Taking the Initiative on the Environment
Dear young leaders (and all!),
I am curious to know what you all are doing about the environment in your lives and work... This month, for the Young Leaders Program, we have focused on the issue of the environment, and looking in particular at how we can live our values and tread lightly. We have come up with some ideas (below) for how you can individually make a difference on this issue, what you could do or organize in your community, and some international groups to partner with and support.
But first... I would love to hear from you... What is it from your own faith or tradition or spiritual practice that guides you in your relationship to the environment, to Mother Earth, to the Pachamama? Is there a particular passage or story you have been told? Could you share it with us here? I would love us to hear from the richness of our traditions and weave together a fabric that can better help us to heal and sustain this Earth we all share..
With love,
Sarah
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URI Young Leaders Program
Taking the Initiative
Action Topic for March: Faith and the Environment
Live Chat Scheduled: Saturday, March 29th, 14:00 GMT
www.meebo.com/room/youngleadersdialoguelounge/
Ways you can individually make a difference:
- Carpool, take public transportation or walk to work / school
- Recycle regularly and re-use
- Buy a water bottle rather than plastic bottles
- Read up on what others are doing for the environment in your area
- Write a blog about a local environmental issue
- Separate household waste into recyclable/glass/other
- Begin to use energy efficient lightbulbs; Install an energy switch; fit a cistern in the flush.
- Shop ethically: Buy local, organic, and Fair Trade
- Research what the government policy/legislation is on the environment in your country, e.g. how much the government aims to cut carbon emissions.
- Spend time in nature!
- Calculate your carbon footprint and learn how to reduce your impact: http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator1.html
Projects you could organize in your community:
- Environmental clean-up project
- Planting trees in a public place
- Give a workshop at a local school on sustainability and environmental awareness
- Make a pledge to an environmentally-friendly organization
- Create a Green Club in your community: see recent URI Voice of Youth newsletter article on Taking the Initiative on the Environment: http://ga08youth.com/Documents/URI%20Voice%20of%20Youth%20March%202009.h...
- Create an Earth Charter Youth Group – a social network or organization of young activists working to bring alive the vision of the Earth Charter in their communities: http://www.earthcharterinaction.org/content/categories/Youth/
- Distribute ethical shopping leaflets
- Organize a car share
Organizations to Partner With and Support:
- GreenFaith www.greenfaith.org – interfaith partners for the environment
- Interfaith Power and Light http://www.theregenerationproject.org/
- The Earth Charter Initiative www.earthcharterinaction.org/ - Values and Principles for a Sustainable Future
- Greenpeace www.greenpeace.org
- Rainforest Action Network http://ran.org
- World Wildlife Fund http://www.worldwildlife.org/
- More local organizations i.e. Local Council schemes
For more information, check out these resources:
- How to Live your Values and Tread Lightly: http://www.ocice.org/tread_lightly.html
- http://www.carbonfootprint.com/minimisecfp.html
- Useful Links from the Orange County Interfaith Coalition for the Environment (a URI Cooperation Circle) http://www.ocice.org/links.html
Transcript from Young Leaders’ Live Chat:
Faith and the Environment
Sunday, March 29th
[15:16] Avigail from Israel: Hello, it's Avigail from Israel here. Are you getting this?
[15:16] Sarah from California: Hi Avi!
[15:16] Sarah from California: Great to have you...!
[15:16] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: not sure we've been introduced
[15:16] Sarah from California: Avi - we also have Matt from Wales and Sharon from the Philippines here. they were in mayapur for the young leaders program
[15:16] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: good to meet you. I'm Matt from the UK
[15:16] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: lol, thanks Sarah
[15:16] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: Wales indeed
[15:09] Sarah from California: Avi participated in our second cyprus program - on peacebuilding
[15:09] Sharon from the Philippines: Nice meeting you too Avi. I'm Sharon, a Hindu from the Philippines.
[15:09] Avigail from Israel: Hi Sharon and Matt! Nice to meet you too!
[15:10] Sarah from California: Avi what have you been up to recently?
[15:10] Avigail from Israel: I wish I could have been in Mayapur, I heard from Michal and Elana that it was great...!!!
[15:10] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: it was a really great experience
[15:11] Sarah from California: yes... i wish it had worked out wiht your school schedule
[15:11] Avigail from Israel: I started my masters in Geography with an emphasis on Sustainable and environmental development
[15:11] Sarah from California: ahhh well we have an expert in the room then!!
[15:11] Avigail from Israel: So I heard!
[15:11] Avigail from Israel: not just yet...
[15:11] Avigail from Israel: so far we're learning what people are doing wrong... I want to see what we can do right!!
[15:11] Sarah from California: it will be cool to hear about what's happening in israel on susainable dev't
[15:11] Avigail from Israel: not enough *sigh*
[15:12] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: i read somewhere that Israel has pioneered this really great eco friendly method of making roads?
[15:12] Avigail from Israel: I'm thinking of taking a semester at the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, which combines environment and peace-building.
[15:12] Sharon from the Philippines: Did you also take part in the celebration of Earth Hour last night?
[15:12] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: using enzymes to transform the soil instead of using tar?
[15:13] Avigail from Israel: No, Earth Hour was still during the Sabbath, so I didn't use electricity anyway LOL
[15:13] Avigail from Israel: not that I know of Matt... it would be interesting though!
[15:13] Sharon from the Philippines: Well, that's good! At least you contributed to it also., knowingly or unknowingly.
[15:13] Avigail from Israel: We are starting to use electric vehicles though... so that's something
[15:13] Avigail from Israel: exactly
[15:14] Sarah from California: i think Shabbat is a beautiful model for adapting to nature's cycles
15:14] Avigail from Israel: What do you guys do? I know Sarah, but I don't know you, Matt and Sharon...
[15:14] Sarah from California: i was reading a Rabbi's perspective about this last night
[15:14] Avigail from Israel: What did he say?
[15:14] Avigail from Israel: (or she)
[15:14] Sarah from California: well it was about the act of resting
[15:15] Sarah from California: or non-act i should say
[15:15] Sarah from California: hold on i'll find a better quote
[15:15] Avigail from Israel: haha ok
[15:16] Sarah from California: ""Through food and with the earth, not through words, was how biblical Jews got in touch with God. And in turn there was a way of relating to the earth that was not only working the earth or making the earth work, but resting with the earth...."
[15:17] Sarah from California: The tradition affirmed the earth's restfulness and the restfulness of human beings in relation to the earth. Not only the seventh-day Shabbat, but the shmitah year, the sabbatical year.
[15:17] Avigail from Israel: yes, reading
[15:17] Avigail from Israel: yeah, i was just writing you about the Shmita - this is what I wrote:
[15:18] Avigail from Israel: did you get that? it says it wasn't delivered...
[15:18] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: maybe try to cut it into a few segments, avi
[15:18] Avigail from Israel: ok...
[15:19] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: we're still looking at teething issues with the chat room here
[15:19] Avigail from Israel: i said i like the idea of a"natural sabbatical" every 7 years when you have to give the land (in Israel) a year off - no agriculture, no eating fruits or veggies from Israel... It's kind of a cool idea.
[15:19] Sarah from California: it seems to fit with the sustainability approach...
[15:20] Sarah from California: the paper is called "And the Earth is filled with the Breath of Life" by Rabbi Arthur Waskow • RABBI WASKOW is a Pathfinder of ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal; director of the Shalom Center
[15:20] Avigail from Israel: yeah...
[15:20] Avigail from Israel: oh cool, thanks!
[15:20] Sarah from California: i can send you the paper offline
[15:20] Avigail from Israel: please do!
[15:21] Sharon from the Philippines: Wow, those were very beautiful and inspiring words indeed! I wish we could all go "natural" and work towards sustainable living.
[15:22] Sarah from California: yes... in our current world, there is so much emphasis on productivity and doing, doing, doing
[15:22] Avigail from Israel: Yeah, me too! But I'm coming to realize it's a trade off - to be "greener" in one issue, you have to be less "green" in another sometimes...
[
[15:23] Avigail from Israel: but so many things are "going green" that I feel you can't always trust it! It's called "green-wash", I'm sure you've noticed it...
[15:23] Sarah from California: i found a beautiful quote from a Muslim physicist and scientist Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr, he writes about the mandate in Islam to see the sacred in nature, and become closer to God and see man's connection to God through this as well
[15:25] Sarah from California: avi - can you give us an example of where being "greener" can sometimes lead one to compromise and be less "green" in other areas
[15:25] Avigail from Israel: ummm let me think...
15:25] Meebo Message: guest1636194 is now known as BK Augusto from Brazil
[15:25] Sarah from California: Hi Augusto!
[15:25] Avigail from Israel: hello! welcome!
[15:25] Sarah from California: welcome to the dialogue...
[15:25] BK Augusto from Brazil: Hi, sorry for the delay.
[15:26] BK Augusto from Brazil: Namaste to all
[15:26] Avigail from Israel: ok, like if you want to lessen vehicle pollution, so you use electric cars, and then the electricity power plant works over time...
[15:27] Sarah from California: i see what you mean
[15:27] Sarah from California: here is the quote from the Muslim scholar and scientist that i chose to begin our conversation:
[15:27] Avigail from Israel: or - an issue that is important in israel - using water: since we don't have enough water, we desalinate, and that saves the water in the environment, but then we're left with all this left-over salt that goes back into the ocean
[15:27] BK Augusto from Brazil: Thank you, Sharon. Everything is OK
[15:28] Avigail from Israel: and we don't know yet how that influences sea-life...
[15:28] Sarah from California: "By refusing to separate man and nature completely, Islam has preserved an integral view of the universe and sees in the arteries of the cosmic and natural world order the flow of divine grace, or barakah..."
[15:29] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: Avigail, I was watching a program that was showing how a lot of research is happening in the red sea on the decline of corals?
[15:29] Sarah from California: "Man can learn to contemplate it, not as an independent domain of reality but as a mirror reflecting a higher reality..." - Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr, physicist and mathematician from Iran
[15:29] Avigail from Israel: YES! I'm going to write a paper on that... I hope...
[15:29] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: oh really? I'd love to read it when you're done
[15:29] Sharon from the Philippines: I think that the effects of the saline content can be harmful to sea life.. and more studies must be done on it.
[15:29] Sarah from California: me too
[15:29] Sharon from the Philippines: Count me in.. I'd love to read what comes out of it.
[15:30] Avigail from Israel: I agree! but the priorities are difficult - at the moment we need more drinking water, and we can take care of the excess salt later, you know?
[15:30] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: yes
[15:30] Sarah from California: I'd like to hear from the others - how does your faith inspire you to care for creation / heal the Earth?
[15:30] Avigail from Israel: it all depends on what you think is more important... and that's what makes environmental work difficult
[15:30] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: it's hard to find a great balance between being eco friendly and meeting the needs of populations
[15:31] Avigail from Israel: exactly
[15:32] Sarah from California: this is interesting as it relates to World Water Day, that happened last week...
[15:32] Avigail from Israel: Huh? Never heard of World Water Day...
[15:32] Sarah from California: it's a UN observance day, i think it was the first time celebrated this year
[15:32] Sarah from California: no, second time actually
[15:33] Sarah from California: trying to bring attention to the crisis of water around the world
[15:33] Avigail from Israel: huh. I'll look it up...
[15:33] Avigail from Israel: GOOD!
[15:33] Sharon from the Philippines: In response to Sarah's question.. about my faith and how it contributes to caring for the earth... Well, I must say that Hinduism is very concerned with the relationship between humanity and the environment.
[15:34] Sharon from the Philippines: I think this was very apparent in the number of Cows on the roads in India...
[15:34] Avigail from Israel: LOL
[15:34] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: indeed
[15:34] Sharon from the Philippines: It stems from the belief that the universe is the divine creation, and must be honored in all its parts. Animals and plants, mountains and rivers, all form part of the earth, and many are worshiped for the noble qualities they possess.
[15:35] Avigail from Israel: I like that.
[15:35] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: from my perspective, in addition to having the doctrine of custodian status that humans have for the earth, the Vatican has classed environmental damage as a new deadly sin
[15:35] Avigail from Israel: that we're all one, and if you harm one thing you harm other things (including yourself) too
[15:35] Avigail from Israel: REALLY?! (@ Matt)
[15:35] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: yes indeed
[15:36] Avigail from Israel: That is impressive... and a bit scary...
[15:36] Avigail from Israel: I mean, if I pollute it's a deadly sin???
[15:36] Sharon from the Philippines: Wow, Matt! I must say this is the first time I've heard of this!
[15:36] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: It's fairly new
[15:36] Sharon from the Philippines: Also, did you hear about the The Assisi Declarations on Nature?
[15:36] Avigail from Israel: no... what is that?
[15:36] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: i think it's not particularly aimed at, say, me putting plastic in my bin
[15:37] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: but our dependency on oil is definately up for damnation
[15:37] Avigail from Israel: well it should be!
[15:37] Avigail from Israel: oh yeah...!
[15:37] Sarah from California: interesting... using religious ideology to frame the environmental debate
[15:38] Avigail from Israel: well, religion is used for so many things, it is about time it's used for this too!
[15:38] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article3517050.ece
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[15:38] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: this is the link
[15:38] Sharon from the Philippines: It says my last message wasn't delivered... nonetheless, its the declaration that was come up with by 5 leaders of the major religions of the world!
[15:38] Sarah from California: it was interesting what came out recently about the Archbishop of Canterbury's statements as well talking about "God will not intervene to save us"
[15:38] Sarah from California: saying we shouldn't count on being saved by God and neglect our duties here on Earth
[15:39] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: Yes, I read that with interest
[15:39] Sharon from the Philippines: You may click on this link to see some of the statements that came up with:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/rs/environment/histewardshipre...
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[15:39] Avigail from Israel: Sarah - link? I don't know what you are talking about...
[15:39] Avigail from Israel: Thanks Sharon!
[15:40] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: bbc bite size!
[15:40] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: I used that to study in school
[15:40] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom:
[15:40] Sarah from California: "Dr. Rowan Williams...said that God is not a 'safety net that guarantees a happy ending in this world.' He warned that the pillaging of resources meant it was facing a 'whole range of doomsday prospects' that went far beyond the consequences of global warming."
[15:40] Avigail from Israel: cool!
[15:40] Sarah from California: "Dr. Rowan Williams...said that God is not a 'safety net that guarantees a happy ending in this world.'
[15:40] Sharon from the Philippines: Noted Sarah. Sorry, will try to cut down on what I'm saying next. Hence, just posted the link so everyone can see.
[15:40] Sarah from California: He warned that the pillaging of resources meant it was facing a 'whole range of doomsday prospects' that went far beyond the consequences of global warming."
[15:41] Sarah from California: Link:
http://timescolumns.typepad.com/gledhill/2009/03/god-will-not-intervene-...
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[15:41] Avigail from Israel: [non-related - I'm looking at Michal's pictures from Mayapur but she doesn't have any tags or anything so I don't know who you guys are... Still jealous though ]
[15:41] Avigail from Israel: Thanks Sarah!
[15:42] Avigail from Israel: Can I say that I learned something interesting a few months ago - we had a lecturer from UCLA come talk to us...
[15:43] Avigail from Israel: and he talked about Messianic Christians and the doomsday Armageddon things
[15:43] Avigail from Israel: and how it's actually GOOD that we're ruining the earth because that would bring the Armageddon faster
[15:43] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: yeah
[15:43] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: the black sheep of the family
[15:43] Avigail from Israel: and then Jesus will return faster...
[15:44] Avigail from Israel: It was very strange to hear really...
[15:44] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: it's totally unscriptural and goes against the very example of Jesus
[15:44] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: it's based on a very limited and naive transliteration of the New Testament
[15:44] Avigail from Israel: that's what I thought, but I really don't know enough about Christianity to know...
[15:45] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: I will find some things on it for you
[15:45] Sarah from California: i think it is also a little dangerous to use the "doomsday" argument to make people change their ways
[15:45] Avigail from Israel: I've met Messianic Christians and they were all very nice, but we never got into environmental issues
[15:45] Avigail from Israel: Thanks!
[15:45] Sarah from California: it's a more fear-based approach... where what i personally feel we need is a more universal understanding of how we are all interconnected...
[15:46] Avigail from Israel: Sarah - I think so too - as in this case, the doomsday argument would just strengthen their case...!
[15:46] Avigail from Israel: I agree
[15:46] Sarah from California: i have some information about a solar cookers project one of our young leaders, Hannington from Uganda, is organizing, if you all would be interested to hear
[15:47] Avigail from Israel: solar cookers????
[15:47] Sharon from the Philippines: Sure, I would personally love to. It's great to hear of what we CAN actually do, to avert this crisis!
[15:47] Avigail from Israel: yes!
[15:47] Sarah from California: Okay, i will share some of what he wrote to me:
[15:47] Sarah from California: OUR ENVIRONMENT COMMITMENTS UGANDA
ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF ENERGY (SOLAR COOKING)
[15:48] Sarah from California: Principle 10 of URI makes calls for all of us to act from sound ecological practices to protect and preserve the earth for both present and future generations .with this in mind young leaders from Uganda dream of a world where global justice prevails ,a world of harmony between all people and life forms living on this life giving planet .
[15:48] Sarah from California: Principle 10 of URI makes calls for all of us to act from sound ecological practices to protect and preserve the earth for both present and future generations .
[15:48] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: I think the Doomsday talk of Dr. Williams (who is Welsh...hehe) was intended to use the language of end-times Christians in order to enter the debate with them and offer an opposite point of view
[15:48] Sarah from California: with this in mind young leaders from Uganda dream of a world where global justice prevails ,a world of harmony between all people and life forms living on this life giving planet .
[15:48] Sarah from California: "With a lot of energy in us we are creating awareness to the general public that we have wasted far too much of our countries energy resources through deforestation"
[15:49] Sarah from California: "Our commitment and greater efforts have been directed towards conservation by identifying alternative and more efficient technologies from solar cookers international"
[15:49] Sarah from California: "Solar cookers are efficient cooking devices that use heat from the sun to cook food and pasteurize water for drinking and are very efficient in Uganda because it shines almost every where"
[15:50] Sarah from California: "Solar cooking addresses many issues linked to poverty in the developing world because 90% of all food staples must be cooked before being eaten yet fuel for cooking is inadequate because of excessive deforestation leading to desertification"
[15:50] Avigail from Israel: that sounds so efficient! It would probably work well here too... The sun shines way too much... lol
[15:50] Sharon from the Philippines: I was thinking of the same for the Philippines too! lol!
[15:50] Sarah from California: "Deforestation is a world-wide problem in Africa people cook this way and are affected by deforestation and respiratory diseases
[15:50] Avigail from Israel: We have solar panels on all our houses, to heat water. At least that!
[15:51] Sharon from the Philippines: But its a good start, to actually do it in Uganda!
[15:51] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: lol, it wouldn't work in the uk
[15:51] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: but we do wind farms better than anyone
[15:51] Sarah from California: Young leaders from Uganda, Hannington wako, joy kemirembe, Paul bulamu, kigozi Joe and Despina Namwembe regional coordinator and others have come into a partnership with solar cookers association in Uganda to promote:
[15:51] Avigail from Israel: what does this method of cooking have to do with deforestation?
[15:51] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: firewood?
[15:51] Sarah from California: • Awareness and support for solar cooking , water pasteurization, cooker adaptation and production ,and micro enterprise development
[15:51] Avigail from Israel: but it's solar...
[15:52] Sharon from the Philippines: Oh I wish that were imposed here too.. Using solar energy! Now, its more of a choice... which not many people have taken too yet. Not very meainstream you see...
[15:52] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: right, so it reduces deforestation
[15:52] Sarah from California: it's an alternative to firewood
[15:52] Sarah from California: so they don't have to cut so many trees, leading to desertification!!!
[15:52] Avigail from Israel: micro-enterprise development in uganda! brilliant!!
[15:52] Sarah from California: they are also facilitating fundraising resources so that solar cookers can be availed to people in internally displaced peoples camps and refugee camps around the great lakes region to create peace in the environment and also
[15:54] Sharon from the Philippines: Yes, that's very good indeed!
[15:54] Sarah from California: they are doing some other environmental education projects as well,
[15:54] Sarah from California: they have formed a partnership with Solar Cookers International
[15:54] Avigail from Israel: that's so cool!
[15:54] Sarah from California:
http://solarcookers.org
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[15:55] Sarah from California: Augusto - what kind of projects are you all involved in in Brazil on the environment??
[15:55] Sarah from California: You mentioned Marilia was connected to ISER?
[15:55] BK Augusto from Brazil: Yes, I don't know what happenned to Marilia
[15:56] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: what is ISER?
[15:56] Avigail from Israel: just what i was about to ask...
[15:56] BK Augusto from Brazil: ISER means Institut of Studies of the Religion
[15:56] BK Augusto from Brazil: it's the Company that our CC uses
[15:56] BK Augusto from Brazil: one of the areas that ISER works in is environment.
[15:57] BK Augusto from Brazil: but I don't know very much about it
[15:57] BK Augusto from Brazil: I can ask Marilia to send omre informations for us
[15:57] Sarah from California: is there anything from your tradition, Brahma Kumaris, that relates to the topic of the environment?
[15:57] Sarah from California: that sounds like a great idea, Augusto
[15:58] BK Augusto from Brazil: Yes. Brahma Kumaris has the world's largest solar cooker
[15:58] BK Augusto from Brazil: in our headquarters, in Mount Abu, India
[15:58] Sarah from California: ! Really?? Wow!
[15:58] Sharon from the Philippines: Wow! Interesting.. I never knew that!
[15:59] BK Augusto from Brazil: It was originally designed to cater for 20,000 meals per day, during periods of peak solar radiation the system’s output has been sufficient to cook a maximum of 38,500 meals per day.
[16:00] Avigail from Israel: that's impressive!
[16:01] BK Augusto from Brazil: The research and development for this project is sponsored by the German Government.
[16:01] Sharon from the Philippines: Thank you two for your contributions! It was very enlightening indeed!
[16:02] Sarah from California: that's great- it was so interesting to hear from all of you!
[16:02] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: I just want to add that currently the world's largest wind farm is being built off of the coast of wales
[16:02] Avigail from Israel: But I want to do this again and try to find things we can do in our communities or something! I feel I have a lot to learn from you all!!
[16:02] Sarah from California: i feel like we need to continue the converation about the environment - and invite others to join us
[16:02] Sarah from California: wow! that is great
[16:02] Matthew From the rational and non-hippy United Kingdom: yeah
[16:03] Sarah from California: i wanted to share about a movement in the U.S. called
http://www.powershift09.org
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that got 12,000 youth to go to Washington D.C. to influence public policy
[16:03] Sarah from California: if you get a chance to check out the website, it has some great resources for how to lobby legislators around the environment
[16:04] Sarah from California: is there anything else you all would like to share??
[16:04] Sarah from California: Sharon - anything from your end about projects in the Philippines?
[16:04] Avigail from Israel: I'm going to go too. I bookmarked all the pages you guys linked so I can learn more later
[16:05] Sarah from California: great... thanks for joining us, Avi, it ws wonderful to hear your perspective!
[16:05] Sharon from the Philippines: Well, just the most recent thing perhaps I should share..
[16:05] Sharon from the Philippines: About the Earth Hour Celebration
Reports have it that the Philippines topped the Earth Hour participation!
[16:06] Sharon from the Philippines: With over 15 million Filipinos partcipating.. so that is very hopeful indeed!
[16:06] Sarah from California: wow...!
[16:06] Sarah from California: you all know how to mobilize the masses!
[16:06] Sarah from California: what did you do for Earth Hour?
[16:15] Sharon from the Philippines: They said that: Only a million Filipinos were estimated to have joined the 2016 Earth Hour and the 10-fold jump in the number of participants in 2009 was attributed by Sano to the Filipinos' increasing awareness about climate change and its effects.
[16:15] Sharon from the Philippines: Well, we turned of the lights and electricity from 8.30-9.. such as was done in the other countries.
wesome...
[16:16] Sarah from California: yes, it would be good to see how much electricity this saves. yes, like once a month!
[16:16] Sarah from California: i think we are all in process of raising our consciousness about what we each can do
[16:09] Sarah from California: when we see the results that comes from many people participating together, this will give us each more incentive to participate ourselves
[16:09] Sharon from the Philippines: Well said!
[16:09] Sarah from California: thank you for sharing that sharon! it is a simple act that we can all do...
[16:09] BK Augusto from Brazil: thanks, Sharon
[16:10] BK Augusto from Brazil: very good work!
[16:10] Sarah from California: yes, indeed...
[16:10] Sharon from the Philippines: Yes, I hope that we can all get motivated by it in perhaps regularizing this so that we could help save the environment!
[16:11] Sharon from the Philippines: That's alright, Sarah! It has been great spending these few moments to chat with you all!
[16:11] Sarah from California: Definitely! I can mention it in our newsletter as a simple act everyone can do
[16:11] Sharon from the Philippines: I have learnt a whole lot... and similarly will get on to reading the linked articles now!
[16:11] Sarah from California: thanks so much augusto and sharon, for your participation. spread the word for the next chat so we can bring on more people!
[16:11] Sarah from California: i have learned a lot as well...
[16:11] BK Augusto from Brazil: Thanks, Sarah, for the invitation.
[16:11] Sarah from California: it will be the last sunday of the month, at this time. topic: health and healing
[16:12] BK Augusto from Brazil: I read what you discussed before I come in,
[16:12] Sharon from the Philippines: Thank you for moderating this so well, Sarah and getting us all to speak!
[16:12] Sarah from California: so we can continue the discussion on environmental healing as well
[16:12] Sarah from California: no problem, my pleasure
16:12] BK Augusto from Brazil: and it was really very rich to read about environment in the religious perspective.
[16:13] Sarah from California: great!
[16:13] Sarah from California: take care, both of you... have a wonderful evening and week!
[16:14] Sharon from the Philippines: Shanti!
[16:14] BK Augusto from Brazil: Namaste for you.
[16:14] Sarah from California: Om Shanti...
16:14] Sarah from California:
[16:14] Sharon from the Philippines: Thank you too! And all the best, always!
[16:14] Sharon from the Philippines: Shanti!
[16:14] BK Augusto from Brazil: Namaste for you.
[16:14] Sarah from California: Om Shanti...
*****************
Sarah Talcott
United Religions Initiative
Youth Programs Director
mailto: stalcott@uri.org
Skype: sarita817
www.uri.org/youth
Phone: 1-415-561-2300 ex. 23