Blog note. Jesus indicated that ‘fearful sights’ (various natural disasters) would occur leading up to the time known as the Tribulation and Great Tribulation (a combined seven year period of great destruction on earth). Although these types of things have occurred in the past for centuries and thousands of years, they could be identified as the ‘season of the times’ due to the ferociousness of these events. They would be occurring in greater intensity, severity, frequency, size, duration, scope … just like the pains that a woman experiences in labor the farther along she is in the labor process. We are in the ‘season of the times’ that comes just before the seven (7) year Tribulation/Great Tribulation period
… And great earthquakes shall be in diverse places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. (Luke 21:11).
… And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; (Luke 21:25)
… Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken; (Luke 21:26)
… This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (2 Timothy 3:1)
Jesus is giving a series of prophecies about what to look for as the age of grace comes to a close. These verses are several of many such prophecies from throughout the Bible. 2017 was the worst year in recorded history for the intensity, frequency, severity, duration and occurrence of a large number of severe natural disasters worldwide. Earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones, torrential flooding, unprecedented wildfires in unusual places, devastating droughts, excessive/scorching heat setting records everywhere, record snowfalls in Europe and Russia. Snow in the Arabia. This list can go on. Most studied Eschatologists believe these ‘fearful sights’ and massive natural disasters are all part of the ‘CONVERGENCE’ of signs that this Biblical and prophetic age is closing. Most people who study prophecy are familiar with the routine reference(s) made that these things will be like a woman having labor pains that occur in greater severity, frequency, size and duration prior to giving birth. End of note.

Africa’s forest loss. Stress and Dying of Earth’s Biodiversity. Luke 21:11. Pestilence of Plant Life.

Patrick GALEY. AFP•March 14, 2019

Nairobi (AFP) – With the world’s forests increasingly under threat from climate change and logging, leaders and top bank chiefs pledged billions on Thursday to help reverse the steep decline in Africa’s woodland areas.

So far this century East Africa alone has lost around 6 million hectares of forest, swathes of which contain plants and wildlife found nowhere else on Earth.

“Our forests are the lungs that keep this planet alive,” Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta told delegates at the One Planet Summit, a green investment event, in Nairobi.

“Deforestation and degradation of our environment ultimately undermines our efforts towards biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation as well as adaptation.

“This, without doubt, leads to a loss in economic productivity, as well as destroying means of livelihood for millions.”

The United Nations estimates that Africa will be home to 2.2 billion people by 2050, necessitating massive investment in infrastructure — a process historically ruinous for the environment.

Unlike Southeast Asia and South America, where big agribusiness flattens rainforest for mega-farming projects, much of central and eastern Africa’s loss stems from small-scale farming and energy use.

Lacking access to centralised power, millions of families across the region rely on charcoal or wood for cooking and heating.

– ‘Phenomenal potential’ –

The One Planet Summit, on the sidelines of the United Nations Environment Assembly, brought together policymakers and business leaders to boost funding for renewable energy projects in Africa, thus protecting its forests.

“The potential for renewables in Africa is phenomenal but it is still underutilised,” the World Bank’s interim president Kristalina Georgieva told AFP.

“Solar today in Africa produces only 1.5 percent of electricity. That’s a shocking number. It cannot be like this.”

Her organisation this week promised $22.5 billion for sustainable development programmes in Africa between 2021-2025.

African Development Bank head Akinwumi Adesina on Thursday pledged $25 billion for climate initiatives across the continent over the next five years, many of which will seek to preserve and regrow forest areas.

France’s President Emmanuel Macron also pledged an additional 500 million euros towards green projects in Africa.

– Reforestation? –

Africa, the world’s least developed inhabited continent, is already feeling the effects of the warming planet.

Despite contributing only four percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, 65 percent of Africans have already felt the impact of droughts and flash-flooding which have become more frequent due to climate change.

More than six billion tonnes of planet-heating CO2 is tied up in the forests of Central Africa and millions of people are reliant on the food, water sources, medicinal plants and shelter they provide.

Climate scientists say simply leaving the world’s trees in the ground would slash greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 15 percent.

But some countries said Thursday they would go further, actively seeking to regrow deforested areas.

Kenyatta said Kenya’s tree cover would reach 10 percent by 2022, up from its current level of seven percent.

And Madagascar’s new president, Andry Rajoelina, said his Indian Ocean island nation — which is home to thousands of unique species of plants and animals — would embark on a mass planting scheme after losing 45 percent of its forests over the past six decades.

“The objective is to reforest 40-80,000 hectares per year,” he said.

“That’s 40-80 million trees planted each year. Each Madagascan citizen will, therefore, be asked to plant at least five trees a year.”