Amazon suffers drought conditions in Brazil.
The country’s Geological Service reports that the Amazon River, the world’s longest at almost 7,000 kilometers, has shrunk to its lowest level in nearly half a century, with the waterway in the city of Manaus a significant four meters below its average depth of 23 meters.

Final data to be released later in October is expected to confirm that the current drought is the worst Brazil has experienced since 1963. Seven remote communities, normally accessible only by water, have now become isolated as their tributary disappeared.

Brazilian Geological Service, we appreciate this information, despite its disturbing implications for brethren in Brazil and throughout the world. We pray for swift actions that restore the majestic Amazon and protect all lives on the planet. During an August 2009 videoconference in Thailand, Supreme Master Ching Hai shared her concern about the rapidly diminishing waterways that threaten our survival, while urging for the most immediate solution.

http://www.france24.com/en/20100916-drought-shrinks-amazon-river-lowest-level-47-years

Azerbaijani government hosts Caspian Week.
In commemoration of both World Maritime Day and the Week of the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan’s Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry hosted events such as a cleaning day along various sections of the nation’s 955-kilometer eastern shoreline, along with presentations on protecting the Caspian Sea’s resources.

Volunteers cleared over 65 tons of household and industrial wastes from the coastlines. Personnel from the Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry also released half a million sturgeon into the Caspian Sea as part of an ongoing effort since 2003 to rebalance the regional marine ecosystem.

Bravo and our accolades, government and people of Azerbaijan for your attentive actions to restore the Caspian Sea and coastline. May we all strive to similarly live in harmony with nature through our considerate care of the environment.

http://en.trend.az/news/society/ecology/1759878.html
http://www.today.az/news/society/74397.html http://en.trend.az/news/society/ecology/1759870.html http://abc.az/eng/news/main/48153.html 
http://www.news.az/articles/society/23302

Extra News
Colombian farmers who grow coffee on the nation’s mountain slopes say that the damage to yields caused by climate change may soon force them to switch to other crops.
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/americas/Colombian-Scientists-Predict-Climate-Change-to-Affect-
Most-Food-Crops-104111894.html

US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientists find that the dust produced by human activities such as land being cleared for livestock and agriculture in the southwestern USA is speeding mountain snow melt, which is significantly reducing runoff and the amount of water available for human use.
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_16126713#ixzz10HmI9vxi
http://esciencenews.com/articles/2010/09/21/nasa.study.shows.desert.dust.cuts.colorado.river.flow

Saying that soil degradation jeopardizes access to food, clean water and other resources, a new 128-page atlas produced by the European Commission's Joint Research Center indicates key areas of potential threat to soil biodiversity across the continent.
http://www.france24.com/en/20100923-new-eu-atlas-maps-threats-soil-biodiversity
http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=EN_NEWS_PRES&ACTION=D&DOC=2&CAT=NEWS&
QUERY=012b43c8a6ea:ff41:5e24ef88&RCN=32573