Acidity kills fish as rivers dry up
Aquatic life in danger due to drying rivers. As the region continues to face extreme drought, data shows that water levels in Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin linger at just 16% of capacity, nearing record lows. Meanwhile, the water’s acidity is on the rise, causing countless fish to lose their lives in the shallow rivers off the Murray. People have also been affected, with the loss of crop irrigation causing growers sacrifice businesses and homes. Even drinking water is at risk, with dry conditions increasing the chance of algal blooms that would contaminate this key resource of many small towns.

We pray for the resiliency of the Australian people as they endure these difficult times. May the balance of Mother Nature return as we all step in unison to adopt sustainable and planet-friendly lifestyles.

Solar power for distressed villages in Monaragala
Sri Lankan villages are lit by the sun. Monaragala District in Sri Lanka has successfully installed solar cells to supply several villages with electricity. Funded by donor countries in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), the project seeks to provide free and clean energy to remote areas that are largely populated with indigenous peoples. Households in Galgamuwa village were the first to be powered by solar energy, with more than 300 families as well as street lights, a school, a temple and sub-post office also receiving installations.

Way to go, Sri Lanka for connecting remote villages through clean, sustainable energy! May the lives of many more soon be similarly enhanced.

H2. Egyptian Water Technology Conference
International Water Technology Conference held in Egypt. The 13th International Water Technology Conference brought together a range of experts, scientists, manufacturers and consultants in Hurghada, Egypt. Held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Saudi Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the forum’s discussions centered on environmental conservation through water management policies and efficient, inexpensive water treatment technologies. Prizes for outstanding research along with a grant donated to the Water Technology Association were also awarded through the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water (PSIPW).

Our respectful accolades, Your Royal Highness, for your gracious generosity in sponsoring this vital conference. We also appreciate the dedication of all participants, whose work together through gatherings such as these will surely bring a more sustainable approach and better care for precious resources and the planet.

Climate Change Day of Action in the United Kingdom
Climate Change Day of Action in the United Kingdom. On Thursday, March 19 in the City of Coventry, United Kingdom, hundreds of concerned citizens marked the nation’s Climate Change Day of Action with a symbolic funeral-style procession. Signs carried alongside pallbearers read “Floods,” “Disease,” “Homelessness,” all indicating the human effects of global warming, to help ensure that world leaders will be focused on those most vulnerable to climate change at the key Copenhagen conference this December.

The event also officially opposed the building of a new local coal-fired power plant. Joining in the peaceful rally was renowned climate scientist, Dr. James Hansen, who shared with us the two top actions for caring citizens.

Dr. James Hansen – World leading climatologist, Chief of NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, USA (M): On a personal basis, perhaps the most important thing you can do is change your diet to a more vegetarian diet, because that is a major contributor to carbon, to not only carbon dioxide, but also methane and other greenhouse gases. You also have to put pressure on the politicians to address the coal issue. If we could do those two things, then the planet would be on much safer grounds.

VOICE: Vegan lunches were provided to participants by The Green Garden, a local non-profit catering business. Key speakers at the event, including the organizers from Christian Aid and the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition, also agreed that a reduction in meat consumption and a corresponding increase in the crops grown for direct human consumption are sure ways to abate global warming and social injustice.

Daleep Mukarji – Director of Christian Aid (M): It’s a new kind of world agreement that we need, and within this context stable food for people and countries who are poor and marginalized is critical. And that means land must be used to grow the food they need.

Ashok Sinha – Famous Indian British environmentalist, Director of Stop Climate Chaos Coalition, Vegetarian (M): If we cut down on our meat consumption, that can help reduce our carbon footprints. It can also help support some of the poor farmers in disadvantaged parts of the world who are being cleared from their land in order to grow crops to feed cattle for us to eat. They are also the people who’ll be hit first and worst by climate change. So, reducing our meat consumption can help on a variety of fronts.

VOICE: We thank Mr. Sinha, Mr. Mukharji, Dr. Hansen and all the concerned participants of the Climate Change Day of Action. May we gain every additional moment possible for the world to adopt the sustainable choices that will ensure a stable future for us all.