Archives for May 2009

We can’t say for sure. So far, it was ‘may not be true’. But with time and scientific reports, we are tilting towards a positive connection between global warming and swine flu. Here is why.

To begin our case with media reports, skeptics are crying hoarse that there cannot be a link between Global Warming and Swine Flu. They are two separate things that have no consequence on each other – akin to comparison between apples and oranges. Climate change has nothing to do with H1N1 virus and its mutations. This is more of media hype with not much scientific backing. Global warming skeptics are supposedly having their last laugh.

There have been no confirmed reports or announcements that suggest that global warming could have triggered swine flu. But the environmentalists, the public health community and the experts are not buying this. Having seen deluge of diseases such as deadly disease such as malaria, dengue fever, SARS and more in the recent past, the scientific community is not ruling out the possibility of global warming being one of the hidden drivers for swine flu.

Global warming causes climatic changes wherein the environment becomes warmer or wet. This helps in the proliferation of certain plant and animal species which could be host to multitude of bacteria and viruses. Global warming has already been a catalyst to infections disease that needed a host or vector, to proliferate. We will not be surprised if swine flu links to global warming phenomena.

While the focus of the medical community is to get vaccines for H1N1 virus out in the market, scientific community is looking at the root causes to figure out the prevention routes.

With more information pouring in, swine flu is being attributed to the living conditions of the live stock. The level of hygiene, its living conditions, cramped quarters, and its environment is coming under scrutiny to establish a firm evidence of origin of swine flu.

Here is an excellent article from Down To Earth which explore the most possible reasons behind the occurrence of swine flu – while taking into account the poor sanitary and hygiene condition of the livestock at Smithfield Farms.

It is a known fact that swine flu did not happen overnight. Sustained exposure of livestock to industrial wastes, toxins, bad air, bad water, etc could have caused the livestock to fall sick most of the time. And treating their repeatedly sick pigs with antibiotics could have caused the gene strains get more and more resilient with time. This strain has now crossed its animal barriers and reached humans. To top this we cannot deny the possibility of changing temperature to be one of the reasons for these mutations to occur – by providing it with a favorable environment.

“Swine flu and climate change are inextricably related” says Angela Mawle, CEO of the UK Public Health Association, who explores and warns us of the catastrophic impacts of climate change and unsustainable development on human health.

Thankfully, Angela is not the sole champion linking swine flu to climate changes. Steven Sanderson of the Wildlife Conservation Society talks of the deadly dozen diseases that will spread because of climate changes, and says – “ the term ‘climate change’ conjures images of melting ice caps and rising sea levels that threaten coastal cities and nations, but just as important is how increasing temperatures and fluctuating precipitation levels will change the distribution of dangerous pathogens.”

We still need more confirmed reports and announcements to link these two phenomena together. While we wait and watch these developments, we can never forget the fact that we have caused nature to react in this way.

If it is the survival of the fittest, time will tell if these strains, which are getting stronger by the day, or humans will eventually survive.

The world’s largest mangrove forest Sunderbans took a major hit, consequence of being in the eye of cyclone Aila that caused havoc in parts of West Bengal and Bangladesh. Climate experts have warned of the grim possibility of frequent storms in the area, a direct consequence of global warming and climate change. Aila has laid to waste all work done by the World Wildlife Fund on the southernmost islands to help protect residents from rising sea waters due to global warming.

The entire Sunderbans biosphere reserve area of 9600 square kilometres suffered extensive damage, all major dykes breached and water levels in the numerous creeks and inlets overflowing to dangerous proportions. Over a lakh people and livestock have
been affected to a great degree. Even though resuce and relief operations are being done on a war footing, it throws focus yet again on the pressing issue of climate change and the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Dont forget that the Sunderbans is the natural home to the famed Bengal tiger, endangered and fighting for survival. Though rising waters might not pose a problem, these felines being strong swimmers and more attuned to natural disasters, there is the real possibility of tigers losing their bearing while traversing difficult watery terrain, increasing the possibility of human animal conflict. In fact, one tiger ventured into human habitat at Jameswar village and was tranqulized. Also, they might even die due to exhaustion.

Currently the tiger population is said to be in the low seventies, all the more reason for man to change his stripes and take a proactive stand for eco-conservation and wildlife protection.

It is exactly 3 years ago that Al Gore’s documentary that laid bare complex environmental issues in simple layman’s terms was released. A thousand and odd days later it still holds center stage as the definitive reference for Global Warming and Climate Change. As persuasive as can be, the movie enlightens why fighting global warming is more of a moral imperative than a political issue. Well, the good news is that there is still time to making a difference. Catch a snapshot of this must watch movie..

The Malabar Banded Peacock, also known as Papilio Buddha, is now facing grave threat of extinction. Sadly, there is nothing much we can do.

The Malabar Banded Peacock belongs to one of the spectacular family of butterflies. They have amazing iridescent colors and hues. Some of the species look green or blue depending upon the viewing angle. Thanks to this amazing camouflage, these butterflies have survived over a centuries. Otherwise it is not hard to miss the Papilio Buddha. [Read more…] about Malabar Banded Peacock – Almost Extinct