Rising levels of fish contaminants linked to climate change

Scientists studying aquatic life in Canada’s Mackenzie River have found that levels of toxic substances such as mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and the damaging insecticide DDT have risen dramatically in recent years.

Over just the past decade, the mercury levels of certain fish have increased by 160%, while PCBs have jumped to being six times higher and DDT has tripled.

Their rise is attributed to Arctic melt, with air-borne pollutant particles that were deposited over time in the pristine environment now being released as temperatures warm and the ice continues to melt.

The researchers believe that this has also led to a growth in the algae, zooplankton and other life forms that absorb the pollutants from the water and are in turn consumed by the fish.

Canadian scientists, our appreciation for your work that again highlights the delicate interconnections of life on our planet.

May we show our deep respect for environmental balance by adopting the organic, vegan diet. Supreme Master Ching Hai, who has frequently addressed the importance of every being’s existence on Earth, spoke once more of our need to be good environmental stewards during a May 2009 videoconference in Togo.

Supreme Master Ching Hai: The marine ecosystem is in big trouble right now from global warming already. Further fishing will only make matters worse. Also, mercury poisoning causes problems to aquatic life even before it gets to the humans. These are things we need to address in trying to save our planet, not to talk about our health also. Eating fish will definitely not help this.

The coastal ecosystems will also be affected greatly by diseases and algae blooms that release toxins. The ocean is a wonderful recycler that normally can purify the water and create nutrients and turn carbon dioxide into oxygen, etc. The ocean is a miracle. But if we ruin the ecosystems , this will spell disaster for us.

Supreme Master Ching Hai: It’s better for our body, for our conscience, for our mind, and for the planet to stay away from fish. We should be vegan.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/mackenzie-rivers-fish-contaminated-with-dangerous-toxins-scientists/article1462248/

Pesticides at the root of certain biodiversity loss

Scientists are finding out that even low-level exposure to pesticides can impair immune function in wildlife such as amphibians, with US expert Dr. Kevin Zippel stating that today’s devastation of frog species is comparable to the mass extinctions of the dinosaurs.

Currently over 1,800 species of amphibians are endangered, with growing evidence that many of their afflicting diseases are pesticide-based. University of Padua entomologist, Professor Vincenzo Girolami in Italy has also discovered that low levels of a neonicotinoid, a newer kind of pesticide thought to be safer for wildlife such as bees, still affects them when devices like seeding machines are used as these stir up clouds of the chemicals into the atmosphere.

Bats also may be on the decline due to pesticides. With at least one million that have died in North America since 2006 from a fungal infection called White-nose syndrome, scientists are now evaluating the role of pesticides as environmental contaminants that suppress the bats’ immune system. Many thanks Dr. Zippel,
Professor Girolami and all researchers involved for your diligent work to investigate the harms of pesticides on our natural environment.

Let us quickly turn to sustaining lifestyles that include organic farming methods to preserve all cherished life. As on previous occasions, Supreme Master Ching Hai spoke of the environmental tolls of such toxic substances along with the benefits of adopting more eco-considerate ways during a September 2009 videoconference in South Korea.

Supreme Master Ching Hai: Another example of a practice causing harm to both animals and Earth is the use of chemical pesticides. Over 5 billion pounds of pesticides are used throughout the world each year! And only about 10% - 10%! - of these chemicals even reach the areas where they are intended for. So the rest?
What happens?

They go into the air and water where they have been linked to everything from cancer of humans and animals to oceanic dead zones. In Europe, one pesticide was found to be the reason for billions of bees dying across the continent, while others are known to make the eggshells of birds become thinner, resulting in the death of their babies because the shells crack and break before the baby is ready to be born.

Since organic vegan farming does not use pesticides and does not have anything to do with livestock raising, milk production or any such harmful activity, it could be called a practice of compassion, in line with Heaven, with values that are echoed in many spiritual paths and religious teachings.

Supreme Master Ching Hai: Organic vegan diet is the best.

http://www.e360.yale.edu/content/feature.msp?id=2228
http://current.com/1itvk4c

Human impact of animal-borne disease more severe with global warming

According to scientists at the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), ecological imbalance triggered by global warming is accelerating the spread of zoonotic diseases.

EPA environmental health scientist Dr. Montira Pongsiri stated, “Dramatic changes to the environment are triggering major alterations to human disease patterns ...”

The recent eruption of swine flu that came from a mixing of animal-borne viruses is just one of the emerging diseases that concerns EPA scientists, who also cited malaria, West Nile disease and others that are on the rise due to such factors as warming climate and changes in agricultural practices.

Over 300 new diseases have been identified since 1940, with 60% that have crossed from animals to humans. Scientists at the US Environmental Protection Agency, we appreciate your efforts to inform the public about the spread of zoonotic diseases that pose a threat to all of us. Let us all choose to live more lightly and thus protect our planetary home, especially by selecting the safe and immune-boosting plant-based foods.

Supreme Master Ching Hai has many times mentioned the need for humans to halt the consumption of animals to avoid related illnesses, as in an August 2009 videoconference in Thailand.

Supreme Master Ching Hai: The swine flu is by far not the only scary disease - that also comes from or is spread by humans’ cruel treatment of animals. Avian flu, tuberculosis, Listeria, Crohn’s disease, mad cow disease, campylobacter, Staphylococcus aureus, etc., etc. And now, we have its more dangerous form, called MRSA, namely methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; it’s a “superbug” – meaning there is no antibiotic to cure it, no antibiotic for this superbug.

These diseases arose because we over-breed animals and create the conditions for the diseases to form and spread. Other diseases came from hunting.

HIV, the killer of 25 million people since 1981, is from humans’ consumption of primates. So, all these diseases, not just the swine flu, could be prevented if only humans turn away from such unhealthy, cruel, violent habits – the habits of raising, hunting, and eating animal flesh. It has be stopped, the consuming of animal flesh.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/deadly-animal-diseases-poised-to-infect-humans-1856777.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/6930130/Scientists-warn-of-rise-in-diseases-spread-from-animals-to-humans.html
http://www.eht-forum.org/#