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

Invitation to free GW Presentation at Aljuni area on 19 Jun [Friday] evening 7 to 9pm

Dear friends,

Do you wish to know how climate change is affecting the planet?
Do you wonder what will happen to the planet if the world’s temperature increases by 1/2/3 or 5/6 degrees?

How much time does leading scientists think the world has before it reaches a point where climate change becomes irreversible? How much time do we have to act on this issue?
Do you wonder why the world is facing food and water shortages?
Do you wish to know what effective measures prominent scientist such as NASA’s director Dr Jame’s Hansen and UN IPCC Chairman Dr Rajendra Pachauri recommend to curb global warming?

What are the latest findings of climate scientists in the recent Mar 09 Copenhagen conference in Denmark?

If you are concern about these questions, you are welcome to attend a presentation on “Global Warming : It’s Science / it’s Effects and Solutions” to be held on Friday [19 Jun] evening at Kampong Senang Holistic Lifestyle Center. The session is held free-of-charge as a service to planet Earth and mankind.

To register for this event, please send an email to cklowck@yahoo.com.sg.
[The first 50 participants who register will receive a free video CD that contains the latest interviews with leading climate scientist on the issue of climate change. Please collect the CD at the registration counter on 19 Jun.]
Alternatively, you may attend the event and register on-site. :>

Event Details:
Presentation and Q & A
Title: “Global Warming : It’s Science / it’s Effects and Solutions”
Date: Friday 19 June 2009 Time: 7.15pm to 9.00pm
Cost: Free
Venue: Kampong Senang Holistic Lifestyle Centre & Eco Harmony Kitchen, Blk 106, Aljunied Crescent, Unit 01-205 (at ground floor of block)
[5 minutes walk from Arjuni MRT]

If you are interested, you are welcome to attend the event. [You can register on-site]

The session consists of a 1 hr presentation and a 45 min Question & Answer discussion.

The presentation showcases the effects that climate change has on various parts of the world. [including Arctic Ice melts/ Sea level rises/ extreme weather conditions/ droughts/ floods / stronger hurricanes etc.] It studies the possible dangers if human continue ‘business as usual’ and explore possible solutions to climate change. The presentation features interviews with top climate scientists [such as NASA Director and UN IPCC scientists] and showcases what scientists & environmentalist recommends as the effective solutions to climate change. It also touches on issues such as deforestation, factory farming, food & water shortage, and world hunger.

The Q&A would encourage further discussions in line with the questions that participants asked.

Speaker information:
Mr Low Chip Khoon is a teacher in a local school and a leader of a Global Warming Study team in an Eco-friendly association. He has researched into the subject of Global warming since the end of 2007. Recently, spurred by the urgency of the situation, he has compiled his research information and shared with teachers / colleagues and association members. He has conducted Global warming assembly talks and GW sharing sessions during Contact Time in school. He has also shared GW information with interested parties via hospital talks, company lunch talks and environmental dialogue sessions with NTU/NIE/NUS students. He believes that, provided with the necessary information, many people will choose to adopt an eco-friendly lifestyle to curb global warming & preserve life on the planet.
[SOS Global warming blog: http://www.sosglobalwarming-ck.blogspot.com/]

For enquiries, please contact me at 9826 4795.

Cheers and onwards with the environmental movement. :>
Low ck

Share research website on Global Warming

Hi friends,

Share a Global Warming website with lots of interviews with leading climate scientists:
http://www.suprememastertv.com/sos-global-warming/scientists-on-climate-change.html

The website contains interviews with NASA Scientists, UN IPCC panel scientists and university professors on the issue of climate change. Solutions that are recommended includes organic farming, reafforestation, green energy and a shift to a more environmentally friendly plant- based diet.

Happy researching

Six Degrees Could Change The World 1

Six Deg could change the world [1 to 3 deg] :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pm6hkAPxWqQ

What would happen to the world if it warms up by 1 to 3 degrees? A well-researched documentary by National Geographic.

Six Degrees Could Change The World 2

Six Deg could change the world [4 to 6 deg] :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSKrJ4akeCk

How the world would change, if it warms by 4 to 6 degrees.
A documentary by National Geographic.
5-6 degrees is equivalent to a global wipe out. : /

Majestic Documentary 'Home'

Share a nice movie "Home" that a friend send to me :>

The entire 1hr 30 mins movie is available in youtube.
[The producer produce the movie to share with the whole world :> ]
Generous of him and generous of the sponsors. :> ]

The movie is :

Majestic, Grand, Colorful,
Full of exotic sceneries,
Beautifully narrated : >

Well researched,
Thoughtfully made,
Generously shared,

Shows a grieve message,
offers hope for the future
[if everyone works together,]
in this urgent times.

A must-see for all who are concern of the planet

Here's the link, "Home" :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxENMKaeCU

[I haven't seen such beautiful / colourful, well-made movie for years. :P]

Happy viewing and spread the message,

Low ck

Earth Song: Children of the Earth

A nice song: "Children of the Earth"

Organic farming reduce CO2 in the air up to 40%

Hi friends,

Share some info on how organic farming/ permaculture helps to reduce Global Warming :>

http://www.suprememastertv.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=sos_video&wr_id=81&goto_url=&url=link1_0


Research from Rodal Institute, USA states that
If all the world's 3.5 trillion acres of tillable land switched to organic farming, up to 40% of the current CO2 could be absorbed by the farm lands !!

[2008 Rodal Report "Regenerative Organic Farming : A Solution to Global Warming":
http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/files/Rodale_Research_Paper-07_30_08.pdf
Pg 2 "Even though climate and soil type affect [CO2] sequestration capacities, these multiple research efforts verify that practical organic agriculture if practiced on the planet's 3.5 billion tillable acres, could sequester nearly 40 % of current CO2 emissions."]

...........

Here’s a video on organic farming and climate change on Quantumshifttv :>

From Quantumshift TV:Soil: The Secret Solution to Global Warming
http://www.quantumshift.tv/browse/videos/search.php?TheSearch=SOIL%3A+The+Secret+Solution+to+Global+Warming&x=37&y=19
http://www.quantumshift.tv/v/1181025091/

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

India, Philippines are shifting more to organic farming. Philippine farmers are even using organic farming to produce vege burger patties :> :)
Hope the other countries join in soon :>

…….


Another effective way to curb global warming is by switching to a vege/vegan diet

Global shift to vegan diet could cut climate change mitigation cost by 80%:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dA5gxtmrTHs

Meat the facts on Global Warming:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzPoab9_Lac

Hope you enjoy the videos :>


Cheers,
Low ck

More info on Swine Flu

Hi friends,

Ever since I send the 2005 World watch report on "Factory farming and the spread of disease", there has been quite a bit of response. :>

A journalist friend send me some Newspaper articles in line with the report.

Thus I'll share some Newspaper reports + CNN News + SMTV news on 'Swine Flu'.

Guardian Newspaper report:
"The swine flu crisis lays bare the meat industry's monstrous power"http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/apr/27/swine-flu-mexico-health

TODAY Newspaper version: "When Meat really is murder"http://www.todayonline.com/articles/316784.asp
[ I'm glad that a local newspaper report on this issue too. ]

CNN Reports Swine Flu : Inhumane Factory Farming Root Cause http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5rd2_d4HWc&feature=related

SMTV Swine Flu and Factory Farming:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3czJXnUqys&feature=related

SMTV Swine Flu updates:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x4sXb64bnM&feature=related

"Avoid Factory farm products, adopt a plant-based diet."
for both personal and planetary health.

With concern,
Low ck

Research on Swine Flu

Hi friends,

Concern about the recent Swine Flu, I did some research into this issue.

In a 2005 World Watch Paper: "Happier meals: Rethinking the global meat industry", produced by World watch institute, the paper already warned of such an epidemic. The 90-page paper studies the impact of factory farms on animals, human and the environment and includes a chapter on "Factory farms contribution to the Spreading of Disease".
In that chapter, the paper states that the unsanitary conditions, close concentration and genetic uniformity of animals in large factory farms facilitate the emergence and spread of new diseases.

The paper observed that Avian flu has been around for centuries but Only during the last 10 years has the disease really changed, mutating into a form that can jump the species barrier and affect humans.
It says that Avian flu is not confined to birds.
"Far more worrisome is the finding that avian flu can spread directly to pigs and to humans. In places with high concentration of pigs and chickens, pigs can serve as a mixing vessel for the virus because of their genetic similarity to humans."
& Now the world is experiencing pig flu, which is a mutated version of a common strain H1N1 that infected pigs. The mutated strain has genetic elements of avian, swine and human influenza.

The World Watch paper also warns that
"Factory farms provide the perfect conditions for disease to spread from livestock to people and epidemiologists are warning of a potentially massive outbreak of disease in congested urban areas near factory farms. "
And now we are having swine flu that spreads from the factory farms in Mexico to the citizens of Mexico and now to other parts of the world.

In short, factory farms with it's high concentration of animals and unsanitary conditions are a fertile ground for viruses to mutate and to spread. Factory farms not only produce large amounts of manure that pollutes the environment but also contributes significantly to the formation and spreading of new diseases.

Considering the above fact, please DO NOT support the factory farms.
Sadly, most of the world's meat are generated by factory farms.
The World Watch paper states that in 2004, Factory farms generated 74% of the worlds poultry products [mostly chicken/ some ducks & geese], 50% of the world's pork, 43% of the world's beef & 68% of the world's eggs. The 2009 figures could only be higher. :<
The production of meat has a very high environmental cost and meat can be as cheap as it is today because of the huge amount of subsidize that is given to the factory farms.
Factory farms are there because of the high demand for meat in the world.
Please make an environmental message today,

DO NOT support the Factory Farms.

For your personal health and the health of the Planet,
Please take less meat, eat more vege.

UN IPCC chairman Doctor Rajendra Pachuri urges the world to "start taking plant-based [vege] meals at least one day a week. And then further reduce [meat consumption] from there."
With Avian flu, swine flu, and all the other animal-related diseases, there is more reason to heed his call now.

With concern, Low ck

2 youtube videos with strong env message

Came across 2 powerful youtube videos on with environmental messages:
1. Save the Human MTV:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Q4rdx7frHM
Various artists states the fact and urge humans to save the Human and the Planet. Produced in Hong Kong.

2. Meat the Facts on Global Warming:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiYghMmFc_8
This video hits on all fronts, informing people about the various effects of Diet n environment. Deforestation/ Water Food resources/ Green house gas emissions/ Hunger / Inequality / Pollution / Global Warming etc. 3 minute powerful video.

Watch n Pass it on :> :>

Reforestation by Willie Smith

Share an inspirational TED speech on reforestation.

The following is a 20 min speech on Reforstation by Willie Smith,
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/willie_smits_restores_a_rainforest.html

By piecing together a complex ecological puzzle, biologist Willie Smits has found a way to re-grow clearcut rainforest in Borneo, saving local orangutans and vast areas of forest -- and creating a thrilling blueprint for restoring fragile ecosystems.

Enjoy

NASA Director, Dr James Hansen, calls for less coal and meat

Dr James Hansen, NASA Director on Less Coal, Less Meat:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lbtat_9wbQ

NASA Director, Dr James Hansen. [Also Known as 'Father of Climate Change" as he is the first scientist to warn the world about Climate change.] recommends less coal and less meat to curb climate change. He stress that, to reduce green house gas emissions, we have to look at our agricultural practice too.
The best individual action to reduce greenhouse gas emission
is to switch to a plant based diet.

Scientists on urgency of Global Warming

Scientist from US National Snow and Ice Center
and UN IPCC chief speaks on the urgency of Global Warming.
They warned that we have 2-5 years to adopt changes to prevent irreversible Climate change.

Methane Time Bomb

As the Arctic sea warms up, the Methane hydrates beneath the ocean is melting , releasing millions of tons of Methane [a green house gas 23 times GWP that of CO2] into the atmosphere.

Recently, a Sep report from UK states that a Russian research ship has discovered that methane is bubbling up from thousands of square mile in the Siberian continental shelf.

The methane time bomb:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/exclusive-the-methane-time-bomb-938932.html

This is a phenomenal that the scentist are greatly worried about, because there is huge amounts of Methane hydrates beneath the Arctic oceans. [A Newspaper report shows that there is about 400 gigatons of Methane locked in the Arctic tandra.
Reference : http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1215-24.htm]

If a portion of those were to melt, it would trigger "Run away global warming". :/ :/ :X

The meltdown would lead to more global warming, causing less ice, warmer sea and in turn more meltdown. It is a positive feedback loop that acts upon itself. :(

The situation is urgent now, we have to do all we can to reduce green house gas emissions
now. Including switching to a vegetarian diet which will take away 20% green house gas emission by the livestock industries, reduce deforestation, and reduce environmental destruction.

Let's all make some lifestyle changes, for the planet, for ourselves and for our future generation.

With best wishes,
Low ck