With two of the largest fertile low lying deltas in the world and a 3,200 kilometer coastline, Âu Lạc’s topography also faces great risks from global warming.

The World Bank has warned of scientific evidence showing that the impact of rising sea levels from climate change could be potentially disastrous. The dire effects of global warming such as floods, droughts, extremes in weather and loss of crops are already being felt throughout the nation.


Owner of rice noodle shop, Âu Lạc (Vietnam): The weather is different this year. In previous years, it only rained a few days. This year, it rained all throughout the month of February; the weather is unstable.

Owner of rice noodle shop, Âu Lạc (Vietnam): Several houses in this area, many people won’t have enough to eat.

Salesperson at Pharmacy, Âu Lạc (Vietnam): It’s been freezing cold for over one month. Plants couldn’t survive, the same with rice.

From India to Thailand to China and Âu Lạc, the Asian continent is facing a major crisis as climate change is significantly affecting the staple crop of rice. Supreme Master Television reports from Central Âu Lạc, speaking with those most affected, the farmers.


Farmer: We usually harvest about 350 to 400 kilograms for each 1,000 square meters of land. This year, very few people could produce even 300 kilograms on the same land. The price is increasing. For example, previously, 1 kilogram of rice was $2,200 đồng. Now, it’s $5,500 đồng per kilogram.

Rice exports are expected to be restricted until June. As in many other Asian countries, Âu Lạc’s environment is also being threatened by rapid deforestation. Oxford University’s Professor Norman Myers, keynote speaker at the recent Asia-Pacific Forestry Week conference in Hà Nội, stated that the mass deforestationrepresents what he calls “an appalling crisis.”


Farmer: Polluted air causes all kinds of diseases; plants cannot grow. In the last few years, the problem here was that people were cutting, destroying and burning the forests.

One factor of deforestation is overgrazing by livestock. In addition, run-off from intensive pig and poultry farming is damaging the health of the coastal soil and seas, affecting drinking water supplies. For the sake of protecting their health, Aulacese (Vietnamese) citizens say that discouraging meat consumption would help ease global warming.

Owner of rice noodle shop:  There are many news about global warming, so for now if everyone eats vegetables instead of meat every day, then it would be better. Rice is the main staple. Also the weather, natural disasters, and floods, they affect our everyday life. Now the climate is that when it rains, it rains so much, when sunny, it's too hot.

Saleswoman at a Pharmacy:  For example, we don't need to mention much, we see already the  loss of rice harvest, people not having enough food. Second, the floods occurred during the wrong season. Now if we want to protect the environment, I think we should eat vegetarian.

We pray for the people of Âu Lạc (Vietnam), and especially the families in the farming areas. May your beautiful country and all other lands coping with the challenges of climate change be blessed with a quick restoration of ecological harmony.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080327/wl_asia_afp/vietnamenvironmentclimatesea_080327053004
http://www.upiasiaonline.com/Economics/2008/04/16/rice_crisis_and_southeast_asia/1309/
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/BUSINESS/03/27/asia.food.ap/index.html