Guys, check out this BBC report!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/climatewars.shtml

cheers,

Udara

Now the Pentagon tells Bush: climate change will destroy us
· Secret report warns of rioting and nuclear war
· Britain will be 'Siberian' in less than 20 years
· Threat to the world is greater than terrorism

Mark Townsend and Paul Harris in New York
Sunday February 22, 2004
The Observer

Climate change over the next 20 years could result in a global catastrophe costing millions of lives in wars and natural disasters..

A secret report, suppressed by US defence chiefs and obtained by The Observer, warns that major European cities will be sunk beneath rising seas as Britain is plunged into a 'Siberian' climate by 2020. Nuclear conflict, mega-droughts, famine and widespread rioting will erupt across the world.

The document predicts that abrupt climate change could bring the planet to the edge of anarchy as countries develop a nuclear threat to defend and secure dwindling food, water and energy supplies. The threat to global stability vastly eclipses that of terrorism, say the few experts privy to its contents.

'Disruption and conflict will be endemic features of life,' concludes the Pentagon analysis. 'Once again, warfare would define human life.'

The findings will prove humiliating to the Bush administration, which has repeatedly denied that climate change even exists. Experts said that they will also make unsettling reading for a President who has insisted national defence is a priority.

The report was commissioned by influential Pentagon defence adviser Andrew Marshall, who has held considerable sway on US military thinking over the past three decades. He was the man behind a sweeping recent review aimed at transforming the American military under Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

Climate change 'should be elevated beyond a scientific debate to a US national security concern', say the authors, Peter Schwartz, CIA consultant and former head of planning at Royal Dutch/Shell Group, and Doug Randall of the California-based Global Business Network.

An imminent scenario of catastrophic climate change is 'plausible and would challenge United States national security in ways that should be considered immediately', they conclude. As early as next year widespread flooding by a rise in sea levels will create major upheaval for millions.

Last week the Bush administration came under heavy fire from a large body of respected scientists who claimed that it cherry-picked science to suit its policy agenda and suppressed studies that it did not like. Jeremy Symons, a former whistleblower at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), said that suppression of the report for four months was a further example of the White House trying to bury the threat of climate change.

Senior climatologists, however, believe that their verdicts could prove the catalyst in forcing Bush to accept climate change as a real and happening phenomenon. They also hope it will convince the United States to sign up to global treaties to reduce the rate of climatic change.

A group of eminent UK scientists recently visited the White House to voice their fears over global warming, part of an intensifying drive to get the US to treat the issue seriously. Sources have told The Observer that American officials appeared extremely sensitive about the issue when faced with complaints that America's public stance appeared increasingly out of touch.

One even alleged that the White House had written to complain about some of the comments attributed to Professor Sir David King, Tony Blair's chief scientific adviser, after he branded the President's position on the issue as indefensible.

Among those scientists present at the White House talks were Professor John Schellnhuber, former chief environmental adviser to the German government and head of the UK's leading group of climate scientists at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research. He said that the Pentagon's internal fears should prove the 'tipping point' in persuading Bush to accept climatic change.

Sir John Houghton, former chief executive of the Meteorological Office - and the first senior figure to liken the threat of climate change to that of terrorism - said: 'If the Pentagon is sending out that sort of message, then this is an important document indeed.'

Bob Watson, chief scientist for the World Bank and former chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, added that the Pentagon's dire warnings could no longer be ignored.

'Can Bush ignore the Pentagon? It's going be hard to blow off this sort of document. Its hugely embarrassing. After all, Bush's single highest priority is national defence. The Pentagon is no wacko, liberal group, generally speaking it is conservative. If climate change is a threat to national security and the economy, then he has to act. There are two groups the Bush Administration tend to listen to, the oil lobby and the Pentagon,' added Watson.

'You've got a President who says global warming is a hoax, and across the Potomac river you've got a Pentagon preparing for climate wars. It's pretty scary when Bush starts to ignore his own government on this issue,' said Rob Gueterbock of Greenpeace.

Already, according to Randall and Schwartz, the planet is carrying a higher population than it can sustain. By 2020 'catastrophic' shortages of water and energy supply will become increasingly harder to overcome, plunging the planet into war. They warn that 8,200 years ago climatic conditions brought widespread crop failure, famine, disease and mass migration of populations that could soon be repeated.

Randall told The Observer that the potential ramifications of rapid climate change would create global chaos. 'This is depressing stuff,' he said. 'It is a national security threat that is unique because there is no enemy to point your guns at and we have no control over the threat.'

Randall added that it was already possibly too late to prevent a disaster happening. 'We don't know exactly where we are in the process. It could start tomorrow and we would not know for another five years,' he said.

'The consequences for some nations of the climate change are unbelievable. It seems obvious that cutting the use of fossil fuels would be worthwhile.'

So dramatic are the report's scenarios, Watson said, that they may prove vital in the US elections. Democratic frontrunner John Kerry is known to accept climate change as a real problem. Scientists disillusioned with Bush's stance are threatening to make sure Kerry uses the Pentagon report in his campaign.

The fact that Marshall is behind its scathing findings will aid Kerry's cause. Marshall, 82, is a Pentagon legend who heads a secretive think-tank dedicated to weighing risks to national security called the Office of Net Assessment. Dubbed 'Yoda' by Pentagon insiders who respect his vast experience, he is credited with being behind the Department of Defence's push on ballistic-missile defence.

Symons, who left the EPA in protest at political interference, said that the suppression of the report was a further instance of the White House trying to bury evidence of climate change. 'It is yet another example of why this government should stop burying its head in the sand on this issue.'

Symons said the Bush administration's close links to high-powered energy and oil companies was vital in understanding why climate change was received sceptically in the Oval Office. 'This administration is ignoring the evidence in order to placate a handful of large energy and oil companies,' he added.


Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

A Store owner was tacking a sign above his door that
read: "Puppies for Sale". The signs have a way of attracting
children.

Soon a little boy appeared at the sign and asked, "How much are you gonna sell those puppies for?". The store owner replied, "Anywhere from $30-$50."

The little boy reached into his pocket and pulled out some change. "I have $2.37, can I look at them?" The store owner smiled and whistled. Out of the kennel came his dog named Lady running down the aisle of his store followed by five little puppies. One puppy was lagging considerably behind.

Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging, limping puppy. Heasked "What's wrong with that little dog?" The man explained that when the puppy was born the vet said that this puppy had a bad hip socket and would
limp for the rest of his life. The little boy got really excited and said "That's the puppy I want to buy!" The man replied "No, you don't want to buy that little dog. If you really want him, I'll give him to you."

The little boy got upset. He looked straight into the man's eyes and said "I don't want you to give him to me. He is worth every bit as much as the other dogs and I'll pay the full price. In fact I will give you $2.37 now
and 50 cents every month until I have him paid for." The man
countered, "You really don't want to buy this puppy son. He is never gonna be able to run, jump and play like other puppies." The little boy reached down and
rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled left leg supported by a big metal brace. He looked up at the man and said,

"Well, I don't run so well myself and the little puppy will need someone who understands." The man was now biting his bottom lip. Tears welled up in
his eyes.... He smiled and said, "Son, I hope and pray that each and every one of these puppies will have an owner such as you!"

------------------------------

Dear Friends,

I hope you all had read the above story,enjoyed and also learn something from it.

I am interested in learning the way how people
in your parts of the world treat the handicapped
children.

It would be wonderful if you can share some of your
real life experience as well.

Thank you!

Udara

I concur with the fact that the open access should be at hands for students into the world of ICT but when it comes to rural vicinity in Sri Lanka, its very Far from the reality. For an exemplar, We are doing some projects relating ICT based projects integrated To the school curriculums in rural parts of Matale in Sri Lanka and with an action Project like that, we are confronted by oodles of problems. There are no ways what so ever Sri Lankan Telecom can endow us a DSL line to a far way places Matale, our usual scheme is to have a one DSL line and then to acquire some cast-off computers to a classroom and then we network them. It work out healthy with in the schools inside Colombo.And the fixed cost of having dialup connections are relatively five or six times expensive than Colombo . Most of the cyber cafes charge 25-30 RS for one Email .And the charges hit the sky whilst it comes to browsing also. Our members will shortly be having meetings with the Telecom DGM on this issue. They officially guaranteed us that they would do their best to assist.(See friends, when there is a will, there are additional 10 or 20 ways Another down fall we meet is the low level of English proficiency and the English phobia which most of the rural youth have. They feel indisposed to converse thinking that others would laugh if they get amiss. To cope that, we are getting Colombo educator who our friends at the personal level to do some voluntary teaching in giving them the edge they need for improvement. I individually feel that we should work beyond the workshops and conferences Now, With taking practical projects to our communities. Each and every person here has international exposure at some level and why not bringing it to the communities of our respective countries. So lets make sure that our civil society benefit from it with meaningful contributions from our part.. May you all be well, Udara

Well, The TIG forums emerging to be very frenzied with current discussions with annotations on religions and beliefs. Initially somebody post a provocative posting contradicting believers of a particular faith and then it begets replies as like Bees are enticed into honey.

Guys, whatever others say, if we believe and confident concerning our ideology, why do we waste time getting offended…?

On one occasion the Buddha was invited by a brahmin for alms to his house. As he was invited, the Buddha visited hims house. Instead of giving him alms, he poured forth a torrent of abuse with filthiest of words.


The Budda politely inquired:----------

" Do visitors come to your house good brahmin ?"

"Yes" the Brahmin replied.

"What do you do when they come?" Buddha asked.

"Oh,we prepare a sumptuous feast." the Brahmin replied.

"If they fail to turn up, please?" Buddha asked.

"Why, we gladly partake of it" the Brahmin replied.


Then here is what the Budda said, "Well,good brahmin, you have invited me for alms and entertained me with abuses, I accept nothing so you have to take it back"

At the moment that Brahmin realised his mistake, he apologised to Buddha and he joined the sangha!

The Buddha did not retaliate, but politely gave back what the brahmin gave him. Retaliate not, the Buddha exhorts. Vengeance will be met with vengeance,Force will be met with force, Bombs will be met with bombs." Hatred do
not cease through hatreds, but through love alone they cease." is a noble utterance of Buddha.

Insults are the common lot of humanity. The more you work the and the more greater you become, the more you subject to insult and humilation.

Jesus Christ was insulted, humilaited and crucified, The Harmless Gandhi was shoted.

Socrates was insulted by his own wife, Whenever he went out to help others his intolerant wife used to scold him. One day as she was unwell and failed to perform her unruly task. Socrates left home on that day with
a sad face. His friends inquired why he was sad. He replied that his wife didn't scold him on that day and she was unwell.


"Well, you ought to be happy for not getting that unwelcome scolding," remarked his friends.

"Oh, no! When she scold me i get,an opportunity to practice patient. Today i missed it, That is the reason why I am sad." answered the philosopher.

These are memorable lessons for all of us, when insulted we should think that we are given an opportunity to practice patience. Instead of being offended, we should be grateful to our adversaries.

May you guys find peace at heart!

With love and peace,

Udara