ScienceDaily (Apr. 18, 2010) — The stronger water cycle means arid regions have become drier and high rainfall regions wetter as atmospheric temperature increases.
The study, co-authored by CSIRO scientists Paul Durack and Dr Susan Wijffels, shows the surface ocean beneath rainfall-dominated regions has freshened, whereas ocean regions dominated by evaporation are saltier. The paper also confirms that surface warming of the world's oceans over the past 50 years has penetrated into the oceans' interior changing deep-ocean salinity patterns.
"This is further confirmation from the global ocean that the Earth's water cycle has accelerated," says Mr Durack -- a PhD student at the joint CSIRO/University of Tasmania, Quantitative Marine Science program.
"These broad-scale patterns of change are qualitatively consistent with simulations reported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
"While such changes in salinity would be expected at the ocean surface (where about 80 per cent of surface water exchange occurs), sub-surface measurements indicate much broader, warming-driven changes are extending into the deep ocean," Mr Durack said.
The study finds a clear link between salinity changes at the surface driven by ocean warming and changes in the ocean subsurface which follow the trajectories along which surface water travels into the ocean interior.
The ocean's average surface temperature has risen around 0.4ºC since 1950. As the near surface atmosphere warms it can evaporate more water from the surface ocean and move it to new regions to release it as rain and snow. Salinity patterns reflect the contrasts between ocean regions where the oceans lose water to the atmosphere and the others where it is re-deposited on the surface as salt-free rainwater.
"Observations of rainfall and evaporation over the oceans in the 20th century are very scarce. These new estimates of ocean salinity changes provide a rigorous benchmark to better validate global climate models and start to narrow the wide uncertainties associated with water cycle changes and oceanic processes both in the past and the future -- we can use ocean salinity changes as a rain-gauge," Mr Durack said.
Based on historical records and data provided by the Argo Program's world-wide network of ocean profilers -- robotic submersible buoys which record and report ocean salinity levels and temperatures to depths of two kilometres -- the research was conducted by CSIRO's Wealth from Oceans Flagship and partially funded by the Australian Climate Change Science Program. Australia's Integrated Marine Observing System is a significant contributor to the global Argo Program.
Showing posts with label Save the world. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Save the world. Show all posts
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Earthquake hits Papua New Guinea
A strong earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale rocked the eastern region of Papua New Guinea, 316km north of Port
Moresby and 3,463km southeast of Kunak, Sabah at 7.15am today.
The earthquake did not pose any tsunami threat, the Malaysian Meteorological Department said in a statement.
Moresby and 3,463km southeast of Kunak, Sabah at 7.15am today.
The earthquake did not pose any tsunami threat, the Malaysian Meteorological Department said in a statement.
Counting sea life, sometimes little things are big
Washington: If the Census Bureau thinks it has its hands full counting Americans, imagine what scientists are up against in trying to tally every living thing in the ocean, including microbes so small they seem invisible.
And just try to get them to mail back a form.
The worldwide Census of Marine Life has four field projects focusing on hard-to-see sea life such as tiny microbes, zooplankton, larvae and burrowers in the sea bed.
Tiny as individuals, these life forms are massive as groups and provide food that helps underpin better-known living things.
"Scientists are discovering and describing an astonishing new world of marine microbial diversity and abundance, distribution patterns and seasonal changes," said Mitch Sogin of the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Mass., leader of the International Census of Marine Microbes.
The Census of Marine Life, which is scheduled to be reported Oct. 4 in London, has involved more than 2,000 scientists from more than 80 nations.
The decade-long census has discovered more than 5,000 new forms of marine life. Researchers think there may be several times that many yet to be found.
Previous updates have focused on larger creatures, such as a city of brittle stars off the coast of New Zealand, an Antarctic expressway where octopuses ride along in a flow of extra salty water, the deepest comb jellyfish ever found and The White Shark Cafe, a deep Pacific Ocean site where sharks congregate in winter.
Now the researchers have turned to the tiniest of things, some of which burrow in the sea floor.
Remotely operated deep-sea vehicles discovered that roundworms dominate the deepest, darkest abyss. Sometimes, more than 500,000 can exist in just over a square yard of soft clay. Only a few different types have been studied.
There are also 16,000 or more species of seaworms. There are loriciferans, which the scientists call "girdle wearers" because of hind shells resembling a corset. And there are hundreds of types of tiny crustaceans.
"Such findings make us look at the deep sea from a new perspective," says researcher Pedro Martinez Arbizu of the German Center for Marine Biodiversity Research. "Far from being a lifeless desert, the deep sea rivals such highly diverse ecosystems as tropical rainforests and coral reefs."
Consider zooplankton, the tiny, often transparent animals that some call sea bugs. They form a vital link in the food chain.
As of 2004, scientists had identified about 7,000 species of zooplankton. Now they expect that to double when they finish analyzing all the samples collected in the marine census.
Improved techniques such as DNA analysis have helped unravel some errors along the way. DNA, of course, is the genetic code in the cells of each living creature.
Tracey Sutton of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and colleagues led by the Smithsonian Institution's G. David Johnson used genetics to show that three types of fish thought to be different are really one.
They found that even though they look different, the Mirapinnidae (tapetails), Megalomycteridae (bignose fishes) and Cetomimidae (whalefishes) are really the same species. The tapetails are the larvae and when they grow up they become either the bignoses (girls) or the wehalefish (boys).
After studying samples taken from more than 1,000 sites, scientists concluded there may be as many as 100 times more microbe genera in the sea than they had thought. Indeed, a 2007 study in the English Channel alone yielded 7,000 new genera of microorganisms.
Genus is the category of life ranked between family and species. For example the mammal family has many genera, such as homo (humans), canis (dogs) and equus (horse).
And just try to get them to mail back a form.
The worldwide Census of Marine Life has four field projects focusing on hard-to-see sea life such as tiny microbes, zooplankton, larvae and burrowers in the sea bed.
Tiny as individuals, these life forms are massive as groups and provide food that helps underpin better-known living things.
"Scientists are discovering and describing an astonishing new world of marine microbial diversity and abundance, distribution patterns and seasonal changes," said Mitch Sogin of the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Mass., leader of the International Census of Marine Microbes.
The Census of Marine Life, which is scheduled to be reported Oct. 4 in London, has involved more than 2,000 scientists from more than 80 nations.
The decade-long census has discovered more than 5,000 new forms of marine life. Researchers think there may be several times that many yet to be found.
Previous updates have focused on larger creatures, such as a city of brittle stars off the coast of New Zealand, an Antarctic expressway where octopuses ride along in a flow of extra salty water, the deepest comb jellyfish ever found and The White Shark Cafe, a deep Pacific Ocean site where sharks congregate in winter.
Now the researchers have turned to the tiniest of things, some of which burrow in the sea floor.
Remotely operated deep-sea vehicles discovered that roundworms dominate the deepest, darkest abyss. Sometimes, more than 500,000 can exist in just over a square yard of soft clay. Only a few different types have been studied.
There are also 16,000 or more species of seaworms. There are loriciferans, which the scientists call "girdle wearers" because of hind shells resembling a corset. And there are hundreds of types of tiny crustaceans.
"Such findings make us look at the deep sea from a new perspective," says researcher Pedro Martinez Arbizu of the German Center for Marine Biodiversity Research. "Far from being a lifeless desert, the deep sea rivals such highly diverse ecosystems as tropical rainforests and coral reefs."
Consider zooplankton, the tiny, often transparent animals that some call sea bugs. They form a vital link in the food chain.
As of 2004, scientists had identified about 7,000 species of zooplankton. Now they expect that to double when they finish analyzing all the samples collected in the marine census.
Improved techniques such as DNA analysis have helped unravel some errors along the way. DNA, of course, is the genetic code in the cells of each living creature.
Tracey Sutton of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and colleagues led by the Smithsonian Institution's G. David Johnson used genetics to show that three types of fish thought to be different are really one.
They found that even though they look different, the Mirapinnidae (tapetails), Megalomycteridae (bignose fishes) and Cetomimidae (whalefishes) are really the same species. The tapetails are the larvae and when they grow up they become either the bignoses (girls) or the wehalefish (boys).
After studying samples taken from more than 1,000 sites, scientists concluded there may be as many as 100 times more microbe genera in the sea than they had thought. Indeed, a 2007 study in the English Channel alone yielded 7,000 new genera of microorganisms.
Genus is the category of life ranked between family and species. For example the mammal family has many genera, such as homo (humans), canis (dogs) and equus (horse).
Friday, April 2, 2010
Forests at Risk: Swiss Needle Cast Epidemic in Douglas-Fir Trees Unprecedented, Still Getting Worse
The Swiss needle cast epidemic in Douglas-fir forests of the coastal Pacific Northwest is continuing to intensify, appears to be unprecedented over at least the past 100 years, and is probably linked to the extensive planting of Douglas-fir along the coast and a warmer climate, new research concludes.
Scientists in the College of Forestry at Oregon State University have also found that this disease, which is affecting hundreds of thousands of acres in Oregon and Washington and costing tens of millions of dollars a year in lost growth, can affect older trees as well as young stands -- in some cases causing their growth to almost grind to a halt.
The newest findings were just published in Forest Ecology and Management, a professional journal.
Swiss needle cast is a native fungal disease specific to Douglas-fir that was first described in Europe. It rarely kills trees but causes discoloration, loss of needles and growth reduction, and is common in the Pacific Northwest wherever Douglas-fir grows. However, it caused significant problems only in recent decades along the coast.
Starting in 1984, an epidemic began to develop, and it significantly worsened after 1996.
"It's now clear that this epidemic is a new phenomenon, with far more severity and impact than anything we've observed from Swiss needle cast in the past," said Dave Shaw, an assistant professor at OSU and director of a cooperative designed to fight this disease. "We've known of this disease for decades but it was considered a non-issue in terms of forest health. A perfect storm of conditions that favor this fungus has caused a major epidemic that is still growing."
The disease has now been identified at varying levels of severity in western Oregon on more than 300,000 acres in each of the past four years, peaking at 376,000 acres in 2008. Prior to this four-year period, it had affected as much as 300,000 acres only once in the 14-year history of aerial detection surveys, researchers say.
Depending on the multiple factors that influence it, it's possible it could ultimately have an impact on up to two million acres of forests near the Oregon coast, and change the face of forestry in a huge region.
The new study concluded that warmer conditions, especially from March through August, are associated with significantly reduced growth in diseased trees, which may reflect earlier fruiting of the fungus. Wet, drizzly conditions in May through July are also important. The warm, wet conditions within 20 miles or so of the Pacific Ocean make those areas a hotspot of disease in coastal Oregon and Washington.
"We now know that weather is a driver in the epidemiology and spread of this disease," said Bryan Black, an assistant professor of forestry based at OSU's Hatfield Marine Science Center. "We can't say yet whether climate change is part of what's causing these problems, but warmer conditions, milder winters and earlier springs would be consistent with that."
Another key suspect, scientists say, is the planting for decades of a monoculture of Douglas-fir in replacement of coastal forests, which previously had trees of varying ages and different species. Since Douglas-fir was a small component of these forests, it appears the disease was relatively insignificant. Even-aged stands of vulnerable Douglas-fir allow the fungus to build up to much higher levels, releasing spores that can literally spread with the wind. Reductions in growth of 20-30 percent are fairly common, and sometimes higher.
It used to be thought that the disease primarily affected only younger trees, mostly less than 40 years old and predominately the 10-30 year age group, the researchers say. This study, based on examinations of rings in naturally-regenerated trees more than 80 years old, for the first time showed that they are very susceptible as well. The findings erase any hope that older trees will "outgrow" the susceptibility to this disease, the scientists concluded.
"Tree growth has been reduced so much at severely-impacted sites that we could not actually find a growth ring that went all the way around some trees," Black said. "At these sites the overall growth rate over the past 25 years was reduced by more than 85 percent in comparison to non-diseased trees."
The impact of Swiss needle cast is highly uneven, difficult to predict, and often dependent on microclimate, terrain and availability of soil nitrogen. Fungicides can control it, but cost too much to be practical and raise environmental concerns. However, OSU is developing tools to better anticipate the problems it may cause and allow forest managers to consider alternative management strategies. Planting of less Douglas-fir is one option, using more western hemlock, red alder or other species.
In some places, nature has already begun this approach.
"We've seen sites where western hemlock is overtopping Douglas-fir that has almost stopped growing, and may ultimately replace it," Shaw said. "Some stands are already converting to alternative species on their own."
Work is under way to develop fungal-tolerant Douglas-fir families that may be of some value, especially in areas with low or moderate levels of the disease. Those studies will not be complete for several years.
If the epidemic continues to spread and begins to change growth and productivity of Douglas-fir, the researchers said, its impacts may go beyond forest health and timber production. It could affect the efficacy of managing lands for other purposes, such as wildlife protection.
"These tree ring data corroborate that the impacts of Swiss needle cast continue to worsen in the western Oregon Coast Range," the researchers wrote in their conclusion. "They also corroborate that Swiss needle cast is associated with climate, especially long-term warming trends during the late winter and early spring."
Email or share this story:
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Story Source:
Adapted from materials provided by Oregon State University.
Journal Reference:
1. Black et al. Impacts of Swiss needle cast on overstory Douglas-fir forests of the western Oregon Coast Range. Forest Ecology and Management, 2010; 259 (8): 1673 DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2010.01.047
Scientists in the College of Forestry at Oregon State University have also found that this disease, which is affecting hundreds of thousands of acres in Oregon and Washington and costing tens of millions of dollars a year in lost growth, can affect older trees as well as young stands -- in some cases causing their growth to almost grind to a halt.
The newest findings were just published in Forest Ecology and Management, a professional journal.
Swiss needle cast is a native fungal disease specific to Douglas-fir that was first described in Europe. It rarely kills trees but causes discoloration, loss of needles and growth reduction, and is common in the Pacific Northwest wherever Douglas-fir grows. However, it caused significant problems only in recent decades along the coast.
Starting in 1984, an epidemic began to develop, and it significantly worsened after 1996.
"It's now clear that this epidemic is a new phenomenon, with far more severity and impact than anything we've observed from Swiss needle cast in the past," said Dave Shaw, an assistant professor at OSU and director of a cooperative designed to fight this disease. "We've known of this disease for decades but it was considered a non-issue in terms of forest health. A perfect storm of conditions that favor this fungus has caused a major epidemic that is still growing."
The disease has now been identified at varying levels of severity in western Oregon on more than 300,000 acres in each of the past four years, peaking at 376,000 acres in 2008. Prior to this four-year period, it had affected as much as 300,000 acres only once in the 14-year history of aerial detection surveys, researchers say.
Depending on the multiple factors that influence it, it's possible it could ultimately have an impact on up to two million acres of forests near the Oregon coast, and change the face of forestry in a huge region.
The new study concluded that warmer conditions, especially from March through August, are associated with significantly reduced growth in diseased trees, which may reflect earlier fruiting of the fungus. Wet, drizzly conditions in May through July are also important. The warm, wet conditions within 20 miles or so of the Pacific Ocean make those areas a hotspot of disease in coastal Oregon and Washington.
"We now know that weather is a driver in the epidemiology and spread of this disease," said Bryan Black, an assistant professor of forestry based at OSU's Hatfield Marine Science Center. "We can't say yet whether climate change is part of what's causing these problems, but warmer conditions, milder winters and earlier springs would be consistent with that."
Another key suspect, scientists say, is the planting for decades of a monoculture of Douglas-fir in replacement of coastal forests, which previously had trees of varying ages and different species. Since Douglas-fir was a small component of these forests, it appears the disease was relatively insignificant. Even-aged stands of vulnerable Douglas-fir allow the fungus to build up to much higher levels, releasing spores that can literally spread with the wind. Reductions in growth of 20-30 percent are fairly common, and sometimes higher.
It used to be thought that the disease primarily affected only younger trees, mostly less than 40 years old and predominately the 10-30 year age group, the researchers say. This study, based on examinations of rings in naturally-regenerated trees more than 80 years old, for the first time showed that they are very susceptible as well. The findings erase any hope that older trees will "outgrow" the susceptibility to this disease, the scientists concluded.
"Tree growth has been reduced so much at severely-impacted sites that we could not actually find a growth ring that went all the way around some trees," Black said. "At these sites the overall growth rate over the past 25 years was reduced by more than 85 percent in comparison to non-diseased trees."
The impact of Swiss needle cast is highly uneven, difficult to predict, and often dependent on microclimate, terrain and availability of soil nitrogen. Fungicides can control it, but cost too much to be practical and raise environmental concerns. However, OSU is developing tools to better anticipate the problems it may cause and allow forest managers to consider alternative management strategies. Planting of less Douglas-fir is one option, using more western hemlock, red alder or other species.
In some places, nature has already begun this approach.
"We've seen sites where western hemlock is overtopping Douglas-fir that has almost stopped growing, and may ultimately replace it," Shaw said. "Some stands are already converting to alternative species on their own."
Work is under way to develop fungal-tolerant Douglas-fir families that may be of some value, especially in areas with low or moderate levels of the disease. Those studies will not be complete for several years.
If the epidemic continues to spread and begins to change growth and productivity of Douglas-fir, the researchers said, its impacts may go beyond forest health and timber production. It could affect the efficacy of managing lands for other purposes, such as wildlife protection.
"These tree ring data corroborate that the impacts of Swiss needle cast continue to worsen in the western Oregon Coast Range," the researchers wrote in their conclusion. "They also corroborate that Swiss needle cast is associated with climate, especially long-term warming trends during the late winter and early spring."
Email or share this story:
| More
Story Source:
Adapted from materials provided by Oregon State University.
Journal Reference:
1. Black et al. Impacts of Swiss needle cast on overstory Douglas-fir forests of the western Oregon Coast Range. Forest Ecology and Management, 2010; 259 (8): 1673 DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2010.01.047
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Seasons are changing
Rapid temperature changes affect the seasons, causing variations in season length.
Changes such as shorter winters can lead to mismatches between key elements in an ecosystem, such as feeding periods for young birds and availability of worms or insects for food. It also impacts on farmers’ growing seasons.
Climatic records put together with long-term records of flowering and nesting times show clear warming trends.
In Britain flowering time and leaf-break records date back to 1736, thus providing solid evidence of climate-related changes. Long-term trends towards earlier bird breeding, earlier spring migrant arrival and later autumn departure dates have been observed in North America, along with changes in migratory patterns in Europe.
Changes such as shorter winters can lead to mismatches between key elements in an ecosystem, such as feeding periods for young birds and availability of worms or insects for food. It also impacts on farmers’ growing seasons.
Climatic records put together with long-term records of flowering and nesting times show clear warming trends.
In Britain flowering time and leaf-break records date back to 1736, thus providing solid evidence of climate-related changes. Long-term trends towards earlier bird breeding, earlier spring migrant arrival and later autumn departure dates have been observed in North America, along with changes in migratory patterns in Europe.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Global warming indigestion may push gorillas, monkeys to extinction
WASHINGTON: Global warming-induced indigestion could threaten the existence of mountain gorillas and other leaf-eating primates, suggests a new
Experts predicted that the annual temperatures are expected to rise by 2 degrees Celsius by mid-century in some climate models and higher temperatures could lead the animals to inaction, and spending more time lounging in the shade to avoid overheating.
Principal investigator Amanda Korstjens, a biological anthropologist at Bournemouth University in the U.K, and colleagues said sitting mountain gorillas and African colobines, a large group of species including colobus monkeys, combined with less nutritious food, may push the animals to extinction.
"A two-degree temperature increase is not a very farfetched idea," National Geographic quoted her as saying.
"Animals can adapt ... and maybe primates will find another way of coping. (But) I expect that they are at their limits already," she added.
Colin Chapman, a primate ecologist at Montreal's McGill University, added "if the assumptions are correct," he said, "shows a pretty big potential in changes in distribution and extinction risk."
The study was published in the journal Animal Behaviour.
Experts predicted that the annual temperatures are expected to rise by 2 degrees Celsius by mid-century in some climate models and higher temperatures could lead the animals to inaction, and spending more time lounging in the shade to avoid overheating.
Principal investigator Amanda Korstjens, a biological anthropologist at Bournemouth University in the U.K, and colleagues said sitting mountain gorillas and African colobines, a large group of species including colobus monkeys, combined with less nutritious food, may push the animals to extinction.
"A two-degree temperature increase is not a very farfetched idea," National Geographic quoted her as saying.
"Animals can adapt ... and maybe primates will find another way of coping. (But) I expect that they are at their limits already," she added.
Colin Chapman, a primate ecologist at Montreal's McGill University, added "if the assumptions are correct," he said, "shows a pretty big potential in changes in distribution and extinction risk."
The study was published in the journal Animal Behaviour.
Some parts of oceans getting saltier: Study
Washington: Global warming is making some parts of the oceans saltier, a new study has claimed.
A research led by Australian scientists showed a clear link between salinity changes at the surface and changes in the deeper waters over the last six decades caused by the warming seen over the same period.
"The saltiness or salinity of the oceans is controlled by evaporation and rainfall at earth's surface," said senior researcher Paul Durack of CSIRO, the Australian government's research agency.
"The supercharging of weather patterns by global warming is making some parts of earth's oceans much saltier while others parts are getting fresher," Durack wrote in the Journal of Climate.
He said, the more evaporation there is at a given patch of ocean, the more concentrated the salts get in the seawater and the higher the salinity, however in places where lots of rain is falling, the water gets more diluted, becoming fresher.
The team analysed more than 460,000 oceanic readings collected by an army of 3,200 autonomous ARGO buoys and after subtracting out such things as cyclical seasonal salinity changes and other extreme events, they found a strong signal of more evaporation and rainfall over the oceans -- an enhancement to the average surface salinity.
What they found is that the subtropical, evaporation-dominated waters of the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific oceans are getting saltier while the tropical and higher latitude waters are getting fresher -- these later areas being where there is more rainfall than evaporation over the year.
But the matter goes deeper than just the ocean surface water, Durack said, adding "the ARGO buoys don't just float around on the surface, they can sink down to two kilometres below the surface and rise again, gathering data the whole way to create three dimensional ocean profiles".
These show that the salinity changes are actually moving, following the paths that ocean water circulates from the surface into the depths, Discovery Channel reported.
"While such changes in salinity would be expected at the ocean surface (where about 80 per cent of surface water exchange occurs), sub-surface measurements indicate much broader, warming-driven changes are extending into the deep ocean," said Durack.
"This is probably one of the most significant papers we've seen yet in this area," said Dean Roemmich, part of the ARGO leadership team.
A research led by Australian scientists showed a clear link between salinity changes at the surface and changes in the deeper waters over the last six decades caused by the warming seen over the same period.
"The saltiness or salinity of the oceans is controlled by evaporation and rainfall at earth's surface," said senior researcher Paul Durack of CSIRO, the Australian government's research agency.
"The supercharging of weather patterns by global warming is making some parts of earth's oceans much saltier while others parts are getting fresher," Durack wrote in the Journal of Climate.
He said, the more evaporation there is at a given patch of ocean, the more concentrated the salts get in the seawater and the higher the salinity, however in places where lots of rain is falling, the water gets more diluted, becoming fresher.
The team analysed more than 460,000 oceanic readings collected by an army of 3,200 autonomous ARGO buoys and after subtracting out such things as cyclical seasonal salinity changes and other extreme events, they found a strong signal of more evaporation and rainfall over the oceans -- an enhancement to the average surface salinity.
What they found is that the subtropical, evaporation-dominated waters of the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific oceans are getting saltier while the tropical and higher latitude waters are getting fresher -- these later areas being where there is more rainfall than evaporation over the year.
But the matter goes deeper than just the ocean surface water, Durack said, adding "the ARGO buoys don't just float around on the surface, they can sink down to two kilometres below the surface and rise again, gathering data the whole way to create three dimensional ocean profiles".
These show that the salinity changes are actually moving, following the paths that ocean water circulates from the surface into the depths, Discovery Channel reported.
"While such changes in salinity would be expected at the ocean surface (where about 80 per cent of surface water exchange occurs), sub-surface measurements indicate much broader, warming-driven changes are extending into the deep ocean," said Durack.
"This is probably one of the most significant papers we've seen yet in this area," said Dean Roemmich, part of the ARGO leadership team.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Rainwater Harvesting
Saves you and the environment some green
Rainwater harvesting is “the process of intercepting storm-water runoff and putting it to beneficial use.” Pretty simple concept. Oddly enough, it is illegal in some states. The Colorado legislature, in its 2009 session, legalized rainwater harvesting for residents with private wells. Other states and municipalities are in the process of changing their laws. You’ll need to do a little research to determine what is lawful in your state. Whatever the case, I don’t think the police are going to show up at your door if you choose to harvest rainwater.
Why would I want to harvest rainwater anyway?
According to the EPA, a homeowner can save 1,300 gallons of water a month. That will help with your water bills or reduce stress on your well. You can use the water in your evaporative coolers, to water plants, your lawn, your pets or livestock. It reduces your carbon footprint by saving on electricity to pump water and then deliver it to your home. Besides, it simply makes good sense to have water stored to guard against times of drought or emergency.
rainwater harvesting diagramSo I’m building or rebuilding a home and want to incorporate this. How?
You can begin by designing your home, buildings, and surrounding landscape to maximize the amount of rainwater catchment. You can do it like Jerry Brock of Monte Sereno, California and use four gravity-fed 5,000 gallon tanks. Or, there are companies like Rain Harvesting Systems (RHS) that specialize in elaborate and wonderful systems for your home or commercial building.
You can do it like people have been doing it for thousands of years—with some type of cistern. Cisterns, now, aren’t some Biblical clay container thing , but are usually some type of composite plastic. Here are some links to places you can buy one and also some “do it yourself” harvesting systems.
http://www.plastic-mart.com/class.php?cat=187
http://www.rain-barrel.net/category/rainwater-harvesting
http://www.ehow.com/how_5126202_harvest-rain-water.html
http://www.off-grid.net/2009/06/20/how-to-harvest-rainwater/
Bottom line: it can be as simple as putting a big bucket out under your rain gutter and using the water for dry spots on your lawn. Get an elaborate rainwater harvesting system or get a container with a cover (keeps mosquitoes from breeding and slows evaporation) and do your part to help your budget and your planet.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Gangotri, India - 2009 Photoexpedition
Gangotri, India - 2009 Photoexpedition
The Gangotri glacier is situated in the state of Uttarakhand and is one of many great glaciers in the located in the Indian Himalayas. However, no other glacier is as significant both economically and spiritually as the Gangotri glacier. The Gangotri is the main glacier that feeds the great Ganges River, which flows through northern India with its enormous population. Downstream thousands of people are cremated every year along the banks of the river in order to reach their nirvana. The Ganges River is an integral part of Hinduism. No other river on earth is adored by mass humanity like the Ganges.
Hindus also worship the source of their great river Gangotri. Millions of Hindus hope that they will be able to pay homage to the mouth of the glacier at Gaumukh in a once in a lifetime pilgrimage. The glacier is inhospitable and difficult to reach and only the hardiest of Hindus make it all the way to the glacier itself. I accompanied a small Greenpeace team on our very own pilgrimage to the glacier mouth to witness for ourselves how climatic change is affecting the source of Asia's longest and most auspicious river.
Observing the river sweeping through the mountain it was very easy to imagine how the glacier would have shaped the valley in centuries gone by. Snow that once lay on all the mountain peaks which we see on the horizon has disappeared and the peaks are now bare and only display snow for a few hours after an unusually cold night. The land is naked and barren. We see doves and crows flying above - something that would of been unheard of a decade ago at such a high altitude.
Before we set off we met a holy Sadhu named Swami Sundaranand otherwise known as the 'Clicking Sadhu'. He has taken over 40,000 pictures of the Gangotri glacier over the last 40 years. We are going to shoot a before and now of the Glacier snout using a picture the 'Clicking Sadhu' had taken in 1984 and note the change in the glacier comparing the photographs taken twenty five years apart.
Swami Sundaranand explains " The glacier has been sick for a long time now. Over the years especially over the last 20 years I started to see the change become more apparent and more rapid, the mouth where the holy river flows from the glacier started to shrink. This alarmed me as the mouth used to be a formidable sight. " He continues “ I believe because the region is warmer now the rocks are becoming much looser and falling all along the glacier floor. Even the mouth itself is brown and grey. It used to reflect blues and greens and a wonderful white." He adds "When I was very young I first visited the glacier in the early 60s and back then it was around the bend. I saw over time it slowly disappear around the bend of the valley. You cannot see the glacier from where I first saw it, its disappeared out of sight, the whole area used to be paradise for a photographer, when I see photo's of the area today, it makes me very sad.”
Along the route we were faced with reminders of where the once mighty glacier used to be. The Indian government has painted dates and locations of the glacier on random stones that were probably once moved by the glacier itself. The dates range from 1891 to 2007. On some of the early recordings such as the one undertaken in 1935 we saw that the glacier was just a few kilometres away. It was a startling reminder just how relentless the glacier has receded year by year.
The river flowed out of the glacier carrying huge blocks of melted ice. Nearby we uncovered the most recent of all the government’s signs from 2007. In only 2 years the glacier had receded around 25 meters. A GPS was made by Greenpeace at the mouth of the glacier so it can monitor in the future.
I then photographed Gaumukh from the exact spot where my Sadhu friend had photographed 25 years earlier. The only difference is that I was a few hundred meters back and the glacier was in the distance!
If the Gangotri glacier continues to recede at its current rate at around the middle of this century then the great Ganges river will only be fed by the seasonal monsoon. Asia's longest river will simply be a seasonal river. The consequences for billions of Indian people in the world’s most densely populated regions would be immense. If the glacier disappears the rice bowl of India that relies on irrigation from the 'Holy Mother Ganges' will be empty causing catastrophic food shortages.
Indeed nobody knows when arguably the most important glacier of them all will disappear. As the rate of acceleration gathers pace it is a case of when and not if it disappears.
I left the glacier feeling in a sombre mood. Perhaps if more Hindus could also observe the fate of the birthplace of their sacred River Ganges more effort would be made to tackle the problems faced by the Gangotri glacier.
The Gangotri glacier is situated in the state of Uttarakhand and is one of many great glaciers in the located in the Indian Himalayas. However, no other glacier is as significant both economically and spiritually as the Gangotri glacier. The Gangotri is the main glacier that feeds the great Ganges River, which flows through northern India with its enormous population. Downstream thousands of people are cremated every year along the banks of the river in order to reach their nirvana. The Ganges River is an integral part of Hinduism. No other river on earth is adored by mass humanity like the Ganges.
Hindus also worship the source of their great river Gangotri. Millions of Hindus hope that they will be able to pay homage to the mouth of the glacier at Gaumukh in a once in a lifetime pilgrimage. The glacier is inhospitable and difficult to reach and only the hardiest of Hindus make it all the way to the glacier itself. I accompanied a small Greenpeace team on our very own pilgrimage to the glacier mouth to witness for ourselves how climatic change is affecting the source of Asia's longest and most auspicious river.
Observing the river sweeping through the mountain it was very easy to imagine how the glacier would have shaped the valley in centuries gone by. Snow that once lay on all the mountain peaks which we see on the horizon has disappeared and the peaks are now bare and only display snow for a few hours after an unusually cold night. The land is naked and barren. We see doves and crows flying above - something that would of been unheard of a decade ago at such a high altitude.
Before we set off we met a holy Sadhu named Swami Sundaranand otherwise known as the 'Clicking Sadhu'. He has taken over 40,000 pictures of the Gangotri glacier over the last 40 years. We are going to shoot a before and now of the Glacier snout using a picture the 'Clicking Sadhu' had taken in 1984 and note the change in the glacier comparing the photographs taken twenty five years apart.
Swami Sundaranand explains " The glacier has been sick for a long time now. Over the years especially over the last 20 years I started to see the change become more apparent and more rapid, the mouth where the holy river flows from the glacier started to shrink. This alarmed me as the mouth used to be a formidable sight. " He continues “ I believe because the region is warmer now the rocks are becoming much looser and falling all along the glacier floor. Even the mouth itself is brown and grey. It used to reflect blues and greens and a wonderful white." He adds "When I was very young I first visited the glacier in the early 60s and back then it was around the bend. I saw over time it slowly disappear around the bend of the valley. You cannot see the glacier from where I first saw it, its disappeared out of sight, the whole area used to be paradise for a photographer, when I see photo's of the area today, it makes me very sad.”
Along the route we were faced with reminders of where the once mighty glacier used to be. The Indian government has painted dates and locations of the glacier on random stones that were probably once moved by the glacier itself. The dates range from 1891 to 2007. On some of the early recordings such as the one undertaken in 1935 we saw that the glacier was just a few kilometres away. It was a startling reminder just how relentless the glacier has receded year by year.
The river flowed out of the glacier carrying huge blocks of melted ice. Nearby we uncovered the most recent of all the government’s signs from 2007. In only 2 years the glacier had receded around 25 meters. A GPS was made by Greenpeace at the mouth of the glacier so it can monitor in the future.
I then photographed Gaumukh from the exact spot where my Sadhu friend had photographed 25 years earlier. The only difference is that I was a few hundred meters back and the glacier was in the distance!
If the Gangotri glacier continues to recede at its current rate at around the middle of this century then the great Ganges river will only be fed by the seasonal monsoon. Asia's longest river will simply be a seasonal river. The consequences for billions of Indian people in the world’s most densely populated regions would be immense. If the glacier disappears the rice bowl of India that relies on irrigation from the 'Holy Mother Ganges' will be empty causing catastrophic food shortages.
Indeed nobody knows when arguably the most important glacier of them all will disappear. As the rate of acceleration gathers pace it is a case of when and not if it disappears.
I left the glacier feeling in a sombre mood. Perhaps if more Hindus could also observe the fate of the birthplace of their sacred River Ganges more effort would be made to tackle the problems faced by the Gangotri glacier.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Climate Change is now
A translucent monster hovers over mankind and a plethora of other life forms as we countdown to the Cop15, where some of the most important decisions of our time will be made. As our leaders stand in the shadows of contemplation trying to avoid responsibility and denying the potential catastrophic consequences, somewhere in a drought-hit rural expanse, lives are taken and children orphaned.
Climate change and its effects are already being felt in India. Though, India has historically contributed little to this fiasco that now looms clear, her sons and daughters are amongst the first to feel its effects. An evident manifestation of this is of course, is the extremely erratic nature of this year’s monsoon. The media screamed out reports of floods, droughts, thunderstorms and rising temperatures.
In rural Andhra Pradesh, men consumed pesticides to relieve themselves from the harsh clutches of drought leaving their wives to deal with the pressure of high-interest debts and their children with the lone wooden plough.
In coastal Tamil Nadu, where the phenomenon of the South West monsoon has been entirely lost for the major part of the past decade, fishermen and farmers struggle to make ends meet as it becomes increasingly difficult to sustain their livelihood.
The intimidating Cyclone Aila that hit the famous Sunderbans forest region of Bengal left hundreds dead, thousands missing and tens of thousands others homeless. Not far from there, the residents of Ghoramara witness rising sea levels every passing day. Farming land is lost and homes are eaten up. The victims of Sunderbans and Ghoramara are one of India’s first climate refugees.
Of course, this is only the tip of the rapidly melting iceberg.
Women ploughed fields naked in Uttar Pradesh, two frogs were married in Karnataka and children rolled on the scorching hot ground in Bihar – rituals performed to appease the fury of the rain gods. Thunderstorms rendered many homeless in Jammu and Kashmir. The Bagmathi River breached its embankment in Bihar forcing thousands to relocate. The rage has already been unleashed.
With neither the knowledge nor the financial means to adapt, it is the poor and marginalised who will suffer the most. Tragically, these stories are set to increase in both scale and scope if stringent commitments on emission cuts and dependence on renewable energy is not volunteered by both the developed and the developing world. While the rest of the world points to India and China to take responsibility as the fastest growing economies in the world, a climate alliance between the countries could help the faces behind these negotiations gain significance.
Today, a hundred ice sculptures of children melted at the 'Temple of Earth', Beijing, signifying the urgency of the issue and the impacts it could have on our future generations. The clock is ticking.
Greenpeace China's action today appeals to the Cop15 negotiators for the children of tomorrow.
Climate change and its effects are already being felt in India. Though, India has historically contributed little to this fiasco that now looms clear, her sons and daughters are amongst the first to feel its effects. An evident manifestation of this is of course, is the extremely erratic nature of this year’s monsoon. The media screamed out reports of floods, droughts, thunderstorms and rising temperatures.
In rural Andhra Pradesh, men consumed pesticides to relieve themselves from the harsh clutches of drought leaving their wives to deal with the pressure of high-interest debts and their children with the lone wooden plough.
In coastal Tamil Nadu, where the phenomenon of the South West monsoon has been entirely lost for the major part of the past decade, fishermen and farmers struggle to make ends meet as it becomes increasingly difficult to sustain their livelihood.
The intimidating Cyclone Aila that hit the famous Sunderbans forest region of Bengal left hundreds dead, thousands missing and tens of thousands others homeless. Not far from there, the residents of Ghoramara witness rising sea levels every passing day. Farming land is lost and homes are eaten up. The victims of Sunderbans and Ghoramara are one of India’s first climate refugees.
Of course, this is only the tip of the rapidly melting iceberg.
Women ploughed fields naked in Uttar Pradesh, two frogs were married in Karnataka and children rolled on the scorching hot ground in Bihar – rituals performed to appease the fury of the rain gods. Thunderstorms rendered many homeless in Jammu and Kashmir. The Bagmathi River breached its embankment in Bihar forcing thousands to relocate. The rage has already been unleashed.
With neither the knowledge nor the financial means to adapt, it is the poor and marginalised who will suffer the most. Tragically, these stories are set to increase in both scale and scope if stringent commitments on emission cuts and dependence on renewable energy is not volunteered by both the developed and the developing world. While the rest of the world points to India and China to take responsibility as the fastest growing economies in the world, a climate alliance between the countries could help the faces behind these negotiations gain significance.
Today, a hundred ice sculptures of children melted at the 'Temple of Earth', Beijing, signifying the urgency of the issue and the impacts it could have on our future generations. The clock is ticking.
Greenpeace China's action today appeals to the Cop15 negotiators for the children of tomorrow.
Monday, December 28, 2009
The Grey Himalayas
What image conjures up in your head when you think - Himalaya?
I think big pristine mountains… White and green merging with the blue…mountain and sky fused …Sometimes I wonder what our ancestors would have seen…what would have Tenzin Norway seen and felt…?
Reality seems to indicate that what they would have seen would be drastically different from what we may get to see today. And then I wonder what my children will get to see? Brown and black merging with the grey…?
Even the tremendous giants are in trouble. Not just passionate irrational environmentalists are stating this but even the hardcore scientists are stating this fact. Our Himalayas, as we know them, are in big trouble. Who would’ve thought anything could happen to them? But we measly humans unfortunately in such large numbers and with industrialised fire power have done the trick. We have so ceaselessly pumped gases into the atmosphere that even the invincible Himalayas are not being able to defend themselves. Should we expect them to just adapt? I actually think we cannot afford to expect this; we should not even hope for this.
Reports say the Ganga which comes out of the Himalayas from the Gangotri glacier will become a seasonal river flowing only in the monsoons by 2035! While I worry about the far future of what my children will see (cause I don’t plan to have any, anytime soon), the people presently who live by the Ganga depend on it for their livelihood and water source – what will happen to them? What’s happening to them now?
The Himalayas have the largest number of glaciers apart from the polar caps so we are not only talking about the Gangotri glacier being in danger but many glaciers.
Can’t we all see it’s got to stop!
A world without the Himalayas or any other natural creation would be a world without beauty – and dare I say a world without beauty would be no more worth fighting for…
Our time is now…
We’ve got to find better ways of living on our planet. We’ve got to realise that we have to share. We’ve got to learn how to protect all that exists around us.
I think big pristine mountains… White and green merging with the blue…mountain and sky fused …Sometimes I wonder what our ancestors would have seen…what would have Tenzin Norway seen and felt…?
Reality seems to indicate that what they would have seen would be drastically different from what we may get to see today. And then I wonder what my children will get to see? Brown and black merging with the grey…?
Even the tremendous giants are in trouble. Not just passionate irrational environmentalists are stating this but even the hardcore scientists are stating this fact. Our Himalayas, as we know them, are in big trouble. Who would’ve thought anything could happen to them? But we measly humans unfortunately in such large numbers and with industrialised fire power have done the trick. We have so ceaselessly pumped gases into the atmosphere that even the invincible Himalayas are not being able to defend themselves. Should we expect them to just adapt? I actually think we cannot afford to expect this; we should not even hope for this.
Reports say the Ganga which comes out of the Himalayas from the Gangotri glacier will become a seasonal river flowing only in the monsoons by 2035! While I worry about the far future of what my children will see (cause I don’t plan to have any, anytime soon), the people presently who live by the Ganga depend on it for their livelihood and water source – what will happen to them? What’s happening to them now?
The Himalayas have the largest number of glaciers apart from the polar caps so we are not only talking about the Gangotri glacier being in danger but many glaciers.
Can’t we all see it’s got to stop!
A world without the Himalayas or any other natural creation would be a world without beauty – and dare I say a world without beauty would be no more worth fighting for…
Our time is now…
We’ve got to find better ways of living on our planet. We’ve got to realise that we have to share. We’ve got to learn how to protect all that exists around us.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Not the FAB deal we need, so we must fight on
The Copenhagen Accord is not the fair, ambitious and binding deal that the millions of us from around the world told our political leaders we wanted.
The outcome of this two year process does not set scientific-based targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, nor does it provide the required funding for developing nations to transition to a clean energy economy and adapt to the impending negative effects of climate change, like floods and droughts.
Our world leaders chose national political self-interest over the fate of future generations and failed to resolve the issues blocking the road towards a just outcome. While this deal cannot be judged as a success, it is impossible to be without hope.
Organizations from around the world, representing a diversity of issues, came together to form an unprecedented alliance under the TckTckTck banner – including development, human rights, environment, religious and youth groups, trade unions and scout groups. The campaign touched millions of people, in hundreds of countries around the world.
Over the last two weeks while leaders were dithering an additional 5 million people joined the TckTckTck campaign, resulting in a total of 15 million voices calling for a fair, ambitious and legally binding deal.
Since September we have seen 3 world days of action involving millions of everyday people from all over the world, and on Dec. 12th in Copenhagen 100,000 marched together to demand the real deal we we need to avoid the worst effects of climate change.
This voice cannot be ignored by world leaders for much longer and they know it. Our leaders still have a chance to get it right. They must realize that we expect, and that we will not accept any less.
They’re not done yet. Neither are we.
The outcome of this two year process does not set scientific-based targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, nor does it provide the required funding for developing nations to transition to a clean energy economy and adapt to the impending negative effects of climate change, like floods and droughts.
Our world leaders chose national political self-interest over the fate of future generations and failed to resolve the issues blocking the road towards a just outcome. While this deal cannot be judged as a success, it is impossible to be without hope.
Organizations from around the world, representing a diversity of issues, came together to form an unprecedented alliance under the TckTckTck banner – including development, human rights, environment, religious and youth groups, trade unions and scout groups. The campaign touched millions of people, in hundreds of countries around the world.
Over the last two weeks while leaders were dithering an additional 5 million people joined the TckTckTck campaign, resulting in a total of 15 million voices calling for a fair, ambitious and legally binding deal.
Since September we have seen 3 world days of action involving millions of everyday people from all over the world, and on Dec. 12th in Copenhagen 100,000 marched together to demand the real deal we we need to avoid the worst effects of climate change.
This voice cannot be ignored by world leaders for much longer and they know it. Our leaders still have a chance to get it right. They must realize that we expect, and that we will not accept any less.
They’re not done yet. Neither are we.
Save our Seas
OCEAN LIFE The darkest depths of the world's oceans have sheltered millions of mysterious creatures found nowhere else on earth. Our oceans and seas cover more than two thirds of the planet and sustain a breathtaking array of marine life - from microscopic plankton to the largest of the great whales. As mankind continues exploration of the submerged world, hundreds of thousands of previously unknown species living in the vast ocean depths are being discovered. Current estimates indicate that 178,000 species live in the oceans, although continued exploration of the deep sea may reveal millions more.
Very little is known about the complex marine ecosystems inhabited by these species. While we do know that there are certain biodiversity hotspots, home to a much larger concentration of species, we still much to discover about how these habitats work, how important they are in maintaining the balance of life on earth, and what part we play in that complex ecosystem. And yet, despite the vast unknown characteristics of the oceans, they are struggling to survive the greatest threat to their existence - human beings. There are several threats to the world's oceans today - and almost all of them are a result of human activity.
Greenpeace has been campaigning to protect the oceans against the worst threats - destructive fishing techniques like bottom trawling, whaling, pollution, unsustainable and ecologically disastrous development, and the direct impacts of climate change.
We need urgent action to reclaim our oceans for marine life and coastal communities. But thankfully, it is not too late to turn the tide. One of the major solutions we are campaigning for is a large-scale global network of marine reserves.
Greenpeace India's Oceans Campaign was launched in 2004 with the Rainbow Warrior 'Save our Seas' Tour, to raise the profile of the rich marine ecosystems, fragile habitats and endangered creatures of the Bay of Bengal. Explore with us the biodiversity hotspots unique to India. Bear witness along with us as we document the many threats to these fragile ecosystems. Join us in our Campaign to Save our Seas!
Very little is known about the complex marine ecosystems inhabited by these species. While we do know that there are certain biodiversity hotspots, home to a much larger concentration of species, we still much to discover about how these habitats work, how important they are in maintaining the balance of life on earth, and what part we play in that complex ecosystem. And yet, despite the vast unknown characteristics of the oceans, they are struggling to survive the greatest threat to their existence - human beings. There are several threats to the world's oceans today - and almost all of them are a result of human activity.
Greenpeace has been campaigning to protect the oceans against the worst threats - destructive fishing techniques like bottom trawling, whaling, pollution, unsustainable and ecologically disastrous development, and the direct impacts of climate change.
We need urgent action to reclaim our oceans for marine life and coastal communities. But thankfully, it is not too late to turn the tide. One of the major solutions we are campaigning for is a large-scale global network of marine reserves.
Greenpeace India's Oceans Campaign was launched in 2004 with the Rainbow Warrior 'Save our Seas' Tour, to raise the profile of the rich marine ecosystems, fragile habitats and endangered creatures of the Bay of Bengal. Explore with us the biodiversity hotspots unique to India. Bear witness along with us as we document the many threats to these fragile ecosystems. Join us in our Campaign to Save our Seas!
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Melting Away
Melting away the 100 days?
Greenpeace China is going big today. 100 ice children will melt in the center of Beijing. Our Indian colleague Vinuta will speak on the spot about the importance of a Chinese – Indian climate alliance. Greenpeace India is going big today as well. The Number 100 in 12feet high letters will melt and drown a world map in the center of Delhi. Our Chinese colleague Li Yan will speak on the spot about the importance of a Chinese – Indian climate alliance. So today it’s all about 100 and about China – India and about melting.
The magic 100
From today on we have just 100 full days left till the start of the UN climate negotiations in Copenhagen. Copenhagen is the capital of the small European country Denmark and becomes in December the host of the biggest climate conference ever. All countries meet there and try to agree how to deal with climate change, the biggest threat for mankind in our days. Basically it’s very simple. All countries have to act. The rich countries are much more responsible for the troubles we are in right now, so they have to do much more. That means they have to reduce significantly their Greenhouse Gas emissions. Other countries need also reduce their future emissions but should get financial and technical support to do so. Unfortunately this is not happening. And with just 100 days to go we have no time to waste anymore.
China – India
China and India are the two biggest countries in the world and are catching up in economic terms. So do their Greenhouse Gas emissions. These two countries are important to build up pressure on the rich countries to do their bit and these two countries have the political and technological ability to show the rest of the world the way to get ride of the dependence on coal and oil.
Melting away
How to link China and India. The biggest link between this two countries is the Himalayas. The source of all their big rivers which are the life lines for both countries. All their rivers are sourced by the huge glaciers there and these glaciers are melting away like ice sculptures in the sun. The melting of the glaciers is one of the biggest impacts of climate change and will destroy the livelihood of more than one billion people in Asia.
So a joint Chinese-Indian melting of 100 is a huge outcry to the world. It’s just 100 days to go to Copenhagen and we urgently need a strong agreement there. So “World leader – Act now!”
Greenpeace China is going big today. 100 ice children will melt in the center of Beijing. Our Indian colleague Vinuta will speak on the spot about the importance of a Chinese – Indian climate alliance. Greenpeace India is going big today as well. The Number 100 in 12feet high letters will melt and drown a world map in the center of Delhi. Our Chinese colleague Li Yan will speak on the spot about the importance of a Chinese – Indian climate alliance. So today it’s all about 100 and about China – India and about melting.
The magic 100
From today on we have just 100 full days left till the start of the UN climate negotiations in Copenhagen. Copenhagen is the capital of the small European country Denmark and becomes in December the host of the biggest climate conference ever. All countries meet there and try to agree how to deal with climate change, the biggest threat for mankind in our days. Basically it’s very simple. All countries have to act. The rich countries are much more responsible for the troubles we are in right now, so they have to do much more. That means they have to reduce significantly their Greenhouse Gas emissions. Other countries need also reduce their future emissions but should get financial and technical support to do so. Unfortunately this is not happening. And with just 100 days to go we have no time to waste anymore.
China – India
China and India are the two biggest countries in the world and are catching up in economic terms. So do their Greenhouse Gas emissions. These two countries are important to build up pressure on the rich countries to do their bit and these two countries have the political and technological ability to show the rest of the world the way to get ride of the dependence on coal and oil.
Melting away
How to link China and India. The biggest link between this two countries is the Himalayas. The source of all their big rivers which are the life lines for both countries. All their rivers are sourced by the huge glaciers there and these glaciers are melting away like ice sculptures in the sun. The melting of the glaciers is one of the biggest impacts of climate change and will destroy the livelihood of more than one billion people in Asia.
So a joint Chinese-Indian melting of 100 is a huge outcry to the world. It’s just 100 days to go to Copenhagen and we urgently need a strong agreement there. So “World leader – Act now!”
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