Showing posts with label climate change. Show all posts
Showing posts with label climate change. Show all posts

Monday, May 31, 2010

Tigers in peril in Bangladesh

I came across this story on the Al-Jazeera website. The report clearly flags an early taste of things to come as global warming changes our environment. Because of rising sea level, the farmers of the Sunderbands in Bangladesh, have been forced inland into Royal Bengal tiger territory to search for food and, as a result, have themselves become prey.


It's not appropriate to blame the tigers. From their perspective, these humans have encroached into their territory are now competing with them for food. Can't blame the humans either, their fields are now underwater and they've got to feed their families.

Imagine how many other animal-human conflicts, like this one, climate change is spawning. I wonder how we are going to respond? Hopefully we won't get caught up in an "us or them" mind-set. It would be a great tragedy if the Royal Bengal tiger population is decimated because we humans couldn't find an alternative solution. In the case of the Sunderband tigers, one alternative would be to relocate the farmers - give them land somewhere else so that both communities could carry on enjoying existing.

This situation makes me realise how ill-prepared we really are for dealing with the practicalities of climate change. For example, if the Gulf Stream turns-off, which is looking likely, most of Europe, Canada and a large proportion of the USA will be plunged into an ice-age. Our notions of nationality and ownership are going to have to be seriously revised as we open our minds, hearts and borders to the millions of people who will be permanently displaced. "Us or them" just doesn't cut it! I hope we're up to it.




Sunday, January 24, 2010

MUST WATCH MOVIE



Finally got round to watching Yann Arthus-Bertrand's remarkable movie called HOME which contains stunning photography from all over the world.  

A must see for anyone interested in the future of our beautiful planet...and our species.  The movie is about an hour and a half long. 

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

A post Copenhagen must read

Addressing climate change

By Gan Pei Ling

WORLD leaders may continue to defend themselves, but it will not change the fact that they failed to live up to the world's expectations at the 15th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15). Indeed, the Copenhagen Accord— the "deal" that governments agreed to take note of at COP15 — did not spell out the amount of greenhouse gas emissions developed countries would commit to reducing by 2020.

And so, now that COP15 is over and media attention is drawn away from climate change, what happens next? In Malaysia, what are the different stakeholders planning on doing about the accord and despite the failed negotiations in Copenhagen?


Protest in Cophenhagen on 12 Dec 2009

Click on the photo to continue reading

Sunday, January 17, 2010

CHECK THESE OUT

Just came across two goodies while surfing this morning...

The first is climateinteractive.org who have some great freeware simulations designed to improve our understanding of how changes in carbon dioxide emissions affect levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

The C-Learn and Climate Bathtub Simulators are great tools for anyone who's interested in working in the community to raise awareness about global warming. The site also has videos and other free material that are well worth checking out.


The second gem is called SixthSense and was developed by MIT grad student, Pranav Mistry. 
He's invented an affordable and wearable device that enables 
new interactions between the real world and the world of data.  
Totally blew me away...








Saturday, September 19, 2009

WOW! MALAYSIANS JOIN GLOBAL EFFORT FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

I was very heartened to see that Malaysians are joining this Avaaz event.  Check this out to find out what's planned for KL, Penang and Klang.

JOIN THE GLOBAL CLIMATE WAKE-UP CALL!

On September 21st, thousands of us are getting together in public places across the world to hold "wake-up call" events pressing our leaders to take urgent action on climate.

Global leaders have only three months to get their act together and sign a strong Climate Treaty in Copenhagen. With all kinds of events in 5 continents organised by Avaaz and our partners in the campaign, we will show our leaders that our movement is massive and unstoppable.

Click below to look at our global map and find events near you. Sign up to attend an event and invite your friends to join!

READ MORE! »

STOP LYNAS

STOP LYNAS