There was once a cruel king called Dionysius. He was so dreaded amongst his own people that they wished he him dead.
But as all kings are, Dionysius lived in the lap of luxury and waited upon by a hundred servants.
Among his courtiers was Damocles who envied the king and exclaimed, "you have everything a man could wish for. I'd die a happy man if i could live your life for just one day."
Dionysius granted him his wish.
The next day, Damocles was treated as master of the palace and had all his whims fulfilled. However, when he sat down to dine, sometime during the scrumptious meal, his eyes were drawn to the ceiling.
Damocles felt his blood chill, and cried out "that sword!" "That sword!"
Dionysius replied, "so what if there is a sword above your head? Do you not see the bounty laid before you? The golden carpets with ivory tables carrying the sweetest of wines and the best of fruit; the most luscious meats and the most delicious sweets?
Damocles shivered and cried, "but I fear for my life."
Dionysius replied, "just as i fear for mine every second of my life."
That my friends is the tale of the 'Sword of Damocles.'
Above the terrorist threats and epidemics hangs a Bigger Damocles Sword -
CLIMATE CHANGE.
The future of the world is unpredictable. Global warming will change all our lives. For the worse. What do we do?
Here are some facts and projections on water and climate change:
-- Temperatures are likely to rise by between 1.1 and 6.4 Celsius (2.0 and 11.5 Fahrenheit) and sea levels by between 18 cm and 59 cm (7 inches and 23 inches) this century, according to the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
-- Climate change model simulations for the 21st century see increased precipitation at high latitudes and tropical areas; decreased rainfall in sub-tropical regions.
-- Warming in the western U.S. mountains is projected to cause decreased snowpack, more winter flooding and reduce summer flows, exacerbating competition for over-allocated water resources.
-- Major challenges are projected for U.S. crops near the warm end of their suitable range or which depend on highly utilized water resources.
-- In southern Europe, climate change is projected to worsen conditions like high temperatures and drought, and reduce available water, hydropower potential, summer tourism and crops in general.
-- In Latin America, productivity of some important crops will decrease, while disappearance of glaciers in the Andes will affect water supplies for human consumption.
-- In Africa, by 2020, between 75 and 250 million people are projected to be exposed to increased water stress due to climate change. In some countries, yields from rain-fed agriculture could be reduced by up to 50 percent.
-- In Asia, by the 2050s, freshwater availability in Central, South, East and South-East Asia, particularly in large river basins, is projected to decrease.
-- Australia's drought, which helped spark the country's deadliest bushfire disaster in early 2009, has been linked to climate change. By 2030, water problems are projected to intensify in southern and eastern Australia.
-- Rising sea levels could increase salinity in groundwater and estuaries worldwide. This could have grave implications for coastal urban areas such as Miami, Florida.
-- Ignoring climate change will cost us as much as US$7,500,000,000 by 2050 (that’s $7.5 trillion, 20% of the global economy).
Work towards the change that the world needs, and our kids deserve. Get talking. Spread the message. Get into action.
NOW!
Watch and RATE my video on CLIMATE CHANGE at :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs7aZ4KIL3k
Discuss your ideas to tackle climate change and mobilise people at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs7aZ4KIL3k
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