The Forest Buddies |
 |
Save The Forests, Save Our Lives |
| Crazy weather in 2006/07 |
| Introduction |
| By now, we have learnt that deforestation can lead to climate change. This section will highlight the climate change that has occurred in 2006 and 2007. From this you will realise that climate change is not to be trifled with. |
Flooding in the Sahara Desert, Algeria Early February 2006 The Sahara Desert was flooded. It is unusual to have rain here but it rained so heavily that it caused flooding. Typhoons in China Throughout 2006 7 typhoons hit China. Heatwaves in Europe July 2006 Heatwaves caused temperature to rise to a record of 40 oC. Drought in Australia October to November 2006 Australia's worst drought in 1000 years led to bushfires in the Blue Mountains. Severe typhoons in Philippines November to December 2006 Two severe typhoons hit Philippines. The shortage of clean water as a result of the typhoon caused an epidemic of diarrhoea and dysentery. Snow in Israel December 27 2006 Heavy snow fell here. This is unusual as there has not been any snowfall in this country. Floods and landslides in Singapore In December 2006, the heaviest rainfall in 137 years caused flood along Thomson Road and some other low-lying places. On December 19th 2006, a landslide from a 50m high slope caused some residents to be evacuated. Flood in Malaysia December 2006 The heaviest downpour in fifty years resulted in massive flooding here. More than 90 000 people were displaced from their homes while 17 people lost their lives. Haze in South-east Asia October to November 2006 The slash and burn in Indonesia caused severe haze in South-east Asia from October to November 2006 when there was a period of prolonged drought. The drought also caused significant rice shortages. Floods in Indonesia December 2006 On 24th December 2006, heavy rain caused floods in Sumatra, Riau and Aceh. More than 70 people lost their lives. Storm in Indonesia December 2006 On the 29th December 2006, an Indonesian ferry with more than 600 people on board to Sulawesi sank after being hit by strong waves during the storm. 15 people were found dead. Record high temperature in Tibet January 2007 Global warming caused Tibet temperatures to soar to a record of 21.8 oC. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the source of many big rivers in Asia, among them the Yangtze and Yellow rivers. The glaciers here are melting rapidly and this may dry up the rivers. Strong winds and heavy snow in Japan January 2007 Strong winds and heavy snow struck Japan on 7th January 2007. 170 flights had to be cancelled while high-speed bullet train services were also delayed or cancelled . Heavy snow in South Korea 6th and 7th of January 2007 South Korea suffered heavy snowfall on the 6th and 7th of January, disrupting flights and causing traffic accidents that injured at least 28 people. Massive avalanche in Denver, Colorado January 2007 A massive avalanche hit a major highway at Berthoud Pass. 8 people were pulled from the buried vehicles Monsoon storm Thailand January 2007 A monsoon storm on 7th January 2007 sank four fishing trawlers off Narathiwat’s shores. At least 3 fisherman went missing. Forest fires and haze in Chiangmai, Thailand March 2007 Forest fires here caused a drop in the number of tourists |
| Reflections |
| As long as there is over-development or continued deforestation, there will be climate change. So let us work together to minimise the need to clear the forests so that people all over the world do not have to suffer the calamities of climate change. |
| Sources: |
| Cheong Suk-Wai. (27/08/2007). Asia's wet, wild weather here to stay. The Straits Times. P. 6. Fitrian Ardiansyah and Nazir Foead. (24/10/06). There need not even be fires in the first place. The Straits Times. P. 19 Leslie Lau. (09/01/2007). 50 000 may be displaced by floods in Malaysia. The Straits Times. P. 4. |