April is Earth Month!

Earth Hour is Today Mar 27th

On March 27 at 8:30 pm, hundreds of millions of people around the world will turn off their lights for an hour to demand action on climate change. But that's just the beginning. Every hour, People are taking small steps to lessen their impact on the environment. From hanging your clothes to dry to taking transit to work, those small steps add up to huge changes for the better. Get inspired by others who are living Earth Hour every hour, and tell us your story.

We turned off all house lights and spent the evening sitting around candles making plans and commitment to save the earth......kids will walk to school, sleep early and walk up early, buy from local farm, drive once a week for shopping....etc

Earth - our Home

The 90 minute video, Home is a powerful narrative of life on Earth and the impact of humans on Earth’s life systems. It begs the question – what are we to do given this information? It’s worth a watch and a discussion.

In 27 October 2009, The Baha'i International Community announced that it has become a partner in a United Nations-sponsored program to promote "generational change" to address climate change and environmental sustainability.

"One of the long-term goals of the Baha'i Faith is to promote the positive transformation of individuals and communities, and to this end we already sponsor thousands of study circles, children's classes, devotional gatherings, and youth groups in more than 180 countries."

"These activities include the systematic study of the Baha'i writings in small groups in order to build capacity for service; devotional gatherings aimed at connecting the hearts of participants with the Creator; neighborhood children's classes that offer lessons aimed at laying the foundations of a noble and upright character; and groups that strive to assist young teens to navigate a crucial stage of their lives and become empowered to direct their energies toward the advancement of civilization." The Baha'i International Community

9 World Religions in action

الأديان العالمية تهب لنجدى الأرض من الأحتباس الحرارى.....http://www.arabnet5.com/news.asp?c=2&id=39689

WINDSOR, United Kingdom —Leaders representing the world's major religions, including the Baha'i Faith, gathered yesterday at historic Windsor Castle to formally launch a series of action plans involving their communities in a long-term effort to protect the environment.

"I have long believed that when governments and civil society work toward a common goal, transformational change is possible," said Mr. Ban. "Faiths and religions are a central part of that equation.

"Indeed, the world's faith communities occupy a unique position in discussions on the fate of our planet and the accelerating impacts of climate change," he said.

The core session of the gathering was yesterday's meeting at Windsor Castle, where representatives of each religious group presented a seven-year plan designed to promote "generational change" in attitudes towards the environment.

In general, the plans sought to offer concrete, practical steps for action.

The Muslim plan, for example, calls for the establishment of an umbrella organization, Muslim Associations for Climate Change Action (MACCA), that will represent Islamic nations and faith communities from around the world. It also calls for an Islamic environmental labeling system, a "Green Hajj" so that within 10 years the traditional Islamic pilgrimage will be recognized as environmentally friendly, and the construction of a model "green mosque" to showcase best practices in heating, light, and design.

Representatives of the Baha'i Faith presented a plan that focuses on using a system of regional training institutes to encourage within the worldwide Baha'i community "acts of service related to environmental sustainability." "Baha'is believe that religious belief and spirituality lie at the foundation of human motivation and behavior," said Tahirih Naylor, a Baha'i International Community representative to the United Nations who was one of two Baha'i delegates to the Windsor event.

Phosphates killing our rivers

From weekly Science Matters column by David Suzuki:

Phosphates are added to cleaning products because they help cut grease and get rid of food particles on dishes. But they also have enormous negative impacts on rivers, streams, and lakes. By fertilizing the waters, phosphates can cause massive algae blooms that starve the water of oxygen and choke aquatic ecosystems, killing fish, amphibians, insects, and plants. Phosphates have been banned from laundry detergents in most places for a number of years now, but consumers have resisted moves to ban them from dish-washing detergents.........We can lead lives that are even more fulfilling on a cleaner planet where more people have access to clean air, water, and food. All it takes is some imagination and some forward thinking. If we really cared about our world and about our children and grandchildren, we would be willing to make some sacrifices to make the world a better, healthier place. But in most cases, the sacrifices are as illusory as some of the benefits we think we are deriving from our rampant consumerism.."

Could we choose to buy our detergents Phosphate free????????????????????????

Happy Earth Day!

Be like the earth

See the earth,                               it's so humble.

Has all God's wealth to give,      Everything we need to live.

Let us walk on it every day,      But have you ever heard it say,

I am richer, greater than you.

See the tree,                                it's so humble.

The more its fruits abound,      it bows closer to the ground,

and shares the fruit that way,  but have you ever heard it say,

I am richer, greater than you.

be like the earth, Be like the tree,

Rise to the heaven of glory      On the wings of humanity.

from Ruhi 3

We did it tonight and turned off the lights

Close to 1,200 cities and towns in more than 80 countries have signed on to mark Earth Hour. China participated for the first time, cutting the lights at Beijing's Bird's Nest Stadium and Water Cube, the most prominent 2008 Olympic venues.
In Egypt, the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx were darkened.
In Greece, floodlights at the Acropolis in Athens were switched off and an outdoor concert was staged on an adjacent hill, which many Athenians approached in a candlelight procession.
In Paris, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Notre Dame Cathedral were among 200 monuments and buildings that went dark.

Wonderful night spent with our children on the light of candles to save our Planet.
Our son asked us the following question:
What would we do if we had the power to change the World into a better place?
what do you think our dear Reader?

أمضينا أمسية جميلة اليوم وسط أولادنا على أضواء الشموع مشاركة منا في الحملة القومية لتوفير الطاقة

سؤال للقارىئ العزيز: ماذا تفعل أولا لو وجدت نفسك تملك القدرة على تغيير العالم إلى عالم أفضل؟

الحملة القومية لتوفير الطاقة

سوف نطفىء جميع أنوار المنزل غداً مساءاً من الساعة 8:30 الى 9:30

"جدد المهندس ماجد جورج وزير الدولة لشئون البيئة دعوته لكافة الوزارات والمحافظات والمواطنين للمشاركة فى مبادرة ساعة الأرض العالمية ، والتى سيتم خلالها إطفاء الأنوار فى بعض المنشآت العامة والمنازل منذ الثامنة والنصف مساء وحتى التاسعة والنصف مساء السبت."

We must all save electricity: Saturday March 28th from 8:30 till 9:30 pm

Energy Calculator; Calculate your household energy usage:

http://www.saveenergy.vic.gov.au/challenge.aspx

زيادة ثانى أكسيد الكربون فى الهواء

تؤثر بعض النشاطات البشرية على كمية ثاني أكسيد الكربون التي تتدفق داخل وخارج الغلاف الجوي، كما هو مبين هنا: إنتاج الأسمنت، ومحطات توليد الطاقة التي تحرق الوقود الأحفوري، والسيارات، وإزالة الغابات. ترسم تلك الصورة وضعًا افتراضيًا يكون فيه صافي تدفق ثاني أكسيد الكربون داخل وخارج الغلاف الجوي صفرًا. ويعني ذلك أن التدفقات في حالة توازن، وأنه لا يوجد صافي زيادة أو نقص فيثاني أكسيد الكربون في الغلاف الجوي............" كل ارتفاع مقداره درجة واحدة في حرارة الجو بسبب انبعاثات ثاني اكسيد الكربون سيؤدي الى وفاة 20 ألف شخص في مختلف انحاء العالم واصابة المزيد من الاشخاص بامراض التنفس والربو نظرا لتعرض طبقة الاوزون للضرر على نحو يزيد من معدلات وجود المواد الضارة في الجو لا سيما في المدن الكبيرة والمناطق الحضرية" ..........معلومة هامة: لإنتاج كيلو واحد من الجزر، يتم إطلاق 100 جرام من ثانى أكسيد الكربون فى الهواء. لإنتاج كيلو واحد من اللحمة يتم إطلاق 11000 جرام من ثانى أكسيد الكربون فى الهواء.

World Problems; Meat

"About 2,000 pounds of grain must be supplied to livestock in order to produce enough meat and other livestock products to support a person for a year, whereas 400 pounds of grain eaten directly will support a person for a year."

M.E. Ensminger, Ph.D.

A few fast facts
20,000,000 people die per year as a result of malnutrition and starvation.
One half Earth's land mass is grazed by livestock.
One half of world grain harvest consumed by livestock throughout the 1980's.

meat production requires, on average, 10-20 times more energy per edible tonne than grain production. In other words, per unit of energy input,

many more people can be fed with grain than with meat

In order to meet our demand for meat, millions of tonnes of grain are diverted to feed livestock. More than 1/3 of the world's total grain harvest is fed to livestock. Much of this grain is imported from developing countries where farmers are encouraged to use land to grow export crops for the West. Even during the famine of the mid 1980's, Ethiopia was exporting grain that could have been used to feed its own people to the West - feed for livestock.

(International Development Research Centre (IDRC); WorldWatch Institute)

Earth Day - April 22nd

April 22 marks an important day around the world, when more than half a billion people in more than 180 countries take action to “go green” and lessen their impact on the Earth.

Today our kids came home after school and showed us what a wonderful card they made at school on Earth Day and what they learned about 3R's; Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

By teaching our kids from early age to respect and protect the Environment, they will develop sense of harmony within them, and the environment.

Did you know… by turning off the tap while brushing your teeth, you’ll save 10 litres of water.

Ethical dimensions of climate change

It is every one's duty to help people see the moral and ethical dimensions of climate change.

Please watch this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-faBHqVu04

One Earth Hour

On March 29, 2008 between 8-9pm, join millions of people around the world to demonstrate the commitment to action on climate change by turning off your lights for Earth Hour.

Could Egyptian windmills eclipse Saudi oil wells?

We would like to share with you all this article addressing Egypt renewable fuels:

..“If you cover a relatively small portion of Egyptian territory with solar collectors, you will be able to supply the power needs of the whole of Europe,” he said. “The problem is that the investment in order to do this would be huge.”

Last year, Egypt’s wind power capacity ranked 21st in the world, producing about 310 megawatts, up from 145 in 2005. Still, this figure is dwarfed by the 3,129 megawatts generated in Denmark, 15,145 in Spain and 22,247 in Germany. Egypt was ranked just one spot above Belgium, a country with less than one-seventh the population and one-thirtieth the land.

What on Earth is happening?

Video on the effects of global warming in the Arctic....