Thousands flee as US wildfires rage in California

The BBC reports on the situation in California as it faces its worst wildfire season on record:

Thousands of people have fled their homes as 11 wildfires burn across the state of California. (Image credit)

Thousands of people have fled their homes as 11 wildfires burn across the state of California.
(Image credit)

Thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes in northern California after a wildfire burning out of control doubled in size in just 12 hours.

The blaze – known as the ‘King’ – is the biggest of 11 fires, in what officials describe as the worst wildfire season on record.

To learn more about the changing world and what you can do to prepare, visit: www.greatwavesofchange.org

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Syria conflict: Dozens killed in strikes on Talbiseh

This BBC article reports on the latest in the conflict in Syria:

Almost 50 people have been killed by Syrian government air strikes in an opposition-held town, activists say.

Six children were among those who died as Talbiseh, in Homs province, was bombarded for two days, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.

To read more about the changing world and what you can do to prepare, visit: www.greatwavesofchange.org

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Has the great climate change migration already begun?

This article from the Guardian discusses the growing phenomenon of climate refugees:

The island paradise is under attack. Thanks to destabilizing forces of climate change – rising sea levels and strengthening storms, particularly – some of Earth’s most picturesque locations are being scrubbed from the map. And the residents of these postcard settings are being forced to consider relocating to avoid being swept away into the sea.

In Tuvalu, a collection of reef islands and atolls midway between Hawaii and Australia, saltwater intrusion has already made it difficult to grow traditional crops, and the rainfall that provides much of the drinking water has become unreliable. Despite investments in freshwater storage systems and makeshift bulwarks to slow coastal erosion, much of the nation – where the average land height is a mere 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) above sea level – will likely be under water by the end of the century.

(Break)

But the roughly 10,800 residents of Tuvalu are by no means the only ones at risk of losing their homes to climate change. While the estimates of future migrants vary widely, from tens of thousands to one billion, there’s little question that an increase in climate refugees is on the way.

The phenomenon of human migrations due to climate change is spoken of in God’s New Message for the world. Here is a passage from the teaching “The Race to Save Human Civilization”:

“There will be great human migration all over the world. Some of it will be normal, but most of it will have to be organized and agreed to between nations. If nations close their doors to the displaced peoples, it will be a tragedy never seen before. And this tragedy will despoil the world in war and conflict.”

These displaced peoples will need somewhere to go, will need the compassion of others in order to survive and prosper into the future. May the people of Earth have the compassion and the strength to do right by them so that the human family as a whole may be strengthened in the face of a radically changing world. Nasi Novare Coram.

To read more about the changing world and what you can do to prepare, visit: www.greatwavesofchange.org

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Climate change threatens birds, pushes them north

This report by the CBC speaks on how climate change is affecting bird species in North America:

Many North American birds, such as the loon, face loss of habitat due to climate change.  (Image credit)

Many North American birds, such as the loon, face loss of habitat due to climate change.
(Image credit)

The laugh of the loon across southern Canadian lakes may soon be replaced by the calls of unfamiliar birds such as white-faced ibises and Mississippi kites, because of climate change.

A new Birds and Climate Report from the New York-based conservation group National Audubon Society shows that climate change is pushing North American birds north — so far north that hundreds of species will lose more than half their current range by 2080.

To read more about the changing world and what you can do to prepare, visit: www.greatwavesofchange.org

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Ozone layer is healing – but we are now contributing to climate change more than ever

The Independent reports on an unintended side effect of the 1987 Montreal Protocol, which was implemented to prevent damage to the ozone layer:

Measures put in place since 1987 to protect the ozone layer have had the unintended side effect of exacerbating climate change in certain cases.  (Image credit)

Measures put in place since 1987 to protect the ozone layer have had the unintended side effect of exacerbating climate change in certain cases.
(Image credit)

The Earth’s protective ozone layer is slowly recovering, United Nations scientists report, but the unintended knock-on effect is increasing climate change.

Successful implementation of the 1987 Montreal Protocol, aimed at reducing Ozone Depleting Substances (ODSs) including many chemicals used in aerosol cans and refrigerators, mean the ozone layer is expected to recover to 1980 levels by the middle of this century.

However, certain chemicals used as substitutes for harmful man-made CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) are potent global warming gases, contributing emissions growing at a rate of about seven per cent annually, and can be expected to “very significantly” affect climate change.

To read more about the changing world and what you can do to prepare, visit: www.newmessage.org

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Ukraine conflict death toll rises above 3,000, says UN

The Guardian reports on the cost of the conflict in Ukraine in terms of lives lost:

The number of people confirmed killed in the Ukraine conflict has risen above 3,000 if the victims of the MH17 plane crash are included, a senior UN human rights official said on Monday.

Ivan Simonovic, the UN assistant secretary general for human rights, said the number of people confirmed killed in fighting since the conflict erupted in April was now 2,729 but rose to over 3,000 if the 298 passengers and crew on the Malaysia Airlines flight were included, which he said they should be, though the true figure could be much higher.

To read more about the changing world and what you can do to prepare, visit: www.greatwavesofchange.org

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Future Does Not Promise Lower Food Prices In Turkey

This report by the Daily Sabah highlights some of the factors affecting food prices in Turkey:

Food prices in Turkey look set to remain high due to various factors including a recent drought.  (Image credit)

Food prices in Turkey look set to remain high due to various factors including a recent drought.
(Image credit)

The price of food, which has been viewed as one of the main drivers behind untamed inflation by some economists and statesmen in Turkey for several months, is expected to increase further in the mid-long term, according to a report by the Tenth Development Food Products and the Food Safety Expertise Commission.Drought, increasing demand and climate change will lead to further hikes in food prices and inflation, says the official report.

Even though it is known that an appreciation in the U.S. dollar and the euro against the Turkish lira within the last six to seven months has caused a temporary inflationary effect, natural effects keep their weight on food prices. Furthermore, Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan who is responsible for the economy blamed high food prices on the recent severe drought in the country on a TV show last Tuesday.

To read more about the changing world and what you can do to prepare, visit: www.greatwavesofchange.org

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World is ‘losing the battle’ against Ebola, warns aid group

This report by the Toronto Star speaks on the difficulties currently being faced by those trying to help the countries affected by the Ebola outbreak:

The current Ebola outbreak is the worst ever recorded in history. The director of the World Health Organization, Margaret Chan, has called on the international community to provide more medical assistance to help the stricken regions.  (Image credit)

The current Ebola outbreak is the worst ever recorded in history. The director of the World Health Organization, Margaret Chan, has called on the international community to provide more medical assistance to help the stricken regions.
(Image credit)

The international group Médecins Sans Frontières warned Tuesday that the world is “losing the battle” against Ebola, while UN officials implored all countries to quickly step up their response by contributing health experts and other help.

MSF President Joanne Liu said her organization is completely overwhelmed as it treats Ebola patients in four West African countries. She called on countries with biological disaster response capacity to contribute civilian and military medical personnel.

“Six months into the worse Ebola epidemic in history, the world is losing the battle to contain it,” Liu said at a United Nations forum on the outbreak. “Ebola treatment centres are reduced to places where people go to die alone, where little more than palliative care is offered.”

To read more about the changing world and what you can do to prepare, visit: www.newmessage.org

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Would you reduce meat consumption to help fight climate change?

The Guardian poses an interesting question to those who may be considering how to mitigate the effects of the changing world:

Global consumption of meat and dairy is on the rise and poses a threat to future food security and the Earth’s climate, according to new research. (Image credit)

Global consumption of meat and dairy is on the rise and poses a threat to future food security and the Earth’s climate, according to new research.
(Image credit)

Global consumption of meat must be reduced, according to a new report that warns of serious implications – both in terms of food scarcity and the wider environmental impact – if current trends continue.

The research from Cambridge and Aberdeen universities highlights a worldwide trend for American-style diets, leading to a large increase in meat and dairy consumption, the BBC reports.

To read more about the changing world and what you can do to prepare, visit: www.greatwavesofchange.org

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Deforestation: Brazil is a success story for conservation

The Christian Science Monitor reports on Brazil’s successful forest conservation efforts and a change in the rate of global tropical deforestation:

Brazil has recently met with success in its efforts to limit deforestation. Will other countries with endangered rainforest ecosystems, such as Indonesia, be able to follow suit? (Image credit)

Brazil has recently met with success in its efforts to limit deforestation. Will other countries with endangered rainforest ecosystems, such as Indonesia, be able to follow suit?
(Image credit)

“Climate scientists link about 10 percent of annual global carbon increase to the effects of deforestation. But a new study points to a promising shift.

In the 1990s, tropical deforestation claimed 40 million acres each year, according to a report released in June by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). Today, about 32 million acres of forests fall each year, a drop of about 19 percent.”

To read more about the changing world and what you can do to prepare, visit: www.greatwavesofchange.org

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