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SAVE OUR PLANET - China experiences severe drought. In contrast to the freezing rain
and heavy snow in southern China, the country's northern, eastern, and central regions have
faced their driest weather in 60 years, with the capital city Beijing having recorded 82
days since the last rainfall. Of the nine provinces affected by water shortages, six
produce more than 80% of the nation’s staple wheat crop, raising concerns about increased
food prices. As of Monday, January 24, over 4 million hectares of crops across the nation
were affected by the prolonged dry conditions. In Shandong province alone, 240,000 people
currently depend on deliveries from fire trucks for drinking water, and about 2 million hectares,
or over half of its wheat fields, have been affected. The provincial government has promised
US$3 million in relief aid. Meanwhile in Henan Province, which produces a quarter of the
nation’s wheat, the government has allocated US$32 million to recover from the severe dry
conditions that include 86% reduced precipitation compared to last year.
We pray that the weather in the affected regions quickly balances through the blessing of adequate
rain for the Chinese people as all of humanity acts in gentler care to protect resources
and all planetary inhabitants.
During a March 2009 videoconference in the United States, Supreme Master Ching Hai discussed
the increasingly precarious situation of dry weather, while highlighting the most effective
action needed to preserve especially the Earth’s precious water.
Videoconference with Supreme Master Ching Hai
March 7, 2009 – California, USA
Supreme Master Ching Hai: At a time when we have water shortage and all the reservoirs
are dwindling at such an alarming rate, we are truly afraid that even if we don’t take
shower at all, it will not do much help because all the human uses and everything comes together
is only 30% of water around the world. Everything else is mostly used for meat industry. Meat
industry should be cut. That will help the planet. That will help to reserve our water,
to refill our lakes and our rivers again�