Safari Notes

In the seven years since the release of An Inconvenient Truth , Box says that Earth’s melting polar ice has been speaking loudly and clearly to scientists—and the message is terrifying : “If we’ve learned anything, it’s that we’re under-predicting the sensitivity of the cryosphere,” he says. “The ice is telling us that abrupt climate change is well underway. You’ll hear people say we’re going into uncharted territory, but that’s not correct. We are already in uncharted territory.” Simply put, we’re melting the world’s ice-covered regions. And this extreme thaw is a problem for two big reasons. One, the excess water will cause sea levels to rise, thereby threatening countless coastal communities. And two, increasing amounts of water vapor in the atmosphere will effectively prime the pump for more and more extreme weather events. In 2012,  the Arctic ice cap shrank  to a record low, with only 24 percent of the Arctic Ocean covered by ice, a 50 percent drop from 1...

We believe our future can, and should, be powered by nature. The energy systems in place across the planet within the next four years will define the world’s climate change path for generations. All countries have a right to develop, yet we need to invest money now in clean and renewable energy – to limit dangerous climate change, to reduce the risk to human health from fossil fuels, to fast-track access to energy, and to safeguard our collective future. We call on financial institutions and governments worldwide to act immediately to invest more in sustainable energy powered by wind, water and the sun. They must phase out investments in coal, oil and gas and enable a just transition from the dirty and unsustainable energy of today. The world needs investment in nature, and there are good reasons to do so now more than ever. We stand for a future in which people live in harmony with nature. Investing in fossil fuels threatens the natural world and the stability of communitie...

Philips LED Light Bulb  With ice caps on mountains and in both poles melting fast; with fish stocks depleting at such an alarming rate that the jack mackerel fish will soon completely be wiped out; with forests disappearing at a rate that nothing less than a miracle will save many of these precious resource; we have to act. Every one of us. As for the jack mackerel fish, if nothing is done very urgently now and concrete steps taken to protect the little of what remains of this fish, which is a staple in Africa - they will soon be decimated. If/when the mackerel disappears from our oceans, what will stop the collapse of other fish stocks in all oceans? From Technica : To commemorate Earth Day 2012, Earthday.org is asking people all over the world to commit to a single, simple “Act of Green.” A small, environmentally conscious choice everyone can make that will have a positive impact on the planet. If everyone commits to even the smallest things, like riding a bike to...

With the seas being continuously and increasing polluted; with air and sea temperatures rising; with fishing becoming more intensive and extensive - can coral reefs be protected? Scientists predict that 70 per cent of the world’s coral reefs may well be destroyed over the next 20-40 years, unless we stop cyanide fishing, pollution, sewage, erosion and clumsy tourism . Plans are being made to give coral reefs more and better protection; if the plans succeed, our Planet will be better off: Coral reefs occupy less than one percent of the Earth’s marine environment, but are home to more than a quarter of all known marine fish species and tens of thousands of other species found nowhere else on earth. Reefs also serve as a buffer against incoming storm surges, protecting local populations. Unfortunately, many coastal ecosystems are threatened by human activities including overfishing, agriculture, and urban development. The degradation of coastal ecosystems not only results in a loss of b...

"We are all Maldivians", so said the forty-two year old President of the Maldives: Mohammed Nashid. How right he is. Indeed we are all Maldivians ; and we are all Bangladeshis. Maldives is sinking. If sea levels continue to rise, the Maldives will be no more; its survival is truly at stake. And so are the Islands of Tuvalu and the Solomon. Should Copenhagen fail, no country will be spared the repercussion of failure in Copenhagen. Water. It is central to what climate change is doing. Sea levels are rising. Mountain glaciers, from the Kilimanjaro to the Alps, from the Andes to the Himalayas - are melting. Both Arctic and Antarctic, could all melt. Droughts, storms and flooding will wreak havoc in many places; they already are doing just that. Already we know of the many horrors due to storms, floods and droughts: the devastating floods and disappearing grazing lands in Bangladesh, India, Darfur and in many other parts of the world,...

In the next few days, World leaders will decide on how to control the effects of Climate Change. Many countries will be at Copenhagen for the meeting, but only a handful of rich, powerful countries' decision will matter. For the poor nations, like those in Africa - although they have the least adverse effect on the climate and are the most affected by Climate Change, they will have the least say at the conference. And for Africa, Climate Change could be the greatest danger we are now facing . It could be a matter of our survival. What happens in Copenhagen matters. Matters most to Africa. Africa accounts for just less than five percent of global greenhouse emissions, but the continent suffers the most. In the the last few months, millions of people have lost crops, livestock and even their lives through drought that have swept through Kenya; in the last few days, in Kenya, diarrhea, an indirect result of the drought and then the heavy rains, has already killed several people. Fro...

At nights, most of Africa is dark, but wherever you are, if you use artificially generated light - join and turn off your lights for Earth Hour . Starting in New Zealand's remote Chatham Islands, thousands of cities, towns, and landmarks around the world will start to go dark for Earth Hour on Saturday evening. Up to a billion people worldwide are expected to participate in this global voluntary blackout by switching off their lights from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. local time. The movement, sponsored by the conservation nonprofit WWF, is designed as a symbolic gesture in support of action against global warming . Read more from the National Geographic .

Its very simple and very much worth your time. To take action! Go to the campaigns section of the World Wildlife Fund ; or the Australian organization which is helping very much with the campaign on Climate Change: The Big Switch .

Want to make a Difference. Small, but still a difference? Created to take a stand against the greatest threat our planet has ever faced, Earth Hour uses the simple action of turning off the lights for one hour to deliver a powerful message about the need for action on global warming. On March 31 2007, for one hour, Sydney made a powerful statement about the greatest contributor to global warming – coal-fired electricity – by turning off its lights. Over 2.2 million Sydney residents and over 2,100 businesses switched off, leading to a 10.2% energy reduction across the city. What began as one city taking a stand against global warming caught the attention of the world. In 2008, 24 global cities will participate in Earth Hour at 8pm on March 29. Earth Hour is the highlight of a major campaign to encourage businesses, communities and individuals to take the simple steps needed to cut their emissions on an ongoing basis. It is about simple changes that will collectively make a difference – ...

When some times back, at an African Union summit, Yoweri Museveni, the President of Uganda, declared that Climate Change is an act of aggression by the wealthier countries and that Africa should be compensated - most observers, then, simply ignored him. But, as it is now, and considering the recent predictions by the IPCC on how gravely Africa will be affected by Global Warming - Museveni had very good reasons to say what he did: Africa, the poorest continent and the least consumer, will suffer most due to Climate Change. Climate Change, which now, most scientists agree - has been in some ways, caused by the excesses and greed of the industrialised, rich world. Signs of a changing climate in Africa have already emerged: spreading disease and melting glaciers in the mountains, warming temperatures in drought-prone areas, and sea-level rise and coral bleaching along the coastlines. The panel of scientists, go as far as suggesting not only that water will become scarce, vegetative cove...

I am celebrating Eid Ul Fitr , after 29 days of Ramadhan and fasting. Unexpectedly, and giving me, more to celebrate for - is the gift from the Nobel Foundation ! They have just awarded this year's Peace Price to Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change . Though I some times disagree with the way the Nobel Prices are awarded, I find it very comforting and encouraging, that such a reputable and very highly regarded body, has the wisdom and foresight to reach such a decision - very much unlike our many 'leaders' and politicians. The Peace Price to Gore and the IPPC , like the 2004 one awarded to Wangari Maathai - will make more people aware and responsible in saving our Planet and making it safer, cleaner and sustainable. Very hopefully: World 'leaders' and politicians too, will wake up. At the same time: each and every one of us, in however small a way it may seem, can help in saving our Planet ! Photo: Actnow

There are a few simple things that we can do to make our World cleaner. Two of which are: using Solar energy and Fluorescent lamps ; both of which, initially might be expensive but, are much cheaper in the long run. And environmentally, much cleaner. Solar power, will most likely in future - be the number one energy supplier in the World. In Africa where, in most places, the sun shines, twelve hours a day and all year round - Solar power is even more suitable. Though it has run in to problems in Senegal due to the large scale project undertaken there, Africa and Africans should focus more on Solar energy. It's cleaner, much safer to both health and the environment than kerosene and other forms of energy; and conserves much needed foreign exchange. Most people do not use fluorescent lamps and bulbs as they are more expensive than incandescent lights; or, they seem so. But, fluorescent lamps last much longer and use less energy than the incandescents. For about five years now,...

Live Earth is a 24-hour, 7-continent concert series taking place on 7/7/07 that will bring together more than 100 music artists and 2 billion people to trigger a global movement to solve the climate crisis. Live Earth will reach this worldwide audience through an unprecedented global media architecture covering all media platforms - TV, radio, Internet and wireless channels. Live Earth marks the beginning of a multi-year campaign led by the Alliance for Climate Protection, The Climate Group and other international organizations to drive individuals, corporations and governments to take action to solve global warming. Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore is the Chair of the Alliance and Partner of Live Earth. For more, visit: LIVE EARTH THE CONCERTS FOR A CLIMATE IN CRISIS