Flight from Cleveland to Washington and on to Johannesburg - A Short Safari Adventure Among Africa's Thorny Bushveld Wildlife - page 162

reactivity of artery walls and increases the risk of clots forming producing heart attacks. The
WHO reported in 2008 that childhood malnutrition (10.4 million children deaths, 39% from
malnutrition), unsafe sex, alcohol abuse, unsafe water and sanitation, and high blood pressure
were the leading causes of one quarter world death; except for the first, diseases of mega rapid
expanding cities. Furthermore, eight risk factors - tobacco abuse, obesity, cholesterol, lack of
activity, diabetes, high blood pressure, alcohol, and low fruit and vegetable intake - accounts
for 61% of cardiovascular deaths; diseases of established cities.
It will remain to be seen if the Green Climate Fund of $100 billion established by
industrialized nations to help third world countries in controlling their air pollution production
will be funded. The Western countries are struggling financially and emerging countries like
China and India are now major air pollution producers. [The total CO2 world production
increased to 34 billion tons with China increasing to 9.7 billion tons (29% of total) and the
USA decreased by 2%, probably partly because of the financial crisis and shale fracking, to
5.42 billion tons. In 2008 China surpassed the USA manufacturing volume but there are
attempts to cut down in pollution within 2010 by having 11 megawatts produced from solar
energy verses 7.5 for the rest of the world and only 1 megawatt in USA. China also has the
world's biggest hydroelectric power plant at the Three Gorges Dam (20,300 MW). The
challenge is that the cost of labor is so much lower in China at an average of $2 per hour for
factory workers versus $22.30 in the USA.] The Durban meeting on climate is predicted not to
produce an update on the Kyoto accord of any significance but may clarify the course of
climatology research and political decisions, particularly after the scandals involving
scientific manipulation of the data.
While in New Delhi, I also visited Corbett Game Reserve and Ranthambore where there are
only about 30 tigers.
Tiger pushing us Backward down the Road