Green Newsletter - Celebrate Earth Day Special Edition

18 April 2021

Dear BK Green Community

Let's celebrate Earth Day 22nd April together! Here are a few programmes you can choose between. I am sure there are much more happening out there... let us know about your activities!

Earth Day Special | Awakening Channgel

BK Jayanti & Dr Vandana Shiva | Restore Our Earth |

22 April, 7:30pm Indian time IST - LINK

Be a Giver Like Mother Earth - Earth Day 2021
Brahma Kumaris Inner Space Glasgow

Rose Goodenough - LINK

Eco Yogis - Conversations on Healing Nature & Soul

STARTING Wednesday 21 April 6.00 - 6.45pm

(AEST - Sydney, Australia time) -  LINK

In celebration of nature, and encompassing Mother Earth Day (22 April) and Environment Day (5 June), we invite you to join in on 7 special conversations with some members of the International Brahma Kumaris Environment Initiative team. Our first conversation is with Sonja Ohlsson, founder and coordinator of the BK Environment Initiative. Others include:
Carolin Fraude, Golo Pilz, Juan J. Vazquez Millan, Rebecca Attwood, Sister Jayanti, Valeriane Bernard.

International Day of Conscience on Earth Day 2021
including Carolin Fraude

April 22, 3-5 pm GMT - LINK

TOGETHER FOR THE PLANET:
Interfaith Voices for More Ambitious Climate Action

with reflections by Valeriane

Apr 28, 2021 01:30 PM CET -- LINK

EARTHDAY.ORG’s mission is to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide. Growing out of the first Earth Day in 1970, EARTHDAY.ORG is the world’s largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 75,000 partners in over 190 countries to drive positive action for our planet.

Peaceful Greetings

Brahma Kumaris Eco

and your newsletter editors

Peter, Jignesh, Golo,

Arnold, Sonja

Eco WebPage

 

 

 

 

Green Newsletter - TREES are showing the way

2 April 2021

Dear BK Green Community

The health of our planet depends on trees.  Traditional cultures revered them and passed on remarkable understanding of all they provide for us.  Most people now recognise the urgent need to protect our trees and help many more grow to help heal the damage done to the Earth’s biosphere.  Remarkable projects are underway throughout the world to reforest deserts, build micro forests in cities, children are raising money to plant trees, people everywhere are waking up to the need to protect our trees and raising their voices to change our culture back towards one of guardianship and care towards our woodlands and forests.

In this newsletter, you can read our startling discovery about a 25 year long project initiated by Brother Jagdish planting vast numbers of trees in Indian cities.  Also how a magnificent 80 year Peepal tree was saved and transplanted in Shantivan, and thousands more trees planted there over the past 20 years, transforming the environment. And we also explore just how much trees have to teach us about enlightened ways of living - how we can all give remarkable life changing help to each other through our invisible connections. As trees do for each other.

So we have some fascinating links and articles in this Newsletter, all about trees: from heartwarming to truly mind blowing. Enjoy!

As COP approaches and the world turns it attention to what governments are willing to do for the health of our planet, we would really like to know about your relationship to trees - what you have done for them and what they have done for you during your life time.

with love,
Wendy Marshall

New Tree Project section on website

Article: Trees are showing the way by Wendy

Report: Tree Planting at India-One
Report: Tree Planting by Rural Wing

Video: Judi Dench My Passion for Trees

Video: Intelligent Trees - The Documentary by Prof. Suzanne Simard

UN Forest Day 21st March- Forest restoration: path to well-being

The Power of Good wishes - Supercharge your Network

Welcome to a new series of meditations inspired by our trees.

Tribute to Gulzar Dadi

We are all remembering our beloved Gulzar Dadi with deep appreciation for what she has done for humanity. You may like to watch an interview the Green team and Sister Jayanti had with Gulzar Dadi about the Golden Age in 2012.  It is available on the Jewels website;  search for Golden Age Interview Gulzar Dadi.

Be Inspired by Asia Got Talent
El Gamma's Touching Tribute To Mother Nature

Videos and Reports of Events
BK Shivani is our new Faith For Earth Counselar for India, see report
Conference of Youth for the Climate in Australia, see report
Urgently Addressing Climate Change as a Human Rights Issue with Sister Jayanti as panelist amongst others, from 26 March 2021, see video

Seeing the SDG's through the lens of value webinar, see video

Awareness and Commitment for Restoring Nature 6th Feb., see video

Women4Environment

WOmen in LEadership for Climate Action by UNEP Youth Group with Caroline as speaker amonst others, see video

Recommended articles

The Being of Change: Why our Minds Matter for Sustainability
by Christine Wamsler - An inspiring conversation between Sister Jayanti, European Director of Brahma Kumaris, and Christine Wamsler, Professor, Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies (LUCSUS). Founder & Director of the Contemplative Sustainable Futures Program

Arnold: Great initiative. Free courses about building a better future

Coming Up

www.earthday.org/

www.worldenvironmentday.global

Happy Easter
Brahma Kumaris Eco
and your newsletter editors 
Peter, Jignesh, Golo,
Arnold, Sonja

https://eco.brahmakumaris.org/

 

 

 

Green Newsletter for March - Theme Water, articles and much more

3 March 2021

Dear BK Green Community

 

Welcome to green news March 2021 for the worldwide BK community. It is now exactly 10 years since the first green newsletter for BKs. Our mailing list has grown to include more than 700 subscribers. It is with appreciation and gratitude that I look back on the intense journey of increasing the environmental awareness in our community. A journey we have done together with openness, willingness to learn and to serve.

 

It is also with great joy we can share information about another green newsletter that has just been issued. Brahma Kumaris Eco News for our contacts and friends. You can read more about it below.

 

Behind the constant pandemic news, the effects of climate change are accelerating significantly. You can find links to gripping articles further down in the newsletter, sent by engaged BKs.

 

Whatever the new normal in the Confluence Age will be, it will include stronger human connections which we can fill with kindness and meaning.

 

Happy reading and best of all

Sonja

 

 

BK Eco News for Contacts

 

The Brahma Kumaris Environment Initiative has just launched BK Eco News. Sister Jayanti writes the editorial and the theme in this first edition is Interfaith. You can see the first edition on this link

 

It will be issued 3 times per year. We hope you find this new opportunity useful. You are welcome to send the newsletter to your environment interested contacts in your country. One can subscribe to it at the bottom of the newsletter or on the webpage. Next edition will be around May; the theme will be our energy futures and Golo will be writing the editorial.

 

 

Documentation of activities

 

Documentation of Brahma Kumaris Environment Initiative UN related environment service from 2014-2020 has been created as a reference and inspiration.

 

 

UN World Water Day 22 March – Valuing Water
Read more about World Water Year – 2021

 

Water as a unifying and essential foundation for restoring personal, collective and ecological health as described in "A year of radical healing" by Codes for a Healthy Earth -

 

From Bettina: Water Stewardship – A personal story of love for water – a quote from the article "There are no unsacred places, there are only sacred places and desecrated places." Wendell Berry

 

BK Youth Climate Network event on the element on water: an experiential session with meditation, reflective writing and small groups exploring: 

• What is my relationship to the element of water? Seeing it now and also in the perspective of the cycle. 
• How and where does water show up in my life?
• What is the value of water in my life and in general?
• What is the role/part of water?
• What qualities does water mirror in myself?
• What can I learn from the element of water?
• Let your imagination wander over the world - what do you see, hear of feel from the element of water?
• What does water have to say to me?
• What message do I have for water?

 

Video links

New meditation video to accompany the ChangeMaker Workshop. Made by Sister Rose in Glasgow

 

The Dalai Lama and Greta Thunberg in conversation with leading scientists on the crisis of climate feedback loops.

 

Recommended event

Stop the Plastic Tide - How to Solve the Plastic Problem
WASUP in collaboration with Sylvia and Leicester BK center.
Thursday 4th March at 3 pm CET. Register and info

 

 

 

 

“Making choices that care for ourselves and the planet” – A conversation on scientific knowledge and spiritual awareness

15 February 2021

Brahma Kumaris hosted an online event in collaboration with Faith for the Climate, as a contribution to Green Faith’s Living the Change project. 

 

The speakers were Canon Giles Goddard, Chairperson of the Faith for the Climate network and Vicar of St John’s Church, Waterloo, London; Sister Jayanti, Director of Brahma Kumaris Centres for Europe and the Middle East; and Prof. Dr. Mark Lawrence, scientific director at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies in Potsdam.

 

When it comes to such a crucial issue as climate change, we may sometimes doubt whether our individual choices can make any kind of meaningful impact on a situation of such magnitude and complexity.  Yet the kind of change needed today will not happen just through hope or wishful thinking. It may only be when each one of us takes that personal responsibility to make changes in our own lives that we will see the kind of quantum shift needed in the world to bring about transformational change.  To explore the importance of our choices today, we join three speakers in conversation who are all leaders in their field, three people whose lives and choices have for many years reflected their value and caring for the Earth.

 

 

 

 

 

Brahma Kumaris Contributions to UNEA5: The Fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly - Wednesday, February 3rd and Saturday, February 6th

5 February 2021

Live transmission:

• ZOOM links to both programs: tiny.cc/bkunea5
• Facebook Brahma Kumaris Environment Initiative: www.facebook.com/ecobrahmakumaris
• YouTube: BK Environment

 

Wednesday, February 3rd: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Through the Lens of Values

 

 

Click on the above image to watch the replay of this event [1:38:05]: https://youtu.be/gdCl8LXIaKY

 

Universal values are what enable the SDGs to be truly transformative, by placing the person and their inherent dignity at the heart of development efforts, empowering all people to become active partners in this endeavour. What are the guiding values to achieve SDGs, thus a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature? The secret behind the beauty of nature is to give unconditionally. The law of nature is to plant seeds of happiness, respect, and love. It will all then come back to us in abundance.

 

Speakers:

• Iyad Abumoghli, Ph.D., Principal Advisor, Strategic Engagement with Faith-based Organizations, UN Environment
• Francesca de Gasparis, Executive Director at SAFCEI (Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute)
• Aneta Loj, R&D Coordinator at India One Solar Thermal Power Plant; Director of Brahma Kumaris Poland
• Nisreen Elsaim, president of the Sudan Youth for Climate Change and on the UN's Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change

 

Moderator:
Shantanu Mandal, India - Youth representative of the Brahma Kumaris to UN Environment Program Major Group for Children and Youth

 

Saturday, February 6th: Inner awareness and commitment for restoring nature

 

 

Click on the above image to watch live or replay: https://youtu.be/VTL-XrUC8r0

 

Our daily life on earth is suddenly and drastically changing right now because of the epidemic growth of global challenges. However, challenges can be carriers of innate blessings if viewed from an inner perspective. All our world problems may have their solution in spirituality. The world is experiencing an important shift in consciousness “inside – out”. A peaceful mind can silently find accurate solutions to every problem.

 

Speakers:

• Fr. Joshtrom Isaac Kureethadam, Coordinator of the Sector of “Ecology and Creation” at the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and Director of the Institute of Social and Political Sciences at the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome
• Liza Zogib, Founder and Director of DiversEarth, Switzerland
• Maureen Goodman, Program Director for the Brahma Kumaris UK and BK representative at the UN, Vienna.

Moderator: David Ngigi Munene, Program Manager, CYNESA, Kenya

 

 

 

 

‘Restoring the Climate: I am the Solution’ – Young Adult Climate Change Conference 2021, Feb 5-7

5 February 2021

The Brahma Kumaris are hosting an online FREE CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE FOR YOUNG ADULTS (18 to 35-year-olds) from 5-7 February 2021.

 

Let's collaborate on climate change action in Australia – network with new contacts – hear from experts!

 

About the Conference:

The Brahma Kumaris Australia has been accepted to host the LCOY (Local Conference of Youth) in Australia in 2021 by the Working Group of YOUNGO, the official Youth Constituency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).  The Conference is Free, Online and will be held from Friday 5th February 6.30 pm – Sunday 7th February 1.00 pm.  It is open to youth aged 18-35 years.  Registration is Compulsory.

 

An LCOY is an event under the umbrella of YOUNGO which aims to (1) be a space to educate young people more about environmental issues, network, support and boost youth climate action locally, and (2) create input into the international conferences like COY (Conference of Youth) and COP (Conference of Parties).

 

Promo Trailor: https://youtu.be/GVa4vCm-Or0

Find out more: tiny.cc/lcoyaustralia2021

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/131835787389/