In view of such daunting challenges, the IPCC Climate Change and Land Special Report could represent our last hope for a sustainable future. It is also a solution that can be carried out on both the individual and the governing front. The first of these themes involves the preservation of our world’s forests, as well as other land-based carbon-absorbing “sinks,” such as wetlands and grasslands. The second theme focuses on putting an end to our grossly inefficient food system. The Report concludes that transitioning to a plant-strong diet can free up hundreds of millions of acres of land, which will help to curb deforestation and climate change. Upon hearing of the IPCC Special Report’s suggestion for the world to transition to a plant-strong diet, our beloved Supreme Master Ching Hai was overcome with joy. “We had good news: the United Nations and all the countries in the world signed the less meat protocol. So it’s becoming official now. I hope they just go forward. Become meatless. Not less meat, but meatless. No meat at all. That’s why I came to celebrate with you.”

IPCC is the body established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1988 to provide policymakers with regular scientific assessments concerning climate change. It was the recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for its work on climate change. The newly released second Special Report on Climate Change and Land brings revitalized hope with its wise, clear policy suggestions. The key message of the report is that in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, better land use, halting deforestation, and cutting down on food waste must be the priorities. In a 2009 conference, the world-renowned humanitarian and spiritual Master, Supreme Master Ching Hai, shared with attendees, “So, to cool the planet most quickly, we have to stop consuming meat in order to stop the livestock-raising industry, and thus stop greenhouse gases, methane and other toxic gases from the animal industry.”

Tu je môj domov, sladký domov, malý domček okolo tri krát dva metre. To stačí malej dáme, ako som ja. Pripojte sa k pokračovaniu našich návštev pôvabných domovov Najvyššej Majsterky Ching Hai po celom svete. Len si užívajte, čo máte, akceptujte, čo máte. To je jednoduchý život. Ak tomu môžete dopomôcť, vytvorte si vlastné obydlie pekné, čisté, jasné, s dostatkom vzduchu. Vnútorná čistota musí byť tiež vyjadrená navonok. Niekedy som bývala v stanoch alebo veľmi jednoduchých domoch, ale veľmi, veľmi čistých. Každý roh! Žiadna, žiadna špina, a veľmi svetlé.

Zatiaľ čo Najvyššia Majsterka Ching Hai bývala v housbóte (plávajúcom dome), mnoho rýb a vtákov k Nej rado prichádzalo… Jejich láska se tak hluboce dotkla mého srdce. A ony mohly cítit i mou lásku k nim. Jakmile jsem přišla do svého hausbótu, všechny rychle přišly. Viděly mě z velké dálky a slétávaly se kolem nebo plavaly co největší rychlostí. Přivedly celou svou rodinu. Matka plavala vepředu a děti měla ve vleku. Byla jsem velmi ráda a velmi šťastná, že je nakrmím.

Today, we'll return to Asia and visit Master's houses in several of the countries where She has stayed. In Japan, Supreme Master Ching Hai once lived in a cabin nestled in a secluded forest in Gunma. At this time, Master drew the painting, "Japanese Apple Garden." In Thailand, Supreme Master Ching Hai has a tiny mobile home, just under 3 by 2 meters. During Her stay there, Master adopted some homeless puppies. We'll now visit captivating Hong Kong. In this bustling region, Supreme Master Ching Hai found a quiet place, high on a mountain. Master was happy with its natural setting. It's said that She was once looking at the sky full of stars, feeling so romantic that She was reluctant to go back to Her house for the whole night. While in Hong Kong, Master converted an abandoned cave, a former cow pen, into a fairyland-like living room overnight with Her ingenious and artistic hands.

Today, we’ll visit Her creative homes in the Americas. For a period of time in 1994, Supreme Master Ching Hai lived in San Jose, California on a mountain property. Master first stayed in an old second-hand trailer, and later in a 3-by-3-meter wooden hut. Between 2001 and 2003, Supreme Master Ching Hai lived in a small two-story hut on “Blessed Island” at the Florida Center. Each floor is 2.4 by 2.4 meters. Supreme Master Ching Hai personally searched for and purchased a mountain-top meditation center for our Association members in Costa Rica. "It’s a 12 acres, beautiful land on top of a mountain. A mountain, but very bright and very, very nice and grassy and green." The gentle slopes of the Costa Rica Center are often covered with tiny violet wildflowers called Saint Lucia. This is where Supreme Master Ching Hai created Her paintings “Harmony” and “The Beauty.”

Today, we’ll visit more of Her early homes in Taiwan, also known as Formosa. After being invited to give lectures throughout Taiwan (Formosa), Supreme Master Ching Hai sometimes traveled to Pingtung, staying in Hao Cha Village. There, Master stayed in a tent and cave, imparting to initiates Her extensive knowledge of living in the wilderness. At the Laiyi Center, Supreme Master Ching Hai lived in a small cabin that was expanded and had a terrace added after Master left. The size of the whole house is only 7.4 by 9.6 meters. In Miaoli, perhaps the living quarters that Supreme Master Ching Hai likes the most is Her cave, two by two-two meters by two meters. Supreme Master Ching Hai often reminds us about the benefits of a modest lifestyle, and how residing in a small house is one of the best ways to simplify our lives….

Over several decades, while tirelessly travelling around the world to spread the Truth and elevate the planet, Supreme Master Ching Hai has stayed in simple abodes known only to a handful of people. You may be as curious as we were to know what these homes are like. With Master's gracious permission, we are privileged to present some glimpses into Her private living quarters in various countries, where She resided during different periods. Along the way, we'll also share related touching stories, which may give us insights into Master's caring and harmonious way of life. In the 1980s, after returning from Her quest to find the Truth in India, Supreme Master Ching Hai officially began Her mission in Taiwan, also known as Formosa. Not having a place to stay at first, Supreme Master Ching Hai and Her renunciates lived in tents with few belongings, camped by riversides, and moved from place to place….

Where we’ll learn about why areas of the Amazon basin in Brazil have been burning at an unprecedented rate, and how we can help stop it on an individual level. Earth’s largest tropical rainforest, the Amazon plays an important role in stabilizing the planet’s climate by slowing down the pace of global warming. Unfortunately, however, severe wildfires are currently spreading across this precious region due to the clearing of land for cattle ranching. According to the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, cattle ranching is the single greatest driver of Amazon deforestation, accounting for approximately 80% of the total. The way to solve the deforestation crisis and save the planet is simple: end meat consumption. Stopping meat consumption is a crucial action to take in order to save planet Earth.

On today’s show, we’ll learn about two of Mr. Podolsky’s new documentary film projects, which address other critical wildlife issues. The first examines the plummeting population of bats in North America, and the second concerns the decline of the Helmeted Hornbill bird in Borneo. Mr. Matthew Podolsky believes that films are highly effective tools for informing people about various issues, as they can quickly reach large audiences and also have a powerful impact. Having witnessed the threat of extinction for many birds and other animals, Mr. Podolsky is deeply concerned about the future of our planet. If we wish to protect and save the Earth as we know it, Mr. Podolsky believes we need to make a global effort. We need 100%.

On today’s show, we’ll learn about his third award-winning conservation documentary about the Vaquita, an endangered species of porpoise. “And at the time we began the project it was considered the world’s most endangered marine mammal. And at that time, the population estimate was about 100 individuals but it was declining at a very rapid rate.” “And we premiered it at Sundance this past January where it won the Audience Award in the international documentary category. And then it got picked up for distribution by National Geographic at the end of the festival. So, now we’re on this whirlwind tour and the film is getting a ton of exposure, which means the issue is getting a ton of exposure.”

On today’s program we’ll hear from internationally acclaimed documentary filmmaker Mr. Matthew Podolsky, whose works include the 2019 National Geographic documentary, “Sea of Shadows,” and the Emmy-nominated “Bluebird Man.” Mr. Podolsky is also Co-founder and President of “Wild Lens,” a non-profit video production company that is raising awareness about wildlife conservation issues. After his first wildlife conservation film, Mr. Matthew Podolsky discovered a 92-year-old man from Southern Idaho, USA who, over the course of 35 years, had raised more than 27,000 nestling bluebirds.

The UK company, Skipping Rocks Lab, based in London, has developed a packaging alternative for drinking water and other beverages that eliminates the need for plastics. The process encapsulates drinking water in a flexible membrane or blob made of brown seaweed that is completely biodegradable, edible, and vegan. Besides eco-friendly inventions that reduce waste on land, brilliant inventions have been created to remove trash from bodies of water. Mr. Trash Wheel is a trash interceptor invented by Mr. John Kellett in 2008 that removes trash from the Jones Falls River at Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. The waste collected is recycled or goes to waste-to-energy facilities.

Around the world, approximately 700 million people in 43 countries suffer from water scarcity, and by 2025 two-thirds of the world's population may face water stress. Moreover, climate change is accelerating the scale of water shortages and increasing the size of affected areas. Governments and individuals need to change their attitudes about water, and overall resource management systems need to be improved. Today, we'll learn about how we as individuals can conserve water we use each day. Think and be inventive in your daily activities, use, and try to minimize, or replace, or cut out completely what we can to have a more simple, healthy, and gentle way of living for yourself as well as for the world.

In the case of children, planting and nurturing their own produce can have a profoundly positive effect. We found out that it’s therapy for people with addiction problems. People are able to grow their own food again. It gives them purpose and a sense of being. If every country started growing their own food, it’s a healthy motive of cutting it fresh and consuming it right here, you’re getting the most nutrients out of it. And we’re going to be healthier people needing less medical expense in the time to come.

Mr. Andy Maslin is the founder and CEO of 24:45 Organics, a company that has developed the Super Grow System, a convenient and inexpensive way to grow vegetables and herbs indoors. Using this technology, individuals, restaurants, schools, and institutions can grow highly nutritious fresh produce right in their own homes or facilities. Super Grow System, a single planting of seeds can yield several harvests. Lettuce, you could harvest four times. You cut it and it grows back. And tomato plants you can pick off from them for six or seven months.

Today we’ll examine the problem of global waste and learn how to live a zero-waste lifestyle. Everyone sees we have a problem with plastic, and everyone knows we need to solve it. And it’s urgent. Everyone knows that if we don’t do something about this, plastic will suffocate our oceans, will cause ever-worse health problems for human beings.We need to do something about this. We cannot keep giving poison to the Earth because it will stay in the soil forever and keep building up generation after generation. We should do what we can to minimize harm to the environment because that’s our duty. We should do that, we should be kind.

Mr. Tolhurst is a highly innovative farmer. As such, Tolhurst Organics was the first farm in the world to be awarded Stockfree Organic certification by the UK-based Vegan Organic Network. Mr. Tolhurst loves the soil and devotes much of his time to improving its quality. He has learned that careful soil management greatly enhances crop yields. The most important aspect of our work is to manage the soil. This is critical. So, most of what we do is really geared towards improving the soil, maintaining carbon in the soil, which is really important, and maintaining the biological diversity of the soil.

Conservation agriculture is a new method of farming with a wide range of environmental benefits. That, if on a large-area basis, all the farmers convert to conservation agriculture, that means that we have agriculture which is not a net emitter of greenhouse gases, but it becomes a mitigator of global warming. And also, farmers find that instead of polluting the atmosphere with carbon dioxide, it gets locked into the soil, it improves their soil health and soil productivity. And that means that the whole soil function changes. And in the long term, we have to change our education system. And also, the institutions, research and extension systems which are there to help the farmers must begin to align themselves behind this new paradigm.

No soil erosion should be taking place. And now we can achieve that with conservation agriculture, the new paradigm of agriculture about which farmers are beginning to learn and are adopting more and more, which is a no-till agriculture. It is farming which basically emulates as closely as possible what happens in the natural world, how nature takes care of the land. In nature there is no plowing. In nature soil health is being looked after through biomass, a return of biomass. And also, the third aspect of conservation agriculture is diversification.