Earth Society's "I Will If You Will" Challenge

This year, Earth Society decided to participate in WWF Earth Hour’s “I Will IF You WILL” Challenge (IWIYW) to encourage everyone to adopt sustainable actions beyond the hour.

[ More info on IWIYW Challenge: http://earthhour.wwf.sg/iwiyw.php ]

This is our “I Will IF You WILL” Challenge:

“Earth Society will commit to conduct 50 FREE Environment talks for schools

and NGOs IF 800 people will commit to support Veggie Thursday or Go

meatless one day a week.”

To View our IWIYW Challenge, pls visit:

http://www.youtube.com/earthhour?x=%2Fchallenges%2F5958

[ Pls close the pop-up window to view the Challenge.

  Pls consider if you would support Veggie Thursday or go Meatless one day a week to support  the cause.

To accept the Challenge, pls click the “Accept this Challenge” Button.

You would need to sign in with your gmail / youtube account to accept

the Challenge.  :>]

For more info on Veggie Thursdays, please visit : www.veggiethursday.sg

Let’s work together to create a sustainable future for everyone.

Update on Climate change by Mr Al Gore (2011-2012)

Share some updates on Climate change by Mr Al Gore:

1.Highlight: Al Gore at 24hrs of Reality (2011) [10 mins]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY2sBLKU2x8

In this video, Al Gore explained the "New normal" of “Long periods of Droughts followed by short period of heavy rains”. He also refuted the climate deniers point-by-point.

2. Al Gore's has another updated video in 2012: (44 mins)

http://climaterealityproject.org/video/

[Pls scroll down to watch "Hour 24: New York finale with Al Gore (2012)" Video.

It is up-to-date and expresses the urgency of the situation acutely.]

The following is a summary of the 2012 video:

Record heat events

The world experienced the hottest month in Sep 2012. ( Similar to the hottest month in 2005).

In 2012, NASA director Dr James Hansen and 2 of his colleagues present a powerful statistical evidence of how the Earth is warming up.

Dr James Hansen did a statistical study of the temperature of Earth from 1950 till 2011. He broke up Earth to ‘150 mile sq blocks’ and collected what the temperature has been every where on Earth in every block.

The study shows that:

From 1951 till 1980:

1/3 of the days are cooler than normal, 1/3 of the days are normal, &1/3 hotter than normal.

i.e. 1 day with normal temperature, 1 to 2 days cooler, 1 to 2 days hotter.

In 1980s, everything started to shift. (more hotter days)

From 2001 till 2011, the temp shifted a lot.

Now we have:

1 day with normal temp, 1 day cooler than normal, 4 to 5 days hotter than normal.

(With 1 to 2 days as extremely hot days).

Dr James Hansen also observed that from 1950s to 1980s, Extreme heat events happen on 0.1% of Earth’s surface,  

Now (In 2012) it happens on 10% of Earth’s surface. (That is a 100 times increase.)

…..

US, heat records shows that:

In 1950 – 1999:   1 hot day to 1 cold day,

In 2001 to 2011:  2 hot days to 1 cold day.

In 2012:              10 hot days to 1 cold day !!!

Jul 2012 is the hottest month in US in recorded history.

………

Arctic / Greenland ice melts/ Sea level rise

Arctic ice covers hit the lowest record this year. ( Arctic ice surface area reached a 3.5 million sq km record low in 2012. Arctic ice used to be 8.5 million sq km in the 1980s)

Greenland & Antarctica ice melts affects sea level.

Cities at risk of the sea level rise.

Top 10 cities in danger of sea level rise: (By Population)

Calcutta, Mumbal, Dhaka (Banglah Desh), Ho Chi Minh City, Shang Hai, Bangkok,

Rangoon, Miami, Hai Phong

Top 10 cities in danger of sea level rise: (By Assets at risk: trillions of $US)

Miami, Guangzhou, NY/ New Jersey, Calcutta, Shanghai, Mumbai, Tianjin Tokyo, Hong Kong, Bangkok

…….

Increased ocean temp/ increased water vapor in the air.

For Hurricane Sandy: When Hurricane Sandy turn towards NY, ocean temp is a 5 Deg C (9 Deg F) higher than normal. (Sea Surface temp: SST)

The air now holds more water vapour.

With each additional 1 deg increase in temp, the atmosphere’s capacity to hold water vapor increases by 7%.

Now, there are already 4% more water vapor over the oceans than there was only 30 years ago.

……..

Disasters in 2012

In 2012: 65% of US land has suffered from drought.

Droughts in 2012: Spain/ India/ N & South Korea/ Africa (Senegal)

Floods in 2012:  Pakistan / Beijing Jul./ India/ Taiwan/ N. Korea/ Russia (Jul)

Record drought/ record floods in the same country.

……..

Food Availability

Mr Al Gore shows a Food Surpluses and Deficits graph (1965 – 2010)

Food surpluses are found in North America & South America & Aus.

Occasionally, in E Eu & Russia.

Every where else (Europe/ Central Am/ Western Eu/ Asia/ Middle East & Africa) are all in food deficit.

Crops are sensitive to heat conditions.  By end of century, yield of corn can fall 1/3 just from heat stress alone.

…..

Water Availability

Global Water supply: 11% for domestic use, 19% Industrial use, 70% is for agriculture.

We are drawing water from aquifers at an unsustainable rate.

……..

Tropical disease are spreading with climate change. (e.g West Nile virus, Dengue fever are spreading)

……….

Increase in Clean energy policies

We are putting 90 million tons of global warming pollutants out in the air every 24 hrs.

We currently rely on carbon-based fuels for 85% of energy that we used.

In 2010, Renewable energy Investments exceeded those in Fossil Fuels for the first time

(Fossil Fuels: $157 Billion: Renewables: $187 Billion)

We now have a new wind turbine every 30 mins.

……

We have to act now to protect the planet and future generations.

Share a Song on World Hunger

In July 2011, Africa experienced the worst drought in 60 years. The drought caused severe food crisis across Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya and threatens the livelihood of 9.5 million people. Tens of thousands of people died from hunger in Southern Somalia. The situation causes UN to declared famine in Southern Africa. (the first time in 30 years.)

In view of the situation, Sami Yusuf, a talented British singer of Iranian origin & UN Celebrity Partner for WFP(World Food Program), composed a beautiful song to raise funds to the UN WFP. The song was titled “Forgotten promises”. It shows humanity singing with one voice in solidarity with the drought victims and renewing pledge to deliver on forgotten promises.
Proceeds generated by the song was donated to the UN World Food Program (WFP)

Share with all the song. “Forgotten promises”- Sami Yusuf:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKV2oeS4vw8

To learn more about the LiveFeed campaign, pls visit www.LiveFeedAfrica.org

Mr Bill Clinton on reducing Methane to curb climate change

In Apr 2011, former US president Mr Bill Clinton speaks about the effects of Climate change on water and food resources. He also speaks about the advantage of reducing short-term green house gas such as Methane & Black carbon (as compared to reducing Carbon dioxide) in the atmosphere.

He cited a UN Feb 2011 report ('Integrated Assessment of Black Carbon and Tropospheric Ozone') which informs that making an aggressive effort to reduce Methane & Black Carbon in the atmosphere would buy the world another 20 years to deal with the CO2 issue.

Animal agriculture causes 36% of Global Methane emissions.
Burning forest caused 40% of black carbon emissions.

Thus, to reduce Methane and Black Carbon, we need to reduce animal industry and reduce the burning of forest
......

For more info, pls read the following News Article : "Global warming rate could be halved by controlling 2 pollutants, UN study says"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/global-warming-can-be-halved-study-finds/2011/02/23/ABw6CkI_story.html"

Cleaning the air would limit short-term climate warming"
http://climate.nasa.gov/news/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=482&Print=Yes

UNEP 2010 Jun report Summary

In Jun 2010, UNEP (UN Environment Program) published a report
““Accessing the Environmental Impacts of Consumption and Production:
Priority, Product and Materials”. The report studies how our
consumption patterns impacts the Environment.

The UN panel gathered many scientists to provide science-based
assessments of how products, materials and economic and lifestyle
activities, impacts the planet. It is the first global assessment to
determine which type of consumption activities have the biggest impact
on the environment.

The purpose of this U.N. Environment Programme-sponsored study was to
identify the "hot spots" in terms of environmental impacts so that
policy makers can use this information to reform policies
............

Summary of UNEP Jun 2010 report:
· Two broad areas are currently having a disproportionately
high impact on people and the planet's life support systems-these are
1) Energy in the form of fossil fuels and 2) Agriculture, especially
the raising of livestock for meat and dairy products.

· A doubling of wealth leads to a 60% to 80% increase in CO2
emissions. (In emerging economies, increase in CO2 emissions are even
higher.)

· Rising affluence had triggered a shift in diets towards meat
and dairy products- livestock now consumes much of the world's crops
and by inference a great deal of freshwater, fertilizers and
pesticides linked with that crop production in the first place

· Agricultural goods, particularly products from animals,
which are fed more than half of all world crops, have a huge impact on
the planet. Agricultural production accounts for 70% of the global
freshwater consumption and 38% of the total land use. Food production
accounts for 19% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions and 60% of
the phosphorus and nitrogen pollution and 30% of toxic pollution in
Europe

· In most countries, household consumption, over the life
cycle of the products and services, accounts for more than 60% of all
impacts of consumption.

The report recommends the following:
· “Decoupling growth from environmental degradation is the
number one challenge facing governments. “ However, the report shows
that this decoupling is not happening, and it will not happen in the
future without strong policy interventions.

· “A Substantial reduction of impacts would only be possible
with a substantial worldwide diet change away from animal products.”
The report calls for a significant shift in diets away from animal
based proteins towards more vegetable-based foods in order to
dramatically reduce pressures on the environment.
……………..
The following is a youtube video on the UNEP report:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB3kfaomWs0

..............

News article on the UN Report:
The Guardian: UN urges global move to meat and dairy-free diet:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jun/02/un-report-meat-free-diet

The Telegraph: Eat less meat to save the planet - UN
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/7797594/Eat-less-meat-to-save-the-planet-UN.html

More info can be found in the following websites:
http://www.stwr.org/climate-change-environment/the-environmental-impacts-of-consumption-and-production.html

UNEP “Accessing the Environmental Impacts of Consumption and
Production: Priority, Product and Materials”Full report (112 pgs) :
1. http://www.unep.fr/scp/publications/details.asp?id=DTI/1262/PA
2. http://www.unep.fr/shared/publications/pdf/DTIx1262xPA-PriorityProductsAndMaterials_Report.pdf
………

The report shows that globally, we (as consumers) should adopt a diet
change, away from animal products, to reduce our impact on the
environment.

Perhaps, we can start by adopting meatless days to help the planet:
www.veggiethursday.sg
http://www.meatfreemondays.co.uk/

Let’s do all we can to help the planet.

Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project. [Must-watch]

Al Gore’s group launch the “24 Hours of Reality” Project on Sep 14.
24 presenters in 24 time Zones presented on how climate affected their country.It is broadcasted live online from September 14 to 15, over 24 hours, representing 24 time zones and 13 languages.
.……

Though the event is over, the videos are placed in the Climate Reality Website:
http://climaterealityproject.org/

The following is a list of cities that presented:
Hour 1 : Mexico; Hour 2: Boulder; Hour 3: Victoria4: Kotzebue; 5: French Polynesia 6: Hawaii 7: Toga; 8: Auckland; 9: Solomon Island; 10: Canberra11: Seoul ; 12: BeiJing; 13: Jakarta; 14: New Delhi; 15: Islamabad;16: Dubai; 17: Istanbul; 18: Durban; 19:London; 20:Husavik;21: Cape Verde; 22: Ililissat; 23: Rio De Janeiro; 24: New York

There are lots of videos to watch.
However, Al Gore gives a really nice 1 hour summary during the last hour.
Just watch the 1st video, "Hour 24 : New York" to get the whole picture.
[ In the video, Al Gore speaks of the science behind the climate "new normal"
(long periods of drought followed by short periods of heavy rainfall),
gives an update of the disasters happening around the world and gives a point-to-point rebuttal of the climate deniers. ]

Happy Watching & pass it on.

Be Veg, Go Green to Save the Planet.

Trailer: Climate Chaos in the South

This is a trailer to the environmental movie: "Climate Chaos in the South".
A team of TV crews went to 4 areas that is heavily affected by Global Warming: Africa: Burkina Faso & Togo, South America: Ecuador and Asia: Bangladesh.

They found that climate change is already severly impacting the above regions. Crew members spoke to both local people as well as experts about the ever-increasing danger of poverty in the regions.

What once seemed to be merely an environmental problem, appears to be turning into a large-scale humanitarian catastrophe. While the necessity to reduce climate change is obvious, the South must learn to adapt to what is now inevitable.

Produced by WERELDMEDIATHEEK

Earth SOS (part 1): The Crisis

This is a video that is produced by a group of dedicated and concern citizens world wide.
[There are common folks from Austria, France, China, US, Thailand, Hong Kong, Africa etc.. in the video]

Among the cast are Singaporeans who are friends of our study group.

The following are the write up for the video :
"As we head towards the worst-case scenarios on the climate crisis, Dr Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of IPCC (UN's panel on climate change), said that humanity fails if we do not act on time. The Nobel Price Laureate concluded: "Science leaves us with no space for inaction now." The people have the right to know the truth and decide for themselves. You can help by inviting your friends to watch this video at: www.Earth-SOS.com"

The following are the links for SOS video 2, 3 & 4:
Earth SOS video 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8U4AqZXgD8
Earth SOS video 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f5QVLqTezo
Earth SOS video 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey8MqkVfCMA

Pls watch and pass it on.
Low ck

World Leaders on Climate Change 1

World Leaders speak on Climate change 1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orQKQoM-c_0

Many world leaders speaking on Climate change

Reforestation Efforts in China [Si Cuan] & Africa [Rwanda]

Share 2 good BBC documentary on Reforestation in China & Afrcia, Rwanda .

Part 1 of BBC Documentary: Reforestation in China
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjGYFhMRjfE

Overgazing & overfarming in Lus plateau [near Si Cuan], have caused servere land degradation. When the land is stripped of vegetation, water washes away top soil which further degrades the land till the land becamea barren area.

Restoration Effort :
1. Stop animal-grazing / Stop farming on the land.
2. Plant vegetation. Build terrance to retain water.
3. Vegetation will slow down water flow.
When enough vegetation grows, streams will form.
More water encourage more vegetation which retains more water [positive cycle]
In 3 to 5 years the land would be restored.

The local community would benefit as they can then farm the land and gain food security. :>

Part 2 of BBC documentary: Reforestation in Afrcia Rwanda.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDQisEP7hjw

Reforestation in Africa Rwanda restored barren land to one full of vegetation.These protects the wetlands which ensures that enough water can flow to drive the hydro power-station downstream.

The documentary ends with a meaningful question: "Since we can restore the degraded land in China & Africa, which brings vegetation back to the land, and secures the future of the local people [as they can then farm on these lands], Why don't we reforest ALL the degraded land in the world? "

Surely we can do that :>:):>

The restored land can also sequece much CO2 in the soil.
That will be a BIG help in the fight against Climate change.
:) :>

Al Gore on Less meat helps the planet

Al Gore on Less Meat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bLb23cPd_4

In Nov 09, Mr Al Gore, Environmental Advocate and 2007 Nobel peace prize winner acknowledged that the less-meat/ more veg diet helps in the current climate situation.

In an interview with ABC News, when Ms. Sales asked if he agreed with British climate expert Lord Nicholas Sterns call for people to be vegetarian to reduce emissions, Mr. Gore replied, Its a legitimate point of view. Nick Stern is a very able advocate for whom I have enormous respect I have cut back sharply on the meat that I eat and its absolutely correct that the growing meat intensity of diets around the world is one of the issues connected to this global crisis. Not only because of the CO2 involved, but also because of the water consumed in the process.

The former vice president went on to say, You can add in the health consequences as well. Weve all heard from our doctors for many years that vegetables and fruits should occupy a bigger part of all of our diets, and thats important for a lot of reasons. Ive made those changes.

Full interview for Mr Al Gore can be seen on :
http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2009/11/05/2733587.htm

Lord Stern on Veg diet

In Oct 09, Lord Stern, Chief Economist, Author of 2006 Stern Review on Economics of climate change, urge the world to adopt the vegetarian diet to curb global warming.

Lord Stern, believes that the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December
should call for an increase in the price of meat and other foods that contribute to climate change.

In an interview with "The Times", he said: Meat is a wasteful use of water and creates a lot of greenhouse gases. It puts enormous pressure on the worlds resources. A vegetarian diet is better.

For more info, pls read the following article:
"Times" online: Climate chief Lord Stern: Give up meat to save the planet:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article6891362.ece

Climate change on Africa Zimbabwe

Climate change on Africa Zimbabwe :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHt3L8_okM0

In the Water Conference Water Forum in Korea, Incheon Aug 2009,

Mr Samuel Nkomo, Minister of Water Resource Development n Management in Zimbabwe, Africa speaks about how climate change affect his country. [unpredictable rainfall, floods etc.]

Mr Samuel urges the world to come together to solve the problem of climate change.

Findings of Scientist in Mar 2009 Copenhagen Climate change Conference

Findings of Scientist in Mar 2009 Copenhagen Climate change Conference:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doj5bwuCFHo

.......

On Mar 2009, there is a conference of Climate Scientists in Copenhagen Denmark.

The scientists studied the latest data and discussed about the effects of climate change on planet Earth.

The following is a summary of their findings:
- Global sea level could rise up to 1 m by the end of the century. Affecting at least 600 million pple.
- Global temp could rise by 5 to 6 deg by the end of the century!!
- Even a 2 degrees rise in temp could lead to 'Carbon time Bomb' as more premafrost in Arctic melts and release vast amounts of Methane/ CO2 into the atmosphere. [even a 2 deg rise in temp is not really safe.]

It is coined 'The end of the world" conference because of the gloomy findings. : / : /

We have to do all we can to reduce green house gas emissions! "Business as usual' would lead to
the scenerios projected by scientists in this conference. We have to make some lifestyle changes to conserve the environment and halt Global Warming. It's urgent now.

..............
Copenhagen Climate Change findings:
[Sea level rise by 1m/ Temp inc 5 to 6 C]
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article5882341.ece

Surging global greenhouse gas emissions mean the world now faces likely temperature rises of up to 5-6C this century, according to the scientist leading the international Climate Congress in Copenhagen this week.

Dr John Church of the Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, told the conference, sea level rise by 2100 could be in the range of about one meter, or possibly more.
.........

The situation is urgent, we need to do ALL We Can to save the planet now :/ :/;

Global Shift to Low-meat/ Veg Diet reduce cost to halt Global Warming By 50%

Global Shift to Low-meat/ Veg Diet reduce cost to halt Global Warming By 50% :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9DNE2ZYW2I

.........

During the Mar 2009 Copenhagen conference of Climate Scientist, NEAA [Netherland Environmental Assessment Agency] proposed a low-cost solution that would save the world 50% to 80% of the US$40 trillion required to halt climate change.

The proposed Solution is "A Global shift to a Low-meat diet".

According to UN FAO 2006 Livestock Long Shadow report,
70% of the world's agriculture land is used for the livestock industry. [including land for grazing, land to grow feed crops for the animals, and land for the animal industries.]

If the world shifts to a low-meat diet [a diet that we have 30 years back. Mostly plant-based with a little meat on special occasions.], the meat production could be reduced by 1/2.
Thus, the 70% agriculture land used by livestock industries could be shrinked by 1/2 to about 35%.
This would free up 35% of agriculture land which could be used to grow forest. The forest would help to absorb CO2 and protect water resources.

More information could be seen at :
http://www.pbl.nl/en/publications/2009/Climate-benefits-of- changing-diet.html

If the world are to go for a fully vegetarian diet, it would save up to 70% of the cost. [i.e. US$30 trillion !!!]

So it's Economical to Be Veg, Go Green, and Save the planet. :>

20 year ban on fishing

Countries discuss 20 ban on fishing on 30% of ocean:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkNCRdqr93k

Good News! :>
Countries discussed a 20 year ban on fishing on 30% of the worlds ocean to preserve fish stocks. This is a vast increase from the 0.8% that was previously protected.
Currently [2009], 75% of the worlds fisheries are depleted of fishes, so this is a timely measure to protect the world's ocean from large scale commerical fishing.

EU reduce subsidise for meat

EU reduces subsidise for Meat:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUEU2PbCLzw

Good News. European Union reduce subsidize for meat industry to reduce green house gas emissions. World government bodies are taking action now to address this urgent issue. :>
Let's hope more world leaders take up this issue and move the planet back to a sustainable way of living. [At least to the diet that we have 30 years back. Mostly plant-based, with a little meat on special occasions.]

STOP METHANE-A Main Contributor To Global Warming

STOP METHANE-A Main Contributor To Global Warming:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0MjZiT_gdM

Scientists are increasing aware that CO2 is only halve the picture in the Global Warming Situation. Another GW gas that they found is Methane. CH4 which has 72 times the Global Warming Potiential of CO2 [ CH4 warms the atmosphere 72 times more than CO2] over a 20 year peroid.

The good news is that CH4 is a short term gas. Most of it would cycle out of the environment within 10 years. [ CO2 will cycle out of the env in hundreds of years]

Thus, if we cut off the methane production. CH4 would cycle out
within 10 years and the planet would have 'immediate cooling'

Let's hope world leaders act fast to reduce this potent green house gas. We, as citzens, can also help by going for a low-meat / more plant based diet. [Livestock industry produce 37% of the world's CH4, and 65% of the World's N2O [A green house gas 297 times more powerful than CO2]

The Secret -- Planet Earth

The Secret - Planet Earth: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jP8CC2rKj4

A wonderful video clip on Earth, it's majestic sceneries and the plants & animals that lives it. :)

EU to reduce subsidies for meat to reduce Green House Emissions

Share a good news.

For many years, the governments in the world have been subsidising the meat industry heavily because they thought that the meat diet is good for their citizen's health.
The subsidies in US and EU [European Union] are so large that it amounts to billions of US / EU dollars.

Howard Lyman on Subsidies for Hamburgers in US:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2axj4GHI0U

EU Subsidies on Meat consumption:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTVvgMwAfLU

However, in recent years, the world governments became aware that the meat industries are a serious treat to the environment. They also realize that it is not rationale to use large amount of tax payers money to subsidise large-scale animal agriculture that drives deforestation, pollutes the water/land, deplete the world's food & water resources and emits lots of green house gases.

Thus, some government bodies such as European Union have discussed and decided to reduce the amount of subsidise that is given to the meat industry:
EU decided to reduce subsidies for meat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUEU2PbCLzw

With the removal of subsidies, the price of meat should increase to reflect what it truly cost to the environment.

This is a movement in the right direction and let's hope with increased awareness on thedeverstating effects large-scale animal agriculture has on the environment, more governments would join in and lead their citizens to a less-meat, more plant-based diet that 'cost what it truely cost, without the heavy subsidy of the taxpayers'.

Cheers & onward with the environmental movement,
Low ck