New film focuses on climate change in Formosa (Taiwan).
Young Indian girl speaking before UN delegates (F): I’m so much concerned about climate change, because I don’t want our future generations to question us, just as I’m questioning the need for more concrete action on climate change today.

VOICE: Through compelling facts intermingled with voices of eminent scientists along with powerful music and imagery, a new documentary has been bringing citizens together in shared concern for Formosa’s future in the face of global warming.

The film “±2 Degrees C” was named based on scientists’ conclusion that human survival depends on limiting global temperature rise to within 2 degrees Celsius.

Producer Sisy Chen, a renowned Formosan media personality, said she wished to bring the climate change reality, such as rising sea levels, closer to home.

Sisy Chen – Formosan (Taiwanese) media host, producer of “±2°C” (F): On a global scale, the first group of people who might be wiped out the most vulnerable are those on the islands in the Pacific Ocean and Africa. Next, it affects the Asian countries like Formosa.

VOICE: Based on data from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Central Research Institute, the documentary informs viewers that Formosa’s densely populated areas are in locations vulnerable to disasters; that the island has one of the world’s 10 highest rates of erosion, and that typhoons and heat waves are increasing in severity.

In fact, the film was made deliberately within just six months of Typhoon Morakot, so that it would be widely screened on television and in city and county government venues by the time the next storm season struck.

Chung-Ming Liu – National Taiwan University Climate Change Center (M): Extreme weather events will be happening continuously in the future. We predict that the temperature will hit the record high next year.

VOICE: During the February 22 premiere of the film, the unprecedented gathering of more than 1,000 people was also attended by high-level government officials, including Formosan Premier Wu Den-yih and Legislative Yuan President Wang Jin-Pyng.

When asked how global warming should be addressed, President Wang, along with producer Sisy Chen, expressed their support of the veg diet solution.

Wang Jin-pyng – Legislative Yuan President (M): Cows, pigs and so on release gases and feces which are part of the cause of greenhouse gas emissions.

So if you consume less meat, people will raise less livestock. The less livestock raising, the less gas emissions It’s simple logic.

Sisy Chen (F): I am Sisy Chen. “±2 Degrees C,” Be Veg, Go Green, Save the Planet.

VOICE: Kudos and our appreciation, Ms. Chen and all involved in the making and promotion of this timely documentary. We join the Formosan people in shared resolve to halt the real cause of climate change, praying that all will do so in time through the most effective organic vegan diet.

In an October 2009 videoconference in Formosa (Taiwan), Supreme Master Ching Hai once more shared her concern for those who suffer from the effects of our urgent planetary situation, asking governments and citizens to quickly take proper action.


* This documentary is also available for downloading at its official website http://正負2度c.tw

Extra News
With 1.2 billion people who still lack access to potable water, the European Commission is placing more focus on this valued resource, considered even more precious due to its dwindling availability as a result of climate change.
http://www.euractiv.com/en/sustainability/eu-mulls-better-focus-water-its-development-strategies-news-290041

An article by editor Hema Vijay in India’s newspaper The Hindu cites scientific evidence of livestock as a primary cause of global warming and concludes that being veg is the most simple and effective way to save the planet.
http://beta.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article112566.ece

The Helsinki City Council in Finland votes for a weekly vegetarian day throughout the city’s schools to help mitigate climate change, saying that this will also result in cost savings and better health.
http://www.care2.com/causes/education/blog/meatless-mondays-replace-mystery-meat-in-more-school-
cafeterias/

Indigenous leaders from 13 Latin American countries draft a plan of action to address global warming, planned for presentation at the United Nations Mexico summit in December 2010.  
http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/global/latin/85488742.html