The
nation’s scientists have expressed growing concern at the 2 to 5 cm per
year that Bangkok has been sinking, saying that this coupled with
rising sea levels will soon force regions of the city to be abandoned
unless drastic and quick action is taken.
Over the years,
hundreds of pumping devices and an extensive canal network have been
returning floodwaters back to the Chao Praya River, with levees that
prevent the water from surging back into the city.
However,
estimates by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change forecast nearly 60 centimeter sea level rises by 2050, meaning
that Bangkok could face regular flood waters of up to 2 meters high.
The
current system could not withstand this kind of increase. Saying that
climate change must be prioritized as a current and real threat, Tara
Buakamsri, campaign manager for Greenpeace Southeast Asia said,
“Bangkok has been identified as one of the climate change hot spots –
it will be one of the most affected
cities in the world.”
Our
thanks, Greenpeace Manager Buakamsri and all Thai researchers who are
urging for fast climate action. May world leaders and individual
citizens heed your call to avoid climate disaster and save our coastal
cities.
In many discussions, including an October 2008 climate
change conference with Thai dignitaries and the public, Supreme Master
Ching Hai has called for the only sure solution to all climate change
effects, in Thailand and across the globe.
Supreme Master Ching Hai:
We should not emphasize the worst effect of global warming but we
should begin to focus on how to prevent this. We have to turn to the
opposite direction, which is in the best interest of Thai people and
the world.
That is, to live a compassionate lifestyle, to be a
vegetarian, better even, vegan, meaning no animal products whatsoever
so that the benevolent atmosphere will envelope our planet and of
course Thailand.
With protection and blessing from Heaven, we
create a shield around us, around our planet by a very compassionate,
powerful, benevolent atmosphere. That is the only protection that is
safe and everlasting.
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=87715 http://www.alertnet.org/db/an_art/52132/2010/00/8-120659-1.htm