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Sikh Leaders commit Green Plan
to Reduce Global Warming
WSN
Network
New Delhi: UN
leaders and Sikh leaders met in New Delhi
this week to discuss the greening of the gurdwaras and schooling.
They endorsed at the conference a five year greening plan., which
includes a long-term commitment to transform gurdwaras into
ecologically sound buildings in terms of energy use, the types of
building materials used , and incorporating environmental education
into Sikh education curricula. ‘EcoSikh’ a five year plan crafted by
the U.S.
based Sikh Council on Religion and Education (SCORE), organizer of
the conference, will be used to disseminate ‘green knowledge’
throughout Sikh community in India and abroad to develop
environmental activism.
UN Assistant
Secretary-General Olav Kjorven from
New York
and Victoria Finlay of UK based Alliance of Religions and
Conservation (ARC) joined in this Sikh environmental summit. Among
those who attended and presented their views on this EcoSikh
conclave were Union Cabinet member Dr. Manohar Singh Gill, Secretary
of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Dilmegh Singh,
President of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC)
Paramjit Singh Sarna, Former Supreme Court Judge, Justice Kuldeep
Singh, MP Tarlochan Singh, and Vikram Singh Sahney of World Punjabi
Organization, Major General M.S. Chadha, Sikh Forum Secretay R. S
Chatwal, Artist Arpana Caur, Makhan Singh, Dr. Mohinder Singh and
many other Sikh politicians, artists, grass roots leaders, and
business leaders from all over India and abroad also participated.
Baba Sewa Singh of Khadoor Sahib, Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal and
Former Jathedar Prof. Manjit Singh were honored for their
environmental activism.
Dr. Farooq Beg
from Pakistan, who has documented trees associated with Sikh Gurus,
was also in attendance. A website depicting shrines related to Sikh
holy trees was launched by M.S. Gill.
“Sikh heritage
is known to have the balance for spiritual values and stewardship of
nature. Guru Nanak taught that nature is gift from God. Throughout
history Sikhs have stood for weak and downtrodden and it is
impressive that now you are ready to commit to protect nature. ”
said Olav Kjorven, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP’s
Director of Development Policy, in
New Delhi
for the conference. “Now, when we’re facing the challenge of
securing a liveable planet for our children and safeguarding
creation as we know it, the leadership of religions is
indispensable."
Dr. Rajwant
Singh, Chairman of SCORE said, “This is perhaps the first time that
so many Sikh leaders have gathered to declare their commitment to
save the planet. Sikhism teaches us to be environmentally conscious
and this conference with UN was an opportunity for Sikhs to
demonstrate to the world that we are ready to translate our beliefs
into action.” SCORE has launched a website www.ecosikh.org to start
worldwide participation of Sikhs in this movement.
8
July 2009
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