On today’s program, Julie Phillips, a Tule elk-people biologist and educator shares her thoughts on the inappropriateness of having ranches in a national park. “I just briefly read the mission of the national park because I think that's really important. ‘The purpose of the National Parks system is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such a manner (and) by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.’ We need these special protected lands so we can be sure we have Tule elk over time.” “There's about a thousand acres of silage that's both planted and then mowed down as feed for the cattle operations. And they mow the lawn multiple times, including during bird nesting season. So, we have documented footage of these huge lawn mowers going over this silage grass field, and native birds just being demolished during their nesting season. And then on top of this, with so much land degradation and 30% of the land being dedicated to these ranchers, it basically creates a biological graveyard for wildlife.” “I really think that if we can phase out the commercial industry and we can give the land a chance to breathe and a chance to recover… So, if we can remove the destructive force on the land, the land will heal itself. But the first thing we have to do is get rid of all the harm that's being caused by these commercial beef and dairy operations.” For decades, our most beloved Supreme Master Ching Hai has warned that raising animal-people livestock not only destroys the environment, but is the primary cause of global warming. She says that a global shift to a vegan lifestyle is essential if we want to save our planet. “If you really love your children, you would do anything, right? You would even lay down your life, but you don’t even have to lay down your life; you will be even more healthy. You just lay down piece of animal-people’s meat, which is poisonous and bad for you, bad for the environment and damaging the planet anyway, the planet that they want their children to inherit.”

Point Reyes National Seashore is a magnificent National Park located approximately 48 km (30 miles) north of San Francisco, California, USA. However, events are occurring within Point Reyes that threaten the lives of the Tule elk-people. Park authorities are allowing several cattle-people ranches and factory farms to operate within the Park, and one-third of the Park’s land has been set aside for their use. Not only are these so-called “ranches” destroying the environment, but they are also threatening the lives of the wild animal-people kingdom, especially the delicate Tule elk-people. Even worse, Park authorities are considering killing some of the Tule elk-people to protect the ranchers’ operations. Many people are deeply opposed to having factory farms on precious protected park lands. To raise awareness about this dire situation, award-winning filmmaker and photographer Tony Sehgal produced a documentary film called “The Betrayal of Point Reyes.” “When I was doing the documentary and doing all the interviews, it really became apparent to me that there was a real betrayal going on. The land was purchased with tax dollars in 1962 for about $57 million, and 27 ranchers were paid. And the intention was the land would be returned to a natural state. And so, the betrayal there is that the ranchers were supposed to leave the National Park Service and the federal government has allowed them to stay.”Many organizations have also been working diligently to raise awareness about this dire situation and have the factory farms removed. One such organization is ForELK, co-founded by Diana Oppenheim. “You don't have to be an expert to go to Point Reyes and look at the land and see that the land is completely degraded where the cattle grazing operations are. The land is completely barren.”Tony is also deeply concerned about the devastating environmental damage caused by factory farming. In fact, it was his primary reason for shifting to a vegan lifestyle. “So, the impacts of animal agriculture is just tremendous -- the amount of water required and the energy used and the pesticides used. So, by going to a plant-based diet, I realized I'm cutting out all these inputs, all this land use required. And so, it really made a lot of sense for me.”

Did you know that trees are connected by a complex hidden underground network? The trees’ root systems, called mycorrhizal networks, act as neural networks that transmit messages. The fine, hair-like root tips of trees connect together with microscopic fungal filaments to form the basic links of the network. Our Beloved Supreme Master Ching Hai has this message to share with us about trees. “Some trees are at a very high spiritual level. You have no idea. The Fifth Level. Some trees are very big and very spiritual. That's why many people meditate under trees. They feel good there. Some parks have smaller trees. Even though they're not at a high level, if they're at the Third Level, they already make us feel good. They stand there to protect the world, to stabilize our world, and to provide oxygen. They absorb CO2. It's a way to absorb (bad) karma and give blessings.” In one of Professor Simrad’s interview sessions she states, “Our worldview is wrong. We view the world as this bunch of parts, and we think we can dissect it all and put it back together the way we want and expect it to work. But it doesn’t work. Many Aboriginal people view the trees as their people, just as they view the wolves and the bears and the salmon as their relations. We’ve got to get back to that.” Let’s now conclude our show with this important message from Supreme Master Ching Hai. “The trees are helping us. Now we must protect them. They have been protecting us all these hundreds, thousands of years, so we and our children, father, mother, relatives, friends, can live and breathe and survive. And now they are in danger, because of humans’ pollution, and not caring for the planet. So, we must help them now. We are vegan, it’s a very big help. We also tell others to be vegan, to protect all living beings on this planet, so that we can continue to live. Also, we return their kindness, in gratitude. Also, we thank you for our children, and grandchildren, great-grandchildren, because we have to protect the planet, the trees, the ocean, the river, not just for us, not for our children, great-grandchildren, but, because we learn now to be more compassionate, more loving and kind to all beings.”

While walking in a garden or forest can you feel the positive energy in your surroundings? If you can feel their pleasant vibes the plants or trees may be sending you “mystical signals!” Professor Michael Pollan, an expert in plant neurobiology, explains, “They have analogous structures. They have ways of taking all the sensory data they gather in their everyday lives, integrate it and then behave in an appropriate way in response. And they do this without brains, which in a way, is what's incredible about it, because we automatically assume you need a brain to process information.” Our dear, compassionate Supreme Master Ching Hai has a loving message to share with us about the divine nature of plants and trees. “Now, trees, they do have their magical power, their healing power, loving power, and they do help you with advice and all that even. But you, the deaf, don’t hear anything, see nothing. Every grass, like a big, maybe a group of grass, every tree, has a spirit of some kind that dwells in it, takes care of the tree, or that is their dwelling place. They are assigned to stay there and that’s their home. And they do bless the surroundings; that’s their job.” Professor Claire Grierson, a plant biology expert, shares a similar view. She says, “I think plants are massively taken for granted. I think they are extremely sophisticated organisms. They are adapting exquisitely well to the changes around them all the time. I think we can learn a lot from plants philosophically.” Let’s conclude part one of this series with a fascinating revelation about plants from Supreme Master Ching Hai. “Of course, the Tree of Life symbolizes life, and the deity wants to remind us that we do not destroy life, because if we destroy other life, then we destroy our own life also. If we destroy trees, which give us oxygen and shade, and hold the soil together so that it will not be washed away, and so many things that the tree can do, and if we keep cutting them, just to raise the animal-people, then we kill the animal-people as well, then our lives will be at stake also.”

We were honored to visit Dr. Chun-Hsien Ho at Do Good House, where he shares some of his solutions to sea pollution. "I decided to first focus on plastic floats and polystyrene foam. These two have a huge impact on our marine ecology. If the wastes in the ocean can be turned into useful materials to counter global warming and environmental degradation, it would be a transformation from harming the planet to saving the planet." Dr. Ho gives us a tour of his artwork made from transforming marine waste. "Urban farming is most capable of digesting such marine wastes, which can be turned into installations for growing vegetables. As urban warming is very severe, I use these materials to create installations that require no watering to grow vegetables. When these plastic or polystyrene foam materials are fixed there, they stop getting into the environment. As they are products made from carbon derived from fossil fuels, scientifically our treatment is called carbon storage. Growing vegetables allows us to produce some foods in urban areas, so we can prepare ourselves to counter food shortages caused by environmental degradation. As we grow green vegetables, simultaneously, these green vegetables can carry out photosynthesis, which can actually help carbon reduction." All information concerning the scientific evidence of climate change and its solution is in Supreme Master Ching Hai’s Book, “From Crisis to Peace.” Free for download at: Crisis2Peace.org Dr. Ho has been invited to many schools to educate teachers and students on the concept of a sustainable, green lifestyle, as well as how to design edible landscapes. Dr. Ho also explains an effective composting method. Our many thanks to Dr. Chun-Hsien Ho for showing us his eco-friendly solutions, so that we, too, may use some of his brilliant techniques to better protect Mother Earth.

Dr. Chun-Hsien Ho of Taiwan, also known as Formosa, was once a mathematics teacher and business owner. Having obtained a Ph.D. degree in marine engineering from National Taiwan University, Dr. Ho used his problem-solving skills to build an amazing environmentally friendly and zero-energy building, named the Do Good House. His unique and efficient architectural creation earned him the Taiwan Green Building Design Award in 2011. “The construction method and techniques originated from an American architect, Nadar Khalili. I spent a lot of time adapting it to Taiwan (Formosa)’s climate. For our Do Good House, the earthbags were staggered in an arch shape. The arch is naturally quake-resistant. It requires no air conditioning, yet it is comfortably warm in the winter and cool in the summer.” “For air conditioning, I designed windows that can be pushed out. All face the southwest. So, in this house, I still adopted the design of low and high openings. Even if we come here three months later, the air will still remain fresh inside the house.” “So, for the outer coating, I chose some special breathable coating materials. I used retro Chiri floor tiles without glaze, which can absorb the water in the air when it’s humid. When the weather is good, the moisture can be let out by opening the window.” “When I started building the Do Good House, I set a goal of not relying on an urban living style, where we use a lot of electricity to maintain the temperature and our comfort. For the house itself, a lot of recycled materials were used. The soil used to build the main structure were also recycled materials. Since those bricks could serve the same function as the gravel, I got them from the owner for free. Then, I placed them under the foundation, thus giving it excellent drainability. Because there is no need for air conditioning or light during the day. So, the electricity bill is NT$42 (US$1.46) per month.”

The Amazon Rainforest, known throughout the world as the Lungs of our Planet, is in trouble. According to a study conducted by Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE), the rainforest in Brazil released about 20% more carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere than it absorbed over the period from 2010-2019. How did this happen? “Like other tropical forests, the Amazon is threatened by climate change and deforestation. An area the size of Taiwan is lost every year, mainly due to the expansion of pastures for beef production.” The researchers also believe that climate change has interfered with the rainfall in Brazil. Now scientists and organizations are findings ways to restore the Amazon Forest. “The Amazon is very near the tipping point of savannization. We have to find a way to get deforestation and forest degradation to zero very soon, in a few years, and also to restore huge areas. This is our great challenge; we have to save the Amazon.” The root cause of the Amazon forest’s destruction is meat consumption. Supreme Master Ching Hai explained the impact of livestock raising on the Amazon and how to recover it in a media interview with Irish Journalist Dr. Ben Murnane. “Eighty percent of the Amazon’s deforested lands are converted to grazing pastures for cattle-people. Of the remaining deforested land, the majority is used for growing soy. Eighty-five percent of the world’s soy is fed to the cattle-people that will be slaughtered for human consumption. So, the Amazon’s destruction is clearly linked to meat production. The melting in Antarctica can also be directly related to livestock raising, again because the heat-trapping potential of methane being so much higher than CO2. In addition, 60% of the black carbon that was found accelerating the Antarctic melt was coming from the burning of rainforest for livestock raising. Everything points in the same direction; that is, meat diet. If we stop consuming animal-people products, much of this lethal source is eliminated and the heat it creates will also disappear. In fact, along with stopping meat consumption we all need to pray for forgiveness. This, too, is part of the Earth’s recovery, the awareness of the suffering caused by humanity and the true desire to reverse this action and to do good instead.”

In today’s program Dr. Carter speaks about a dangerous feedback loop produced by climate change: the ever-increasing number of wildfires occurring around the world. “I was absolutely shocked to my core. Because just earlier this month, we had more fires in the Amazon than I've ever seen, like, way, way, way more. And this is early in the Amazon fire season. These fires produce massive amounts of carbon dioxide, but also a lot of methane. And also, of course, black carbon soot going up in the air.”Dr. Carter warns that Earth’s situation has reached an absolutely critical level, and that we must take immediate steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “If we continue to emit, there's no question, no question about what's going to happen. The Earth is going to become an intolerable place to live in, with intolerable heat waves. But those heat waves won't just be intolerable; they will trash our crops.”“We're looking at billions of people not able to survive because of starvation, water deprivation. And then of course, you pile on the diseases. For many, many, many years, the infectious disease experts, we’ve just had an experience of it with COVID-19, have warned us that all of the infectious and communicable diseases are going to be increased by putting up the global temperature. And lots of floods. It's a suicidal recipe.”Scientific evidence shows that the number one cause of global warming is raising livestock, which creates more greenhouse gases than all forms of transportation and the burning of fossil fuels combined. Thus, despite his grave concerns about climate change, Dr. Carter believes there is a simple, highly effective solution to the current crisis. “The most effective, definitely effective, immediately effective, readily doable action that everybody in the world can do is go vegan. In theory, we can all do that. If we do that, emissions drop immediately. And we know, and the research confirms that in all aspects, organic agriculture, mixed with hedgerows, woodlots, is the best form of agriculture.”

Peter Carter, MD, has been involved in climate change research for several decades. In 1993 he founded the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and in 2009 the Climate Emergency Institute. Dr. Carter is an expert reviewer for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and the co-author of “Unprecedented Crime: Climate Science Denial and Game Changers for Survival.” A highly renowned speaker, he has given presentations at scientific and climate change conferences around the world. On today’s program we present excerpts from an interview with Dr. Peter Carter conducted in November 2020 by Roger Hallam, co-founder of UK-based global environmental movement Extinction Rebellion. “Recent research just published a couple of weeks ago (shows) atmospheric carbon dioxide is now the highest in 23 million years. That's insane. That's absolute climate crazy. We are increasing the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere faster than (at any time) in the past 40 million years.”“The NOAA (US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) publishes an Arctic ‘report card’ every year. In 2016 they said, with a long chapter with great illustrations, that the Arctic permafrost, warming, thawing, and emitting, had switched the Arctic from a carbon sink to a carbon source. So, this is Earth catastrophe news. This is Earth catastrophe, actual, not modeling, actual scientific findings today.”To halt potentially devastating effects, Dr. Carter recommends that greenhouse gas emissions be reduced to zero as quickly as possible. “This is not only the only right target, it's the only target which gives us a chance, a fighting chance, the only target which gives our children hope. It's a must that the whole world aims for this target, and in a united and pretty aggressive way.” Scientific evidence shows that raising livestock causes more global warming than all forms of transportation combined. Supreme Master Ching Hai frequently reminds us that the fastest, most effective solution to climate change is widespread adoption of the organic vegan lifestyle.

Where does the oxygen we breathe come from? Many might say it comes from trees but the fact is that most of the atmosphere’s oxygen is produced by marine plants. According to the United States National Park Services, ocean plants provide about 70 to 80 percent of the oxygen on Earth, making them extremely important in climate change mitigation. Have you ever seen seagrasses? They have roots, stems, and leaves, and are the only flowering plants that grow entirely underwater. Approximately 72 different seagrass species exist on the planet. In 1999, Posidonia fields in Ibiza and Formentera were declared world heritage sites by UNESCO. There is a reason the seagrass has been named after the Greek God of the Seas. One hectare of Posidonia produces a hundred thousand liters of oxygen per day. This is five times more oxygen than a hectare produces in the Amazon rainforest. It also absorbs three times as much CO2 as the rainforest. This makes the Posidonia of essential importance against climate change. Understanding the importance of seagrass, many organizations have been taking action to restore these underwater meadows. Seagrass Ocean Rescue is a joint effort project between Project Seagrass, WWF and Swansea University, and aims to inspire future projects across the UK and the world. Phytoplankton are microscopic algae, an essential part of the marine food chain, living throughout the ocean’s surface waters. These tiny organisms have been producing at least 50% of Earth’s oxygen for hundreds of millions of years. Macroalgae such as kelp have gas-filled bladders that help them float toward the surface where they receive more sunlight for photosynthesis, absorbing CO2 and releasing oxygen. Many studies have shown the potential of seaweed farming to counter climate change as deforestation decimates rainforests and other crucial carbon sinks. Indonesia is the world’s second biggest seaweed exporter after China. Once processed, this valuable resource can be used in everything from food to cosmetics. Restorative aquaculture can help address some of the biggest challenges facing our seas, such as coastal pollution, habitat degradation, and climate impacts.

Greta, whose efforts to halt climate change have been internationally recognized, has received numerous honors and awards, including the Shining World Heroine Award and the Normandy Freedom Prize of France, was named Time’s youngest-ever “Person of the Year,” and was listed by Forbes as one of the “World’s Most Powerful Women.” Greta first heard about global warming at school when she was eight. She was deeply concerned and started reading everything she could find about climate change. When she discovered that raising livestock is the foremost cause of greenhouse gas emissions, she immediately adopted a vegan lifestyle and insisted that her family do the same. Thus, in August 2018, Greta began protesting every Friday in front of Stockholm’s Parliament buildings. She stood alone, holding a hand-made sign reading, “School Strike for Climate.” When reporters asked her why she was not in school, she said that climate change was more urgent than education, and we must change the way we live if future generations are to survive. As awareness of her cause grew, Greta began to receive numerous speaking engagements. In December 2018, she addressed world leaders at the United Nations Conference of Parties (COP)- 24 Climate Change Conference in Katowice, Poland. “Our house is on fire. I am here to say, ‘Our house is on fire.’ According to the IPCC, we are less than 12 years away from not being able to undo our mistakes.”In May 2021, Greta helped make a short film called “#ForNature.” In this powerful documentary, Greta clearly explains in her own words the connection between raising livestock and the many crises facing our world today: pandemics, biodiversity loss, climate change, and more. She tells viewers that to simultaneously solve all of these problems we must make a global shift to the compassionate, noble vegan lifestyle.Greta not only wants all people to adopt the vegan lifestyle, but she also wants world leaders to truly assume their leadership role. She sent the following tweet to her millions of followers: “We – the 99.9 percent – have a responsibility to put pressure on the 0.1 percent in charge who refuse to stop the ongoing destruction of present and future living conditions for life on Earth.”

With the average global temperature now standing at 1.1 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, many devastating weather-related events have been taking place around the globe, including floods, landslides, heat waves, and droughts. “The wildfires burning in Russia now are bigger than all the fires raging across the globe combined, bigger than those in the US, Canada, Turkey and Greece put together.” By mid-August 2021, the Dixie fire became the largest single wildfire in California history, having incinerated more than 200,000 hectares (500,000 acres), and destroying numerous structures. Across the Strait of Messina, in Sicily, as temperatures soared to 48.8°C (120°F), the highest ever recorded in Europe, fires burned mercilessly across the island. “NASA and the European Space Agency have released satellite photos showing just how widespread forest fires are right now. As well as near record flames in California, this image shows heavy wildfires in South America and Africa. It's a warning from space: the planet is burning faster than many of us realize.” And humans were not the only ones affected. On the Kazakh steppe, many animals were left without food or water, and in Mangistau province, more than 1,000 horses, cattle and sheep perished. The IPCC report concludes that the fastest way to save the planet from runaway global warming is to reduce methane gas emissions. The report states that, not only is methane many times “hotter” than CO2 in its warming potential, but cutting methane emissions gives much quicker results, because methane disappears from the atmosphere in only 20 years, compared to hundreds of years for CO2. One of the primary sources of methane gas is the raising of livestock. Our most beloved Supreme Master Ching Hai similarly recommends that reducing methane gas emissions is the fastest way to halt global warming. “We don’t have time now. We don’t have other choices now. PLEASE BE VEGAN. PLEASE BE VEGAN, MAKE PEACE. The vegan diet will stop global warming. So cut the methane by implementing the vegan diet. Then our planet will cool quickly also, scientifically speaking.”

United Nations Secretary- General António Guterres says, “The internationally agreed threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius is perilously close,” adding, “Making peace with nature is the defining task of the 21st century. It must be the top priority for everyone, everywhere.” Under the blistering heat, Greenland’s ice sheets began to melt at an unprecedented rate. Scientists reported that in one day, July 27, 2021, the amount of ice melted could cover the US state of Florida with five cm (2 in) of water. The Greenland ice sheets contain enough water to raise global sea levels by seven meters, a change that would displace millions of people. Marine life was also affected. Christopher Harley, a marine biologist at the University of British Columbia, estimates that more than one billon marine animals along Canada’s Pacific coast perished from the heat. As he walked along the seashore, Mr. Harley was deeply saddened by the sight of countless dead mussels killed by the blistering heat during low tide. Madagascar is facing its worst drought in 40 years, caused by years of failed rains and intensified by a series of sandstorms. According to the World Food Program, one in six children under five in Madagascar is now suffering from acute malnutrition, and more than one million people are “food insecure.” Mami Mizutori, the U.N. secretary general’s special representative for disaster risk reduction, says, “Drought is on the verge of becoming the next pandemic, and there is no vaccine to cure it. Most of the world will be living with water stress in the next few years.”Our most benevolent Supreme Master Ching Hai frequently reminds us about the urgency of halting global warming. She warns that the situation is now extremely critical, and on August 10, 2021 made the following plea to the world. “PLEASE TURN TO THE VEGAN DIET, TO RESCUE YOUR LIVES, YOUR CHILDREN’S LIVES, AND EVERY OTHER BEING’S ON THIS PLANET. Please, truly. Please wake up. Please wake your inner God’s Light nature up. Be merciful, if we want to have mercy. PLEASE, WE ARE ALL IN DANGER. PLEASE WAKE UP. PLEASE PRAY. PLEASE BE VEGAN. That’s all you have to do. BE VEGAN, MAKE PEACE.”

In 2019, a team of scientists did a heavy metal analysis of soil and plant samples around the Murgul copper mine in eastern Turkey. The team studied the presence of trace elements such as copper, zinc, and cadmium in soils and plants. The results showed high concentrations of toxicity for most of the trace metal ions. In 2020, research showed that the release of toxic materials in Arizona had “soared” due to waste from both copper mines and the smelting of copper. The rare-earth elements (REE) are 17 silvery-white soft heavy metals that play a major role in making essential components for smart phones, computers, and many other electronic devices. However, the mining of REE can cause problems for the environment and for human health due to the large amounts of toxic and radioactive materials that result from the co-extraction of the radioactive metals thorium and uranium. In July 2019, an article published by the Yale School of the Environment at Yale University, USA, described how the removal of REE from the Earth’s crust, using a mix of water and chemicals, caused extensive water and soil pollution at a former mining site in Longnan County, Jiangxi Province, China. Dr. Günther Hilpert, Head of the Asia Research Division of SWP, further explains that extracting just one ton of rare earth elements produces 2,000 tons of toxic waste, and the process has devastated large regions of China. Ma Jun, a leading Chinese environmentalist and Director of China’s Institute for Public and Environmental Affairs, said in a phone interview, “To us as an environmental group, we hope that the environmental damage can stop and that these external (pollution costs) could be internalized in the cost of products.” Our beloved Supreme Master Ching Hai reminds us not to harm the environment and not to use up our precious Earth’s natural resources. “Every country should help each other to develop more sustainable energy for our shared planet as well as to protect the health of the people and the animals. We just cannot burn away or use up all our precious natural resources, and in the process harm our environment. We must adopt sustainable, green, frugal lifestyles which will support all life on the planet.”

On August 9, 2021, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). Drawing on more than 14,000 scientific studies, the IPCC report provides a detailed picture of how climate change is altering our world. “The world is dangerously close to runaway warming, and greenhouse gas levels are high enough to guarantee climate disruption for decades. Here are some of the report's main takeaways: Humans are to blame: full stop.” Weather extremes once considered rare or unprecedented are becoming more common. Severe heat waves that happened only once every 50 years are now happening roughly once a decade. Tropical cyclones are getting stronger. And most land areas are seeing more rain or snowfall in a year. Severe droughts are happening 1.7 times as often. And fire seasons are getting longer and more intense.As Earth’s temperatures rise the number of floods also increase. In mid-July 2021, a devastating flood occurred in western Germany, where more than 182 mm (7.2 in) of rain fell in just 72 hours. Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands also suffered extensive flooding, and thousands of residents in the Netherlands were urged to evacuate their homes. In mid-July, a massive storm in Henan province in central China produced a years’ worth of rain in just 72 hours. It was estimated that 13 million people were affected. Also in July 2021, in India’s western state of Maharashtra, at least 180 people died when torrential rains flooded low-lying areas and caused numerous landslides. And these are only some of the many floods and resulting landslides that occurred around the world between June and early August 2021. Our most gracious Supreme Master Ching Hai has spoken many times about the extreme dangers of climate change. Quoting scientific evidence, She explains that raising livestock is the primary cause of global warming, and that the only way to halt its occurrence is through worldwide adoption of the vegan lifestyle. She also warns that we are in imminent danger, and must change our ways quickly.

Did you know that gold mining is one of the world’s most ecologically destructive industries? Gold mining has ravaged landscapes, contaminated water supplies, and contributed to the destruction of vital ecosystems. Often, gold mining processes leave in their wake extensive soil erosion and contamination of streams or other bodies of water with mercury, a toxic liquid metal. In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations met to push forward action to halt the damaging effects of artisanal and small-scale gold mining on human health and the environment. Regarding this issue, WHO senior scientist Dr. Magaran Bagayoko says, “Small scale gold mining is a crucial source of income for millions of Africans, but it is often dangerous, damaging, and in the worst cases, deadly, for artisanal miners. Exposure to elemental mercury can cause life-long disability, kidney failure, and speech, sight, and cognitive impairment. Pregnant women and children are at particular risk.” Simon Topp, a doctoral student in geological sciences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who co-led the study, says, “In heavily mined watersheds, there's been a 670% increase in the extent of ponds across the landscape since 1985. These ponds are almost entirely artificial lakes created as thousands of former mining pits fill in with rainwater and groundwater over time.” At present, greenhouse gas emissions across the entire gold industry – from exploration and extraction to downstream uses such as jewelry-making – contribute 36,793 tons of carbon dioxide per ton of gold extracted and used. The World Gold Council (WGC) and its members recognize that climate change poses substantial risks to the global economy and socio-economic development. The WGC aims to meet 2030 decarbonization goals laid out by the Paris Agreement. We’re delighted to share the news that earlier this year Ghana’s Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, the Honorable Samuel Abu Jinapor, announced the decision to suspend all prospecting licenses granted for mining, thus urging the government to cancel all prospecting mining licenses.

Mining activities involve the extraction of valuable minerals and other geological materials from the earth, and the mining industry is regarded as one of the major economic contributors to various countries. But unfortunately, mining is an inherently invasive process that can cause damage to landscapes much larger than the mining sites themselves. Unregulated mining has the potential to release harmful substances into the soil, air, and water. Environmental issues can include soil erosion and contamination, loss of biodiversity, and surface water pollution due to the use of chemicals in the mining process. Coal mining also has a huge impact on local water resources, both on the surface and underground. Surface water can be contaminated through the discharge of mine drainage, while groundwater gets contaminated by filtration into aquifers. Coal mine drainage contains highly acidic water contaminated with the ions of toxic heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, cobalt, copper, and zinc. In bodies of water, these chemicals can be hazardous for both humans and aquatic wildlife. In March 2020, a study was done in Australia to confirm the link between coal mining and poor air quality in nearby towns. Associate professor Gunther Paul, of James Cook University in Australia, reported that the scientists who performed the study looked at community-based air monitoring stations in Queensland and New South Wales, along with ten years of data from the national pollutant inventory. The information was used to analyze microscopic levels of dust in nearby areas caused by coal mining. The results revealed that as coal mining activities increased, levels of harmful dust particles, metals, and nitrogen oxides also increased. Coal mines are among the greatest sources of anthropogenic methane emissions or coal mine methane (CMM). The production of coal releases methane that is trapped in coal seams and surrounding strata, and once a mine is closed it continues to release methane known as abandoned mine methane (AMM) for an extended period of time thereafter. An article published by Reuters in 2020, states, “Methane leaks from planned coal mines around the world could have a bigger climate impact than carbon emissions from U.S. coal plants.”

On today’s episode, we look at another important change we can make: living more simply. Our beloved Supreme Master Ching Hai provides an excellent role model of simple living. She has lived in tiny houses, storage sheds, mobile homes, and even caves, always with minimal possessions. Master explains why She lives this way. “The fewer things I have, the happier I feel. I feel freer. Less crumple, less burden, and fewer things to worry about. Just the necessities, bare necessities only. Then I feel like I’m in control of my world.” Livia Firth, founder and creative director of the consulting agency “Eco-Age,” suggests we follow the “30 wears rule.” Before buying any item, ask yourself, “Will I wear it at least 30 times?” Another consideration when buying clothing is the material. For more sustainable clothing, look for items made from natural, plant-based fibers such as linen, cotton, or hemp. To further reduce our impact on Earth’s resources, we can purchase second-hand clothing instead of always buying new items. Another significant way to save both money and resources is to repair garments instead of discarding them.Our beloved Supreme Master Ching Hai often reminds us about the environmental impact of our actions. To live more sustainably, Master urges everyone to quickly adopt the vegan lifestyle. She also frequently shares other tips on sustainable living. “Only the vegan lifestyle is truly sustainable. Now, once we become vegan and urge others to join, we could practice sustainability in other ways. We could plant organic vegetables and trees. Better still are those fruit trees and nut trees and those vegetables or legumes like beans that need little water.” “Another good way to quicken our movement to a sustainable planet is to generate more positive energy: do good deeds and be loving and kind. Expand our loving quality. This is what will create a shield, invincible, to protect us and the planet. Finally, we can pray that divine power manifests on Earth to awaken leaders, the media, the influential people, and all the world citizens to take the right steps to preserve our planet, and fast – fast before it’s too late.”

On today’s program, we’ll visit Jess Morales of Montreal, Canada who, along with her husband and their two young children, are living zero-waste lives. “When we first began, we did a trash audit, which is just a fancy way of saying we looked in our trash can to see what was in there. We realized that most of our garbage was food waste and food packaging. So, we stopped buying pre-packaged meals and snacks, and now we buy loose fruits and vegetables. And we also opt for things that we can buy easily available in bulk, like seeds, nuts, and raisins, things like that to snack on. And, instead of buying packaged meals, we cook a lot of our stuff from scratch.” Let’s now return to Jess and her family, and discover how they deal with inedible food waste, such as vegetable peelings and fruit cores. “So, we started composting. Now our compost is nothing fancy. It’s just our old garbage can with holes drilled into it. But eventually, our city started a curbside compost collection as well. So just this very simple change of composting helped us reduce our waste by about 40%.” “So, to prevent us from accumulating unnecessary things, we asked our family members to give experience gifts or activities, or simply just to give the gift of their time. So, for Christmas this year our kids got snowboarding lessons. They went bowling for the first time with their auntie. They loved it. And for their birthdays, they got swimming lessons and dance lessons. So, we find these types of gifts really enrich our children’s lives; they create memories, and also long-lasting skills.” Our most gracious Supreme Master Ching Hai frequently encourages us to minimize our possessions and simplify our lives, because a simple life has many benefits. “It’s not that we have a big house and a luxury place, then we feel happy. I can guarantee it. You have my word. The more stuff we have, the more troublesome it becomes. We have to wipe and to clean it, and worry about it getting taken away by others, worry about thieves. If we have nothing then we have nothing to worry about. If we have little and cherish what we have, it will be just the same as if we own a lot. We feel even happier than having more stuff.”

On today’s program, we’ll look at one important way to protect our Earth: reducing trash production. Mr. Rob Greenfield, a US adventurer, environmental activist, and humanitarian, decided to clearly illustrate the impact of our “throw-away” society. To do so, Rob lived the life of a typical US resident for 30 days. But instead of discarding the garbage he created, he wore it. “I have been living just like the average American for the last month in New York City. Eating, shopping, consuming just like so many of us are used to. With one big exception, I've been wearing every single piece of trash that I create everywhere I go.” Wow! If one person can generate this much trash in a month, think of the impact of billions of people! So, what are some of the best ways to reduce waste? By searching the internet for “zero waste” or “minimal living” or “sustainable living,” we can find many, many tips on how to reduce waste, protect the planet, and also save precious time and money. While many of us may not be able to completely “ban the can” like Shad did, we can certainly reduce the amount of trash we generate. So, what’s the first step to take? Most experts say the first step is to take a “trash audit.” That is, carefully look through our garbage, and observe what we are throwing out. Then ask ourselves, “What are my biggest waste items? How can I reduce these over the next month?” The next step is to make a habit of choosing reusable items over disposable ones. By carrying cloth grocery bags, re-usable utensils, chopsticks, straws, and even a cloth napkin in our bag or car, we avoid such “single-use” waste. To significantly reduce our environmental footprint, we could even join a sustainable community, where resources are shared. And, as we can see from one such village in Los Angeles, USA, called Eco-Village Sustainable Community, we don’t even need to leave the city to do it.