have already lost over 60% of nature’s benefits, and instead are now suffering the impacts of this loss including food shortages, floods and landslides.

Dr. Harold Mooney - Co-chair of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (M): Biodiversity brings us clean water, climate control, disease control, pollination services. These are fundamental building blocks to our life, our human well-being, and they’re declining.

Correspondent (F): The new Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services will be comparable to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (or IPCC), which helped to raise global warming to the top of governments’ agenda.

Dr. Harold Mooney (M): The impact of human activities on biodiversity is influencing feedbacks to the climate system. So, they’re both interrelated.

Correspondent (F): A leading driver of both global warming and biodiversity loss is livestock raising, which emits harmful gases, pollutes the environment, and destroys habitat.

Just prior to this event, a UNEP-supported report urged a necessary shift away from animal products in order to minimize the worst climate impacts.

Achim Steiner – Executive Director, UNEP (M): Production of livestock, in particular meat products, is an enormously intense one in terms of consumption of resources. Therefore, the panel is saying that, yes, let us change our lifestyles. Reducing meat consumption is part of the solution in a world with soon 9 billion people.

Correspondent (F): At the conclusion of the 5-day meeting, UNEP and the South Korean Environment Ministry arranged for an organic vegan lunch to be served to all participants and journalists, along with an informative guide on the plant-based diet benefits for the environment. Loving Hut vegan restaurant was the official caterer of the eco-friendly meals.Reporting for Supreme Master Television, from Busan, South Korea.

VOICE: Our heartfelt accolades,United Nations Environment Program, South Korea and all conference participants for your dedicated efforts leading to this new initiative to protect the natural world we depend on. May we swiftly unite in action, especially the most powerful conservation measure of organic plant-based living.
http://ipbes.net/news-centre.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jun/09/france-japan-ipcc-for-nature

Extra News
With a United Arab Emirates’ ban on non-biodegradable plastic bags set for 2013, a campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of plastics is launched in Abu Dhabi, where graphic images are displayed of plastic litter’s harm to both marine and land animals, who can die from consuming it.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2010/June/theuae_June250.xml&
section=theuae&col=
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/environment/plastic-bags-must-now-be-eco-friendly-in-ajman-1.632813

Meteorologists from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration report that the northeastern states of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont experienced the warmest spring season on record.
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2010/06/09/Warmest-May-ever-in-some-NE-states/UPI-52771276096360/
http://wbztv.com/local/record.warm.spring.2.1743079.html
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2010/20100608_maystats.html

Along with hunger being faced by nearly half the households in Niger due to crop failure from prolonged drought is an increasing water shortage, with residents in regions such as southern Zinder province having to travel 20 kilometers to purchase water for daily needs.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/a4da76ca5f75e9f4347e2d6544506c09.htm
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/09/niger-drought-leaves-mill_n_606085.html

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working to ban the insecticide endosulfan, used on fruits, vegetables and cotton, with studies since 2002 showing that the chemical poses neurological and reproductive risks to people and wildlife.
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/us-insecticide-ban-spurs-local-review-20100610-y0hd.html
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb85257359003fb69d
/44c035d59d5e6d8f8525773c0072f26b!OpenDocument
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/44c035d59d5e6d8f8525773c0072f26b?OpenDocument