The rising effects
of climate change
on public health.
In “The Coming
Health Crisis,”
an article published
in “The Scientist,”
Samuel S. Myers, MD
and Aaron Bernstein, MD
of Harvard Medical School
in the USA discuss
the effects on humans
of what they call direct
and indirect
climate change.
Direct effects,
which the authors say
are more quantifiable,
include the spread
of infectious disease,
along with increasing
heat stress and
air pollution effects
such as heat stroke
and respiratory illness.
Indirect effects,
which include water and
food insecurities along
with the forced migration
of climate refugees,
the authors cite as being
even more problematic
since they pose
the greatest challenge
to public health.
Drs. Myers and Bernstein
note that although
the exact effects
may not be known,
humanity should
still strive to minimize
adverse health impacts.
Their report states,
“With evidence that
climate change is already
imposing
a hefty health burden,
the future climate,
particularly if
greenhouse-gas releases
into the atmosphere go
unabated, portends
health crises for hundreds
of millions of people.
Rather than be used as
a rationale for inaction,
the uncertainty inherent
in climate science should
serve as an organizing
principle for adaptation
to its ill effects.”
They suggest such
adaptations as developing
new crop strains
for better food security
as well as significantly
increasing water storage
capacity in areas where
supplies are unstable.
Our appreciation,
Drs. Myers and Bernstein,
for raising awareness
about the need to protect
public health in the face
of potentially devastating
climate change.
Let us act now
in seeking more
sustainable lifestyles
to avoid such harmful
outcomes and restore
the Earth's natural balance.
During a November 2010
video message presented
at a climate change
conference
in the United Kingdom,
Supreme Master
Ching Hai
made an urgent plea
for action on behalf
of humanity and indeed,
all the vulnerable beings
on the planet.
Supreme Master
Ching Hai
: I'm afraid
the reality now
is already too urgent.
Scientists say
that water security
for about 80% of
the world's people
is threatened due to
drying and polluted
river systems,
shrinking glaciers
from South America
to the Himalayas, and
groundwater levels that
fall lower and lower
each year.
In 2009, for the first time,
the number of people
suffering from hunger
exceeded 1 billion,
while disasters threatened
the food security
of many more.
So please consider what
is really at stake now,
what is really our
foremost,urgent priority
at the present time.
It's not just political
reputation or economy -
it's the lives, real lives,
of all inhabitants on
Earth: humans, animals,
plants, trees, etc.
An organic vegan diet
would immensely improve
the quality of our lives;
spiritually also.
It can curb the water
and food crises
and restore nature's
life-support systems.
It also happens
to be the most rapid,
cost-effective,
and the only feasible
climate solution,
one that every nation
can easily implement.
http://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/57882/#ixzz19vju8cHqEndangered gorilla
populations on the rise.
A recent report from
the World Wildlife Fund
(WWF) stated that
mountain gorillas in the
Virunga Massif region
of eastern Africa have
increased in numbers
by more than 26%
to 480 individuals since
the year 2003, bringing
the world population of
the critically endangered
species to 786.
Conveying the
organization's happiness
with the increase
in numbers,
Mr. Allard Blom,
a director with the World
Wildlife Fund said that
this degree of recovery
is considered
“absolutely remarkable.”
We join in rejoicing
at the news that the
Virunga Massif mountain
gorilla communities
are expanding.
With Heaven's grace,
may these and all
animal co-inhabitants
be protected as we
regard the planet and
her inhabitants with
ever more love and care.
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/01/07/africa.gorilla.population/index.html
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/12/mountain-gorilla-population-increases-25-percent-central-african-national-parks.php
http://www.ouramazingplanet.com/endangered-mountain-gorilla-population-increasing-0819/
http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?197658/Mountain-Gorilla-Census
Extra NewsJapan-based Hitachi
Plant Technologies
develops an eco-friendly,
energy-efficient
solar-activated
air conditioning system,
with plans to release it
in countries with
abundant sunshine
in the Mediterranean,
North America,
western Asia
and Australia.
http://www.tradearabia.com/news/ENV_191391.html
A report from
the European Union
shows that it is on its way
to surpass its goal
of generating 20%
of all energy from
sustainable sources
by 2020, with 15 member
countries also going
beyond national targets.
http://cleantechnica.com/2011/01/05/eu-exceeds-target-for-20-renewable-energy-by-2020/
http://uk.ibtimes.com/articles/20110106/039-may-exceed-2020-renewable-energy-target-039.htm
China's Meteorological
Administration
announces that 2010
was a year of extreme
weather conditions,
with the nation's
longest hot spell ever
and average
daily precipitation
in other parts of
the country being also
the highest on record.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-12/30/c_13671247.htm
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/enviornment/chinas-2010-weather-most-extreme-in-a-decade_100481220.html
Prime Minister and
Ruler of Dubai,
His Highness Sheikh
Mohammed bin Rashid
Al Maktoum,
releases 170 Asian
Houbara bustards
at the Al Maha Desert
Conservatory in Dubai
in an effort to increase
the birds' numbers
in the wild.
http://www.wam.ae/servlet/Satellite?c=WamLocEnews&cid=1293604558871&pagename=WAM%2FWAM_E_Layout&parent=Query&parentid=1135099399852