#and I mean it my state has like no natural disasters except like. flash floods or something

[smilesrobotlover]

Febuwhump- Alt prompt 9: natural disasters

Ok this one isn’t too bad because I do not have the confidence to write about a serious disaster (especially after what happened in Turkey) so this is mostly based after an experience I had in 2020, which was not at all serious (I live in a state where natural disasters aren’t really a thing). So warning about an earthquake, again it’s nothing serious but just in case

Unsteady Surface

The sky was a world that the first chosen hero was accustomed to. He was used to the threat of falling towards the clouds, he was used to the tornadoes that would throw people off their loftwings, and he was used to the floating islands, which seemed mysterious to his new friends, but normal to him. He remembers when he first landed on the surface it was almost surreal to him. It was basically a big floating island except it wasn’t floating and it was covering the entire world. Everywhere he went there was land. Nice solid land that if he were to fall off a cliff, he would just land on more land. As a kid, he always had an irrational fear of the islands in Skyloft falling out of nowhere, and though he grew out of it, it still made him pretty nervous. Especially when the goddess statue fell back down to the surface near the sealed temple. The surface however felt more safe and sturdy to him. There was no risk of the world suddenly plunging to another world below, there was no risk of things suddenly tipping over, it was solid compared to the sky.

However Sky experienced something one day that made him realize that he still didn’t know anything about the surface.

He was sitting on a log conversing with Twilight and Windy when it happened. Sky was trying to get rocks out of his shoes while Twi was drinking his water. Windy was pretty animated and was constantly jumping up and down from the log, shaking it a little. Sky chuckled at his enthusiasm while Twi scolded him for making him spill his water. They got into a heated argument while Sky decided to enjoy the breeze. It was a beautiful day, much prettier than all the other days.

Sky suddenly felt the log shaking aggressively and he looked over at the two, wondering why this was getting Windy all worked up. But haunting confusion replaced his annoyance when he saw Windy off of the log and Twi looking just as confused as he was. Sky looked around and noticed that the whole world around him was shaking. The trees were swaying back and forth as if something from below was trying to claw its way out, the leaves were shaking violently and flying off the branches, and dirt was shaking off of the ground, clouding his vision. Sky jumped off the log to see what was going on but fell over, and he felt Twi wrapping his arms around him. He tried to get up but the world was too shaky for him to even stand.

“Stay away from the trees!” He barely heard Windy yell over the disrupted earth. Sky just stayed on the ground, gripping the dirt as it shook him around, but as soon as it started, the shaking stopped.

Sky’s heart was beating a thousand miles per minute, and he noticed that he was breathing rather quickly. He coughed from inhaling dirt and blinked some aggravated tears away. He looked around him and noticed the trees were still once again, and the ground was no longer moving. He tried to get up again but found his legs were still shaking.

“Are you ok?” He heard Twi ask, and Sky nodded. He looked over at Windy who was moving towards them, looking rather serious.

“What was that?” Sky asked, his voice just as shaky as his legs, “is there a monster nearby?”

“No, I think that was an earthquake,” Windy answered, offering his hand to help them up.

“Sweet Ordona,” Twi muttered underneath his breath, “is that what they’re like?”

“That’s one of the more mild ones. They can be much worse.”

Sky swallowed, and his throat felt awfully dry. That was mild? The solid ground beneath him felt like it was going to collapse at any moment!

“Sky, are you ok?”

Sky looked at Twi who was rubbing his back gently. He let out a nervous laugh. “Y-yeah I’m fine… The surface just isn’t as sturdy as I thought it was.”

Twi gave him a small smile and the three of them huddled together in the middle of the path.

“It’s ok Sky, that wasn’t a serious one, I don’t think it even did any damage,” Windy sat down on his other side and gave him a smile. “It’s over now.”

“Don’t they last longer than that?” Twi asked Windy.

“What?” Sky couldn’t imagine the whole world shaking like that for longer than what they experienced. That must be terrifying.

“Yeah, the more serious ones usually last longer, that’s when tree branches start breaking off,” Windy gestured to the trees that they were keeping their distance away from, a serious look on his face. Sky remembered him yelling at the two to stay away from the trees.

“The longer ones are uh… not an experience I’d wish upon anyone,” Windy fidgeted with his hands. “Now c’mon, let’s go see if the others are alright.”

Sky nodded and Twi helped him up. They started walking, a little more quietly now, and Sky gasped when he felt shaking again.

“It’s ok, it’s just aftershock,” Windy reassured him, though he didn’t look that comforted. “We should still stay away from the trees though.”

“How do earthquakes even happen?”

“I uh… I don’t know? I’m sure Four knows.”

“Is it a natural thing?”

“Yep. No monsters or evil forces involved from what I understand.”

Sky frowned. Did every element have a sense of danger to it? He’s experienced tornadoes several times that they’re more of a nuisance to him, but the earth shaking was new. He’s never felt the ground shake like that, except when the goddess statue fell to the surface, but that wasn’t natural like this one. What did water do? What about fire? Was there some fire tornado that would happen? He gave a face of discomfort and Twi rubbed his shoulder.

“I’m ok, really,” Sky smiled at him, “I just, never experienced anything like that before. It’s… bizarre.”

“Yeah, you start to feel vulnerable to nature when you realize how deadly it can be,” Windy said in a very unhelpful way. “Wait till you hear about hurricanes! Or tsunamis! Those sure are awful! Hope we don’t experience one of those near the beach!”

Twi gave Windy a dirty look which got him to stop talking. Sky just chuckled.

“Sorry Sky,” Windy apologized, “but don’t worry about it. We were in an open space so nothing could’ve fallen on us.”

“What about the others?”

“Well, like I said, it wasn’t a serious earthquake, so there’s a good chance that they’re just shaken up, nothing more.”

Sky nodded and managed a smile. He was grateful that it wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been, but the way Windy acted about earthquakes made him nervous. If there was one here, is it possible for there to be another one? A bigger one? He sighed and was grateful that the others at least knew what was going on, because Sky realized that he had yet to uncover the mysteries of the surface.

[sweetness-of-faith]

Earthquakes. Tsunamis. Hurricanes, Tornados, Flash flooding. Severe draught. Famines. Every day we hear more and more news of natural disasters that devastate the communities they touch. 

Whether this increase is caused by global warming, as the scientific community is more and more certain about, or some other cause, how are we as believers expected to handle these phenomena when they hit unexpectedly? 

Like everything else in our lives, we must base our understanding of events, and our reaction to them, on our faith. This understanding starts with looking at what the Quran and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say about these matters, and how we’re to deal with them. 

This isn’t limited to natural disasters, but extents to include everything we face in life, both the good and the bad of it. God clearly tells us in multiple places in the Quran that this life is a test… all of it. 

It’s not a paradise for a reason. It’s not always easy for a reason. Unfortunately, so many of us go in and out of a state of heedlessness and forgetfulness about the world we’re living in, and why we’re living in it.

God, the Almighty, tells us, “Every soul will taste death. And We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned” (Quran 21:35).

This verse is the lens by which the believer views the world. When something good happens, they understand that this is also a test which deserves an appropriate response as well. 

As God tells us of Solomon (peace be upon him), “And when [Solomon] saw it placed before him, he said, "This is from the favor of my Lord to test me whether I will be grateful or ungrateful. And whoever is grateful - his gratitude is only for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever is ungrateful - then indeed, my Lord is Free of need, and Generous" (Quran 27:40).

Likewise, when disasters hit, the believer understands that this test, despite being a bitter one, is not one that should cause them to lose faith or despair of God’s mercy in this life or the next. 

In fact, those deeply rooted in faith know that in reality those trials and tribulations only act as a means to bring them closer to God and to have their sins removed.

God says, “And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger, and a loss of wealth and lives and yields, but give good tidings to the patient who, when disaster strikes them, say, ‘Indeed we belong to God, and indeed to Him we will return.’ Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided” (Quran 2:155-157).

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also said, “There is no trouble that comes to a believer except that it removes some of his sins, even if it is the pricking of a thorn.”

Patience and strength are essential for dealing with life’s challenges, although this doesn’t mean we cannot ask God to ease our burden and facilitate matters. 

God has mentioned the prayer of the believers which we take to heart when facing our challenges, “Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, burden us not with that which we are unable to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people" (Quran 2:286).

This guidance from the Quran and Sunnah is clear, yet if we do not allow ourselves to view the world through this lens from the beginning, before disaster strikes, it will be very difficult to tackle these challenges with the patience and strength needed once they occur. 

The believers must ground their lives in the beautiful teachings of our religion, which will enable them to be successful in this life and the next. 

As the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "How wonderful is the situation of the believer; there is good for him in everything, and this applies only to a believer. If prosperity reaches him, he expresses gratitude to God, and that is good for him; yet if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and that is good for him.”

We see this hadith manifested in the response of people of faith, who react to natural disasters with not only patience, but also understanding that this is an opportunity for work in the service of others, to help feed and clothe them, and help them rebuild their lives. 

Those who only view life through the lens of materialism, and ignore the spiritual truths about the world around them only see chaos, or even worse, an opportunity to loot and steal, whereas the believer sees an opportunity for service and mercy.

There are other aspects of natural disasters, which we should focus on as believers as well. One of those is: How much did we appreciate our lives and all the blessings that God gave us, before disaster struck? 

Were we thankful for our health, our families, and the sustenance that God has given us? Did we realize that every moment of life is a gift, and an opportunity to draw closer to God? 

As God tells us, “And it is not [possible] for one to die except by permission of God at a decree determined, and whoever desires the reward of this world - We will give him thereof; Yet whoever desires the reward of the Hereafter - We will give him thereof. And we will reward those who are thankful” (Quran 3:145).

One of the side effects of our heedlessness is that we tell ourselves we are so powerful and can do anything. Although it’s true humanity have been blessed with great abilities to transform the world, Satan can use this to delude and deceive people into thinking they are not in need of anyone or anything, even God Almighty. 

Disasters remind us in an instant that this idea is foolish and only leads people down a dark path. No dear reader, we are not all-powerful. We are the creation of The All-Powerful and are His servants. 

When we live our lives with this understanding, we are humble in our power and use the gifts we’re given from Him to make the world a better place, not to destroy it. 

As God says about the believers, “And those who keep their trusts and covenants… They will be the inheritors of the highest paradise and will dwell therein forever” (Quran 23:8, 10-11).

[airoasis]

This country isn't just carbon neutral ? it's carbon negative | Tshering Tobgay

New Post has been published on https://hititem.kr/this-country-isnt-just-carbon-neutral-its-carbon-negative-tshering-tobgay-4/

This country isn't just carbon neutral ? it's carbon negative | Tshering Tobgay

If you are questioning, no, i’m now not sporting a dress, and no, i am now not saying what i am carrying underneath. (Laughter) it is a gho. That is my national dress. This is how all guys gown in Bhutan. That is how our ladies costume. Like our females, we guys get to put on beautiful shiny colours, but unlike our women, we get to exhibit off our legs. (Laughter) Our countrywide gown is specific, however this isn’t the one thing that’s specified about my nation. Our promise to remain carbon impartial can also be particular, and that is what i would prefer to speak about today, our promise to remain carbon neutral. However earlier than I proceed, I must set you the context. I should tell you our story. Bhutan is a small nation in the Himalayas. We now have been known as Shangri-La, even the final Shangri-La. However let me tell you proper off the bat, we’re not Shangri-La. My nation is just not one big monastery populated with happy monks. (Laughter) the reality is that there are barely 700,000 of us sandwiched between two of the most populated international locations on the planet, China and India.The reality is that we are a small, underdeveloped nation doing our great to outlive. However we are doing ok. We are surviving. In fact, we are thriving, and the intent we are thriving is since now we have been blessed with exotic kings. Our enlightened monarchs have labored tirelessly to advance our country, balancing financial progress carefully with social development, environmental sustainability and cultural upkeep, all within the framework of good governance. We name this holistic approach to development "Gross countrywide Happiness," or GNH. Back within the Seventies, our fourth king famously pronounced that for Bhutan, Gross country wide Happiness is more primary than Gross national Product. (Applause) Ever considering that, all progress in Bhutan is driven by way of GNH, a pioneering vision that aims to enhance the happiness and well-being of our folks. But that’s less complicated stated than achieved, specifically if you find yourself one of the most smallest economies on the planet.Our whole GDP is less than two billion bucks. I know that a few of you listed below are valued at extra — (Laughter) individually than the complete economy of my nation. So our economic climate is small, however here is the place it gets intriguing. Schooling is thoroughly free. All citizens are guaranteed free school education, and those who work difficult are given free tuition education.Healthcare can also be completely free. Scientific session, medical healing, drug treatments: they’re all offered by the state. We control this for the reason that we use our restricted resources very cautiously, and when you consider that we stay faithful to the core mission of GNH, which is progress with values. Our economic climate is small, and we need to make stronger it. Monetary development is important, however that financial growth ought to now not come from undermining our distinct tradition or our pristine environment. Today, our culture is flourishing. We continue to celebrate our art and structure, meals and festivals, monks and monasteries. And yes, we celebrate our country wide dress, too. This is why i will be able to wear my gho with pleasure. Here is a enjoyable reality: you’re watching at the world’s greatest pocket. (Laughter) It begins here, goes around the again, and is derived out from inside of right here. In this pocket we store all manner of personal items from telephones and wallets to iPads, place of job records and books. (Laughter) (Applause) but often — in many instances even useful cargo. So our culture is prospering, but so is our environment. Seventy two percent of my country is under forest quilt.Our constitution demands that a minimum of 60 percentage of Bhutan’s complete land shall remain beneath forest quilt all the time. (Applause) Our structure, this constitution, imposes forest cover on us. Incidentally, our king used this structure to impose democracy on us. You see, we the people didn’t wish democracy. We didn’t ask for it, we failed to demand it, and we absolutely didn’t battle for it.Alternatively, our king imposed democracy on us with the aid of insisting that he include it in the structure. But he went further. He included provisions in the structure that empower the humans to impeach their kings, and included provisions in here that require all our kings to retire on the age of sixty five. (Applause) fact is, we already have a king in retirement: our prior king, the exceptional Fourth, retired 10 years in the past at the peak of his reputation. He was all of fifty one years at the moment. So as I was pronouncing, seventy two percent of our nation is below forest quilt, and all that woodland is pristine. That’s why we are some of the few final global biodiversity hotspots on the earth, and that’s why we are a carbon neutral country. In an international that is threatened with climate alternate, we’re a carbon impartial country. Seems, it’s a huge deal. Of the 200-abnormal nations on the planet at present, it looks like we’re the one one that’s carbon neutral. Genuinely, that’s now not rather accurate. Bhutan isn’t carbon neutral. Bhutan is carbon terrible. Our whole nation generates 2.2 million plenty of carbon dioxide, but our forests, they sequester more than thrice that quantity, so we’re a net carbon sink for greater than four million lots of carbon dioxide every yr.However that’s now not all. (Applause) We export most of the renewable electrical power we generate from our rapid-flowing rivers. So in these days, the easy power that we export offsets about six million lots of carbon dioxide in our local. By means of 2020, we’ll be exporting enough electrical power to offset 17 million plenty of carbon dioxide. And if we were to harness even half of our hydropower potential, and that is precisely what we’re working at, the easy, inexperienced vigor that we export would offset something like 50 million lots of carbon dioxide a 12 months. That’s more CO2 than what the entire city of latest York generates in one 12 months. So inside of our country, we’re a web carbon sink. Outside, we’re offsetting carbon. And this is main stuff. You see, the arena is getting hotter, and local weather exchange is a truth. Local weather alternate is affecting my nation. Our glaciers are melting, inflicting flash floods and landslides, which in flip are inflicting disaster and popular destruction in our country. I was at that lake not too long ago. It can be gorgeous. That is how it regarded 10 years ago, and that’s how it seemed twenty years ago. Simply 20 years in the past, that lake failed to exist.It was once an effective glacier. Just a few years ago, a identical lake breached its dams and wreaked havoc in the valleys below. That destruction used to be precipitated by one glacier lake. We’ve got 2,700 of them to take care of. The factor is this: my nation and my men and women have achieved nothing to contribute to global warming, however we’re already bearing the brunt of its consequences. And for a small, terrible country, one that’s landlocked and mountainous, it is very problematic. However we’re not going to sit down on our palms doing nothing. We will battle local weather change. That is why we have now promised to stay carbon impartial. We first made this promise in 2009 throughout COP 15 in Copenhagen, but no person noticed. Governments were so busy arguing with one yet another and blaming each different for causing climate alternate, that after a small nation raised our hands and introduced, "We promise to remain carbon neutral forever," no person heard us.No person cared. Final December in Paris, at COP 21, we reiterated our promise to stay carbon neutral for all time to come. This time, we had been heard. We had been noticed, and all people cared. What used to be one-of-a-kind in Paris was once that governments got here circular collectively to take delivery of the realities of climate trade, and had been willing to come back collectively and act together and work collectively. All international locations, from the very small to the very enormous, dedicated to reduce the greenhouse fuel emissions. The UN Framework conference on local weather trade says that if these so-referred to as intended commitments are stored, we might be toward containing global warming by two degrees Celsius.By the way, I’ve requested the TED organizers right here to turn up the warmness in here through two levels, so if a few of you feel warmer than traditional, you understand who guilty. It can be central that each one of us hold our commitments. As far as Bhutan is worried, we will be able to preserve our promise to stay carbon neutral. Here are probably the most approaches we’re doing it. We’re supplying free electrical energy to our rural farmers. The suggestion is that, with free electricity, they are going to no longer have got to use firewood to prepare dinner their food. We’re investing in sustainable transport and subsidizing the acquisition of electrical cars. In a similar way, we’re subsidizing the rate of LED lights, and our complete govt is attempting to head paperless. We are cleansing up our entire country through easy Bhutan, a countrywide application, and we are planting trees throughout our country by way of green Bhutan, yet another countrywide program. But it is our protected areas that are on the core of our carbon neutral procedure. Our protected areas are our carbon sink. They are our lungs. In these days, more than 1/2 our nation is included, as national parks, nature reserves and flora and fauna sanctuaries. However the magnificence is that we have now related all of them with one yet another by means of a network of organic corridors.Now, what this means is that our animals are free to roam for the duration of our country. Take this tiger, for instance. It was spotted at 250 meters above sea stage within the hot, subtropical jungles. Two years later, that equal tiger was spotted close 4,000 meters in our bloodless alpine mountains. Is not that awesome? (Applause) We have got to hold it that manner. We must preserve our parks notable. So each yr, we set aside assets to avert poaching, hunting, mining and air pollution in our parks, and resources to help communities who live in these parks control their forests, adapt to climate alternate, and lead better lives at the same time continuing to are living in concord with mother Nature. But that is costly. Over the following couple of years, our small economic system will not have the resources to duvet all of the charges which can be required to preserve our atmosphere. In fact, once we run the numbers, it appears like it’ll take us as a minimum 15 years earlier than we are able to thoroughly finance all our conservation efforts. However neither Bhutan, nor the sector can find the money for to spend 15 years going backwards.For this reason His Majesty the King began Bhutan For life. Bhutan For life gives us the time we’d like. It offers us breathing room. It’s almost a funding mechanism to preserve our parks, to preserve our parks, unless our government can take over on our own entirely. The proposal is to raise a transition fund from person donors, corporations and institutions, however the deal is closed most effective after predetermined stipulations are met and all money committed. So multiparty, single closing: an inspiration we borrowed from Wall avenue. Because of this man or woman donors can commit while not having to fear that they may be left helping an underfunded plan.It’s whatever like a Kickstarter undertaking, best with a 15-yr time horizon and millions of tons of carbon dioxide at stake. Once the deal is closed, we use the transition fund to protect our parks, giving our government time to develop our own funding step by step until the tip of the 15-year period. After that, our executive ensures full funding eternally. We are virtually there. We expect to shut later this 12 months. Naturally, i am pretty excited. (Applause) the world natural world Fund is our precept associate in this journey, and i need to provide them a giant shoutout for the satisfactory work they are doing in Bhutan and the world over. (Applause) Whew, it’s getting warm in right here. I thank you for being attentive to our story, a narrative of how we are keeping our promise to stay carbon neutral, a story of how we’re keeping our nation pristine, for ourselves, our youngsters, to your children and for the sector. But we are not right here to tell reviews, are we? We are here to dream collectively.So in closing, i might prefer to share a further dream that i’ve. What if we could mobilize our leadership and our resources, our impact and our ardour, to replicate the Bhutan For existence idea to other nations so that they can also preserve their protected areas for all time. In spite of everything, there are various other countries who face the same issues that we face. They too have common resources that may support win the world’s battle for sustainability, only they may not have the capacity to spend money on them now. So what if we hooked up Earth For life, a worldwide fund, to kickstart the Bhutan For lifestyles for the duration of the sector? I invite you to aid me, to carry this dream past our borders to all individuals who care about our planet’s future.In any case, we’re right here to dream together, to work together, to battle climate alternate together, to safeguard our planet collectively. Due to the fact that the reality is we are in it together. A few of us would gown in a different way, but we’re in it collectively. Thank you very a lot, and kadrin chhe la. Thank you. (Applause) thank you, thanks, thanks. .

[batterymonster2021]

This country isn't just carbon neutral ? it's carbon negative | Tshering Tobgay

New Post has been published on https://hititem.kr/this-country-isnt-just-carbon-neutral-its-carbon-negative-tshering-tobgay-4/

This country isn't just carbon neutral ? it's carbon negative | Tshering Tobgay

If you are questioning, no, i’m now not sporting a dress, and no, i am now not saying what i am carrying underneath. (Laughter) it is a gho. That is my national dress. This is how all guys gown in Bhutan. That is how our ladies costume. Like our females, we guys get to put on beautiful shiny colours, but unlike our women, we get to exhibit off our legs. (Laughter) Our countrywide gown is specific, however this isn’t the one thing that’s specified about my nation. Our promise to remain carbon impartial can also be particular, and that is what i would prefer to speak about today, our promise to remain carbon neutral. However earlier than I proceed, I must set you the context. I should tell you our story. Bhutan is a small nation in the Himalayas. We now have been known as Shangri-La, even the final Shangri-La. However let me tell you proper off the bat, we’re not Shangri-La. My nation is just not one big monastery populated with happy monks. (Laughter) the reality is that there are barely 700,000 of us sandwiched between two of the most populated international locations on the planet, China and India.The reality is that we are a small, underdeveloped nation doing our great to outlive. However we are doing ok. We are surviving. In fact, we are thriving, and the intent we are thriving is since now we have been blessed with exotic kings. Our enlightened monarchs have labored tirelessly to advance our country, balancing financial progress carefully with social development, environmental sustainability and cultural upkeep, all within the framework of good governance. We name this holistic approach to development "Gross countrywide Happiness," or GNH. Back within the Seventies, our fourth king famously pronounced that for Bhutan, Gross country wide Happiness is more primary than Gross national Product. (Applause) Ever considering that, all progress in Bhutan is driven by way of GNH, a pioneering vision that aims to enhance the happiness and well-being of our folks. But that’s less complicated stated than achieved, specifically if you find yourself one of the most smallest economies on the planet.Our whole GDP is less than two billion bucks. I know that a few of you listed below are valued at extra — (Laughter) individually than the complete economy of my nation. So our economic climate is small, however here is the place it gets intriguing. Schooling is thoroughly free. All citizens are guaranteed free school education, and those who work difficult are given free tuition education.Healthcare can also be completely free. Scientific session, medical healing, drug treatments: they’re all offered by the state. We control this for the reason that we use our restricted resources very cautiously, and when you consider that we stay faithful to the core mission of GNH, which is progress with values. Our economic climate is small, and we need to make stronger it. Monetary development is important, however that financial growth ought to now not come from undermining our distinct tradition or our pristine environment. Today, our culture is flourishing. We continue to celebrate our art and structure, meals and festivals, monks and monasteries. And yes, we celebrate our country wide dress, too. This is why i will be able to wear my gho with pleasure. Here is a enjoyable reality: you’re watching at the world’s greatest pocket. (Laughter) It begins here, goes around the again, and is derived out from inside of right here. In this pocket we store all manner of personal items from telephones and wallets to iPads, place of job records and books. (Laughter) (Applause) but often — in many instances even useful cargo. So our culture is prospering, but so is our environment. Seventy two percent of my country is under forest quilt.Our constitution demands that a minimum of 60 percentage of Bhutan’s complete land shall remain beneath forest quilt all the time. (Applause) Our structure, this constitution, imposes forest cover on us. Incidentally, our king used this structure to impose democracy on us. You see, we the people didn’t wish democracy. We didn’t ask for it, we failed to demand it, and we absolutely didn’t battle for it.Alternatively, our king imposed democracy on us with the aid of insisting that he include it in the structure. But he went further. He included provisions in the structure that empower the humans to impeach their kings, and included provisions in here that require all our kings to retire on the age of sixty five. (Applause) fact is, we already have a king in retirement: our prior king, the exceptional Fourth, retired 10 years in the past at the peak of his reputation. He was all of fifty one years at the moment. So as I was pronouncing, seventy two percent of our nation is below forest quilt, and all that woodland is pristine. That’s why we are some of the few final global biodiversity hotspots on the earth, and that’s why we are a carbon neutral country. In an international that is threatened with climate alternate, we’re a carbon impartial country. Seems, it’s a huge deal. Of the 200-abnormal nations on the planet at present, it looks like we’re the one one that’s carbon neutral. Genuinely, that’s now not rather accurate. Bhutan isn’t carbon neutral. Bhutan is carbon terrible. Our whole nation generates 2.2 million plenty of carbon dioxide, but our forests, they sequester more than thrice that quantity, so we’re a net carbon sink for greater than four million lots of carbon dioxide every yr.However that’s now not all. (Applause) We export most of the renewable electrical power we generate from our rapid-flowing rivers. So in these days, the easy power that we export offsets about six million lots of carbon dioxide in our local. By means of 2020, we’ll be exporting enough electrical power to offset 17 million plenty of carbon dioxide. And if we were to harness even half of our hydropower potential, and that is precisely what we’re working at, the easy, inexperienced vigor that we export would offset something like 50 million lots of carbon dioxide a 12 months. That’s more CO2 than what the entire city of latest York generates in one 12 months. So inside of our country, we’re a web carbon sink. Outside, we’re offsetting carbon. And this is main stuff. You see, the arena is getting hotter, and local weather exchange is a truth. Local weather alternate is affecting my nation. Our glaciers are melting, inflicting flash floods and landslides, which in flip are inflicting disaster and popular destruction in our country. I was at that lake not too long ago. It can be gorgeous. That is how it regarded 10 years ago, and that’s how it seemed twenty years ago. Simply 20 years in the past, that lake failed to exist.It was once an effective glacier. Just a few years ago, a identical lake breached its dams and wreaked havoc in the valleys below. That destruction used to be precipitated by one glacier lake. We’ve got 2,700 of them to take care of. The factor is this: my nation and my men and women have achieved nothing to contribute to global warming, however we’re already bearing the brunt of its consequences. And for a small, terrible country, one that’s landlocked and mountainous, it is very problematic. However we’re not going to sit down on our palms doing nothing. We will battle local weather change. That is why we have now promised to stay carbon impartial. We first made this promise in 2009 throughout COP 15 in Copenhagen, but no person noticed. Governments were so busy arguing with one yet another and blaming each different for causing climate alternate, that after a small nation raised our hands and introduced, "We promise to remain carbon neutral forever," no person heard us.No person cared. Final December in Paris, at COP 21, we reiterated our promise to stay carbon neutral for all time to come. This time, we had been heard. We had been noticed, and all people cared. What used to be one-of-a-kind in Paris was once that governments got here circular collectively to take delivery of the realities of climate trade, and had been willing to come back collectively and act together and work collectively. All international locations, from the very small to the very enormous, dedicated to reduce the greenhouse fuel emissions. The UN Framework conference on local weather trade says that if these so-referred to as intended commitments are stored, we might be toward containing global warming by two degrees Celsius.By the way, I’ve requested the TED organizers right here to turn up the warmness in here through two levels, so if a few of you feel warmer than traditional, you understand who guilty. It can be central that each one of us hold our commitments. As far as Bhutan is worried, we will be able to preserve our promise to stay carbon neutral. Here are probably the most approaches we’re doing it. We’re supplying free electrical energy to our rural farmers. The suggestion is that, with free electricity, they are going to no longer have got to use firewood to prepare dinner their food. We’re investing in sustainable transport and subsidizing the acquisition of electrical cars. In a similar way, we’re subsidizing the rate of LED lights, and our complete govt is attempting to head paperless. We are cleansing up our entire country through easy Bhutan, a countrywide application, and we are planting trees throughout our country by way of green Bhutan, yet another countrywide program. But it is our protected areas that are on the core of our carbon neutral procedure. Our protected areas are our carbon sink. They are our lungs. In these days, more than 1/2 our nation is included, as national parks, nature reserves and flora and fauna sanctuaries. However the magnificence is that we have now related all of them with one yet another by means of a network of organic corridors.Now, what this means is that our animals are free to roam for the duration of our country. Take this tiger, for instance. It was spotted at 250 meters above sea stage within the hot, subtropical jungles. Two years later, that equal tiger was spotted close 4,000 meters in our bloodless alpine mountains. Is not that awesome? (Applause) We have got to hold it that manner. We must preserve our parks notable. So each yr, we set aside assets to avert poaching, hunting, mining and air pollution in our parks, and resources to help communities who live in these parks control their forests, adapt to climate alternate, and lead better lives at the same time continuing to are living in concord with mother Nature. But that is costly. Over the following couple of years, our small economic system will not have the resources to duvet all of the charges which can be required to preserve our atmosphere. In fact, once we run the numbers, it appears like it’ll take us as a minimum 15 years earlier than we are able to thoroughly finance all our conservation efforts. However neither Bhutan, nor the sector can find the money for to spend 15 years going backwards.For this reason His Majesty the King began Bhutan For life. Bhutan For life gives us the time we’d like. It offers us breathing room. It’s almost a funding mechanism to preserve our parks, to preserve our parks, unless our government can take over on our own entirely. The proposal is to raise a transition fund from person donors, corporations and institutions, however the deal is closed most effective after predetermined stipulations are met and all money committed. So multiparty, single closing: an inspiration we borrowed from Wall avenue. Because of this man or woman donors can commit while not having to fear that they may be left helping an underfunded plan.It’s whatever like a Kickstarter undertaking, best with a 15-yr time horizon and millions of tons of carbon dioxide at stake. Once the deal is closed, we use the transition fund to protect our parks, giving our government time to develop our own funding step by step until the tip of the 15-year period. After that, our executive ensures full funding eternally. We are virtually there. We expect to shut later this 12 months. Naturally, i am pretty excited. (Applause) the world natural world Fund is our precept associate in this journey, and i need to provide them a giant shoutout for the satisfactory work they are doing in Bhutan and the world over. (Applause) Whew, it’s getting warm in right here. I thank you for being attentive to our story, a narrative of how we are keeping our promise to stay carbon neutral, a story of how we’re keeping our nation pristine, for ourselves, our youngsters, to your children and for the sector. But we are not right here to tell reviews, are we? We are here to dream collectively.So in closing, i might prefer to share a further dream that i’ve. What if we could mobilize our leadership and our resources, our impact and our ardour, to replicate the Bhutan For existence idea to other nations so that they can also preserve their protected areas for all time. In spite of everything, there are various other countries who face the same issues that we face. They too have common resources that may support win the world’s battle for sustainability, only they may not have the capacity to spend money on them now. So what if we hooked up Earth For life, a worldwide fund, to kickstart the Bhutan For lifestyles for the duration of the sector? I invite you to aid me, to carry this dream past our borders to all individuals who care about our planet’s future.In any case, we’re right here to dream together, to work together, to battle climate alternate together, to safeguard our planet collectively. Due to the fact that the reality is we are in it together. A few of us would gown in a different way, but we’re in it collectively. Thank you very a lot, and kadrin chhe la. Thank you. (Applause) thank you, thanks, thanks. .

[kariekermath]

If the weather prediction is right, the snow falling outside my window right this minute is only the beginning of – ♬ dun-dun-duuuun ♬ – Snowmageddon 2019. Seriously, that’s what they’re calling it, folks, except when they’re calling it Snowpocalypse 2019. I find this so amusing that I’ve been texting my friends and family in Southern California with “official” Snowmageddon updates and photos. So far we’ve got maybe an inch. But I did get to leave work early – on a Friday no less. Slightly-long weekend, here I am!

To be fair, it’s still early – it’s possible this could get ugly by morning. Or not. Keep in mind that Western Washington (WW) isn’t used to major snow events and doesn’t have the ability to clear the roads, especially the steep hills that make up much of this side of the state, like they do in places that get lots of normal snowfall. I read an article yesterday that put the number of snowplows in WW – all the way to the border with Canada – at 100. My tiny little part of Upstate New York had more than that. Then today, I saw a road map that indicated the plowing priority of roads in my county – the ones connected to my townhome complex are slated to be cleared within 36 – 72 hours and the roads within my complex are private so they’re not required to be cleared at all. Oh dear, this could be a very long weekend indeed.

This whole winter storm thing has got me thinking about natural disasters, which happen to be one of the causes of PTSD. It makes sense, right? Random destruction and chaos can result in trauma. Earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards, floods, wildfires, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions – like the one that took out the entire city of Pompeii, which – as you can see from today’s photos – we visited on our Italian holiday.

I’ve moved around the country a fair bit during my adulthood and, whenever I’ve lived east of the Mississippi, people always ask how I can live with earthquakes. Frankly, they are terrified by the very idea that tectonic plates move around and sometimes smash into one another. When I’ve pointed out that there are other disasters that are just as destructive but a lot more common to their region, my friends have said that they prefer the natural disasters they can see coming – the ones they can prepare for.

What about you? Do you like to know the unthinkable is barreling your way or do you prefer the gift of surprise?

Growing up in San Diego, earthquakes weren’t just a possibility but a given. And that didn’t change when I moved to the greater Seattle area. If anything, the predictions are even more dire up here. Keep in mind that while I do have some experience with minor natural disasters, I am seriously untested, so you should take my thoughts about the matter with a grain of salt – maybe the kind they use to keep the roads clear. I’ve never been in a “Big One”, fled a wildfire, or been close enough to the landfall of a hurricane to feel the full fury. But I have come close.

I’ve felt earthquakes that you can hear coming, like a truck gunning its engine as you cross the street. The kind that shuffle the contents of your closet until all of your childhood games come crashing down in one big jumble. Some of these temblors were large enough that they would cause mass casualties if they occurred in other parts of the world. But in Southern California, where they’re expected and there’s money enough to prepare, building codes help mitigate their ferocity.

I’ve had tornado warnings flash onto the screen of my phone and have lost power during a hurricane that made landfall forty miles away. I even had a tree in my very own yard crack in half during Hurricane Sandy, despite the fact that I lived more than four hours from the coast. Holy shit – how massive is a storm if it impacts that wide of an area?

I’ve had firefighters knock on my door to warn of potential evacuation and have friends who lost everything to a wildfire. I live in a state that will suffer massive casualties when its largest remaining mountain, one of my very favorite places on earth, vomits its ash to the surface and its resultant mud and pyroclastic flows will turn nearby towns and cities into places less habitable than the surface of the moon. I’ve read what happened the last time it did this and it is terrifying – even more so because Mt. Rainier is on the short list for volcanic eruptions.

Honestly, for most of my adult life, I’ve voted for disaster à la surprise. I have argued that it’s better not to know it’s coming – to simply react once the unthinkable hits. But now, after experiencing a severe trauma that I didn’t see coming, I’m no longer so sure. I wish I’d known what was coming. I wish I could have done something to prevent it. I wish we’d run far, far away before disaster struck. I wish I’d had the chance to react AND plan instead of simply to react.

But that’s not the way life works. Most of the time, we don’t get to know what’s just ahead. We don’t get to plan. And maybe that really is best. Maybe dealing with the result is easier than coping with the stress of impending doom and the aftermath of destruction.

I hope that any of you who are actually suffering from this weekend’s snowstorm, or any other disasters around the world, are safe and warm. I realize that just because it’s not happening as predicted here, doesn’t mean it’s not happening elsewhere. I hope that when it comes time to dig out and assess the damage, you have help. Let me know if there’s something I can do to make it a little easier. Be safe.

Pompeii was humbling. It was bigger than we’d imagined and so achingly beautiful. I don’t think either of us were prepared for how much it would remind us of a modern city – or how much its technology and architecture and art would make us uneasy. As we walked those streets and compared the way they lived 2,000 years ago to our lives today, we understood the truth about natural disasters. If it happened to them, it could happen to us.

My own Barnaby at kick off for Snowmageddon 2019.

Shake, shiver, swirl If the weather prediction is right, the snow falling outside my window right this minute is only the beginning of – ♬ …