(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.