(Clearwisdom.net)
[Editors' note: Throughout history, the theme that a nation's fate is closely tied to the virtue of its leaders and people has been prevalent in both Chinese and Western
culture and lore. Many wise, virtuous kings have led their nations to peace and
prosperity, while conversely, moral decay in high places has led to the downfall of great empires. These articles are meant to serve as a reminder and wake-up call for those who are leading or participating in large-scale acts of violence and injustice. As Teacher Li
Hongzhi has said in Essentials for Further Advancement, "When people do not have virtue, natural calamities and man-made disasters will abound."]
- News on June 29th: An earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale occurred early in the morning of June 29th in Wangqing County, Jilin Province
- Agence France-Presse newswire: An explosion took place in a gold mine and killed 46 miners in Fanzhi County, Shanxi Province.
- Cholera has spread among three villages in a county in Zhangyi area, Gansu Province. Over ten people have died. The details were not clear because of the news blockade by the officials. It was said this could lead to unimaginable consequences. Right now the area is quarantined under the control of military personnel carrying machine guns, and other precautionary measures are being taken.
- Central News Agency, (in Taipei) June 28th newswire: The water level of Dongting Lake at Chenglingji section reached a new high of 31.39 meters. Heavy rain started to occur in Yueyang City, Hunan Province. The weather forecast says that the heavy rain will last for some time yet, meaning that the flooding could occur at any time. Yueyang City has already been placed on emergency status.
- Central News Agency, June 28th newswire: Areas north of central Hunan Province are being deluged by heavy rains. The water level in Dongting Lake keeps rising, causing great concern for flooding.
- Central News Agency, June 28th newswire: The second largest natural prairie--Kulusitai Prairie at the center of the Tacheng basin in Xingjiang Province--is showing strong signs of turning into a desert because of over extraction of underground water.
- Central News Agency, June 28th newswire: Due to unrestricted pasturing and development, a large percentage of the natural prairies in China are turning into deserts. If the Chinese government does not improve its prairie-protection measures, as many as 400 million acres of prairies are in danger.
- Central News Agency, June 28th newswire: According to a newly-released report by the Development Planning Bureau of the United Nations, the overall condition of the environment in China is not promising. While the human population is increasing, natural resources are diminishing, and the general condition of the environment is deteriorating.