India's villages face water scarcity.
Residents of Chandelao village in Rajasthan's Jodhpur District, have to queue for up to five hours at a time to fill water from wells due to drought. Other sources of water in the region, which are rain-dependent, have dried up.
One local villager said that there are only 10-15 liters of water available each day for the entire village.

Fortunately for Jodhpur and a dozen other regional villages, drought relief aid is scheduled to arrive soon from the Spain India Council Foundation (SICF), who plans to install Reverse Osmosis plants that purify normally undrinkable water.

However, according to the World Bank, India’s fresh water supplies could be depleted by 2050, affecting the population of 1.2 billion people.

We are thankful for the relief work of such organizations as the Spain India Council Foundation as we pray that the villagers in Jodhpur and other struggling areas soon receive the blessing of gentle rain.
May we all step up to preserve this most vital resource as part of our efforts to sustain a livable Earth.

During an interview published in the December 16, 2009 edition of The Irish Dog Journal, Supreme Master Ching Hai expressed concern regarding the spreading drought crisis worldwide, emphasizing the most effective way of ensuring adequate water supplies.


http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSTRE58S4L420090930   
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jul/02/climatechange.endangeredspecies   
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/08/050829081636.htm

Hunting and fishing banned to save wildlife in China.
In the far northeast corner of the nation, Yichun City of Heilongjiang province is banning all hunting and fishing for the next decade throughout a 4 million hectare forest in the Lesser Hing’an Mountains.
The measure is intended to protect the region’s wildlife and fish, which include some highly endangered species such as the sable, the goosander and the golden eagle.

Our appreciation Yichun City government for your caring initiative to protect cherished animals’ lives. Through such efforts as yours, may natural balance and diverse beauty prevail in China and all parts of the world.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-06/01/c_13327452.htm
http://www.peopleforum.cn/redirect.php?tid=21189&goto=lastpost

Extra News
Water rights advocate organization, Federation of Drinking Water and Sanitation Users Nepal, reports that the national water crisis is growing, with half of the country facing shortages and government statistics saying that 4.4 million do not have regular access to safe drinking water.
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=89312
http://alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/e160bece758ca9dc47788510ade49779.htm
http://www.fedwasun.org/

Swedish researchers at the University of Gothenburg analyzing atmospheric observations from the past 500 years state that global warming is most likely raising the salinity of the Baltic Sea, disturbing its delicate ecosystems and biodiversity.
http://www.physorg.com/news194611417.html

A heat wave continues in Pakistan with four fatalities that are linked thus far to record high temperatures of 53 degrees Celsius in Larkana and 53.7 degrees in the nearby ancient city of Mohenjo-daro.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/01/pakistan-record-temperatures-heatwave
http://climateprogress.org/2010/06/01/record-heat-wave-may/

The New York City Panel on Climate Change in the USA announces plans for proactive measures to mitigate climate change, citing economic as well as long-term environmental benefits.
http://www.physorg.com/news194613226.html  
http://www.smartplanet.com/business/blog/smart-takes/eight-ways-new-york-city-is-preparing-for-climate-
change/7646/
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2010/06/02/nyc-plans-to-adapt-to-climate-change/