South
Asian water resources increasingly vulnerable. A report by the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Asian Institute of Technology
in Thailand have concluded that freshwater resources in three major
river basins in South Asia are threatened due to climate change and
over-use. The report states that the severe water shortages predicted
in all three basins would jeopardize the lives of some 750 million
people. With two-thirds of the Himalayan glaciers now receding, intense
pumping at lower elevations has led to groundwater levels declining
rapidly in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Indus basins, resulting in
contamination by saltwater intrusion.
United Nations Environment
Programme and Asian Institute of Technology, we appreciate your work in
providing this valuable report. With Heaven’s grace, may we all tread
more gently on the Earth to save precious water resources and sustain
lives.
In
a videoconference with Supreme Master Television staff on November 26,
2008, in California, USA, Supreme Master Ching Hai explained the
seriousness of water loss in systems such as that of the Ganges River.
Supreme Master Ching Hai:
Many are concerned, but little is done to avert this tragedy and I
cannot imagine what happens if all the glaciers in Himalayas are all
melted. I cannot imagine how people will live. The Ganges River, which
feeds millions of people, depending on the glacier of the Himalaya, and
if it melted all, then first of all, we’ll have a lot of floods and
then we will have drought and dryness afterwards.
Supreme Master Ching Hai:
Because water will not be distributed evenly like it has been done for
centuries. The glacier is there to feed the Ganges water and it melted
slowly, slowly as per using. As the human use it, it will melt out,
just evenly distributing day by day like this. But if it’s all melted
at one time, then cities will be drowned, people will die and flood
will be everywhere and later we will have no water even. No reservoir
any more. So either way, either a lot of flood or drought, it’s very
dangerous for the people, especially the people who depend on the
Ganges River and the glacier to survive. I am really worried, but I
just pray and hope that the people who are in power will do something.
Supreme Master Ching Hai: The only solution is vegetarian diet for everybody.