Msikaba Gorge

Earth's natural defences against climate change 'beginning to fail'

By Michael McCarthy, Environment Editor
Published: 18 May 2007

The earth's ability to soak up the gases causing global warming is beginning to fail because of rising temperatures, in a long-feared sign of "positive feedback," new research reveals today.

Climate change itself is weakening one of the principal "sinks" absorbing carbon dioxide - the Southern Ocean around Antarctica - a new study has found.

10 Jul 2007
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'Carbon credit cards' and 'carbon market' on agenda

By Simon Baker, PA Published: 09 July 2007

The Independent
http://environment.independent.co.uk/climate_change/article2747698.ece

A "zero carbon" Britain could be achieved by 2027 if a range of measures were brought in by a government with "strong political leadership", scientists said today.
The main proposal made by the Centre for Alternative Technology report is for the creation of a carbon market based on Tradable Energy Quotas (TEQs).
People would carry their quota of "carbon credits" on an environmental smart card, and have them topped up every year.

10 Jul 2007
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Jumu'ah Khutbah on World Environmental Day 5 June 2007

Written & Compiled by:
Sheikh Muhammad Ridtwaan Gallant &
Sr. Ashia Petersen

Background to the Khutbah

World Environmental day will be on 5 June 2007 Insha-Allah
The theme this year is agreed by the United Nations is;
MELTING ICE CAPS. HOT TOPIC?

This Khutbah will deal basically on this topic and how the Quran and Ahadith teach us to protect the environment.

Discussion:
Climatologists warn that increasing atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released by human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, are warming the Earth. This phenomenon, known as global warming, is likely to raise sea levels by expanding ocean water, and by melting glaciers and the polar ice caps.

29 May 2007
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Ecumenical Water Network: Churches for Water in Africa

Theological and Biblical Reflection: Bishop Geoff Davies
24th May 2007

What we are doing in this session is most important. I had not realized the importance until I reflected on it and realized that this session is critically important – if not the most important – and if it is important it means you all have to do some serious and hard work! And its importance does not lie in anything I would say but in what you think and say and believe. Its importance is because what we believe affects, influences and directs our behaviour. So we need to establish a belief and theological basis for our actions. If I shift some of our thinking, good!

29 May 2007
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Buddhism, our Environment and Biodiversity

At the outset I need to state that this is not the definitive Buddhist viewpoint on GMOs or anything similar regarding biodiversity and so on, but only one, namely my own, opinion. But regardless, it is still very much in line with Buddhist teachings and philosophy, even if it is only my own. And then again, what do I know after all? Now that that is out of the way, are GMOs something that should be condoned, and possibly even supported and encouraged, or do we become outraged at the development of things genetically? And how are we generally treating our environment, to ensure our own, apart from all other life forms' sustainability?

25 May 2007
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