Global Warming & "THE RIGHT TO LIVE"

In my first blog, I wrote about the issue of Global Warming affecting the common man. We talk about various rights like the human rights, right to freedom, right to independence, right to religion, right against exploitation, right to equality etc. The issue of Global Warming questions our most basic right - "RIGHT TO LIVE". People might find my views a bit extreme and think "this can't be true". But, on one hand we are planning for our career growh, children's education, our retired life, our dream houses etc.....what are we doing to plan for a safe place for us and our children to exist.

I am not writing this off the hat, but I will quote the news that appeared in small columns in some newspapers

Glaciers In China And Tibet Fading Fast
ScienceDaily (Feb. 22, 2009) — Glaciers that serve as water sources to one of the most ecologically diverse alpine communities on earth are melting at an alarming rate, according to a recent report.
A three-year study, to be used by the China Geological Survey Institute, shows that glaciers in the Yangtze source area, central to the Qinghai-Tibet plateau in south-western China, have receded 196 square kilometres over the past 40 years.
Glaciers at the headwaters of the Yangtze, China's longest river, now cover 1,051 square kilometres compared to 1,247 square kilometres in 1971, a loss of nearly a billion cubic metres of water, while the tongue of the Yuzhu glacier, the highest in the Kunlun Mountains fell by 1,500 metres over the same period.
Melting glacier water will replenish rivers in the short term, but as the resource diminishes drought will dominate the river reaches in the long term. Several major rivers including the Yangtze, Mekong and Indus begin their journeys to the sea from the Tibetan Plateau Steppe, one of the largest land-based wilderness areas left in the world.
“Once destroyed it will be extremely difficult to restore the high-altitude ecosystems,” said Dr Li Lin, head of Conservation Strategies for WWF-China. “If industrialized and developing countries do not focus their efforts on cutting emissions, some of this land will be lost forever and local populations will be displaced.”
Glacier retreat has become a major environmental issue in Tibet, particularly in the Chang Tang region of northern Tibet. The glacier melting poses severe threats to local nomads’ livelihoods and the local economy.
The most common impact is that lakes are increasing due to glacier melting and some of the best pastures are submerged. Meanwhile small glaciers are disappearing due to the speed of glacier melting and drinking water has become a major issue.

We humans are selfish by nature and we always think and plan with "ME" in mind. The focus needs to shift to "THEM" our children, our next generation. The industrial revolution and the changes that have taken place over the last 50 years have done inexplicable damage to our planet and the environment. This change cannot be reversed but can be slowed down ....by all of us and not a handful of political leaders.

Stay tuned for the next blog!!!

Global Warming to a Common Man

Global Warming - the latest buzz word and it seems like everyone is talking about it. One would think that this phrase GLOBAL WARMING is something which is used by the most powerful world leaders in each one of their speeches. So, to me a face in the crowd, Global Warming is not for me to think or worry about. Unfortunately, this is the true stituation in the world today. The world leaders go to summits, sign some thick fancy looking agreements and then forget them in some unknown place in their precious offices till the next summit comes up. The problem is not with them, the problem is with us. We are trying to close our eyes as the bold symptoms of Global warming stare us right in our faces.

How many of us have really wanted to know "What is Global Warming?", "What causes it?", "What can happen if we don't put a stop to it?", "What is being done to address it?", "Who is taking real actions on this global issue?" and the most important question "What can I do to contribute to this cause?"

I am no subject matter expert on Global warming but I do have the passion and the concern about this problem. I want to do something about it even though it may not be significant. I am concerned for the well being of my children who are too young at the moment. I feel truly responsible and at times guilty for having brought them to this world. I may have a chance to live another 20-30 years but I am not sure whether they can live upto 50 years of their age. We are not leaving a single stone unturned to ruin this planet.

Global leaders talk about stopping or cutting down on carbon emissions but nobody talks about holiday cruises to Antartica - a sure short way of bringing us closer to our dooms day!!! Do a google search and see how many hits will you find on holiday in Antartica. Do the world leaders not know about it???

The world leaders always want the problems to be addressed for the Europe & North America first...be it the Global Financial Crisis, Global Warming or Global Terrorism. Their countries create the problems and want the rest of the world to help them to find solutions. Today, there are no active organisations addressing the Global warming initiatives in Asia Pac. The drought in Australia, hardly any rains in Singapore this year, the weather changes in India, snow in UAE, the rise in temperatures are not sheer coincidences but bold symptoms of how global warming is impacting our day to day lives.

I feel, we need to have lot of awareness programs and given the two powerful medias Television & Internet, we all could do a fair bit to slow down the wrath of Global Warming.

I will write more on this issue, in my next blog...