Interfaith Actions for the Environment

7 July 2017
brochure for the URI young leaders

URI Young Leaders Program

Live Chat on Interfaith Actions for the Environment

July 25th, 2010 14:00 GMT / UTC

 

Participating: Karin(Green Prophet) – Israel, Anqa – Pakistan, Dominic – Australia, Peter Frank Womack – Ohio, US, Tareq – Palestine, Elyse (Greenfaith Australia) – Australia, Irfan – Pakistan, Ishilta – Philippines, Sarah – California, US, Naoufal – Morocco, Christophe – Luxemburg, Francisco – Argentina, Shazia – Pakistan

First, a summary of some links and resources that were shared during the conversation:

[06:57] Karin (Green Prophet): Hi everyone. Karin from Green Prophet...

[06:57] Dominic333: it's me Dominic!

[06:57] sarah from california?, us: Hi Karin and Dominic, welcome!

[06:58] sarah from california, us: so we have folks from Australia, Philippines and Israel - is that right, Karin? and USA

[06:58] Karin (Green Prophet): Where is everyone chatting from?

[06:58] Karin (Green Prophet): You answered my question. Yes, I am in Jaffa, Israel right now.

[06:59] sarah from california, us: glad you all could make it...  others should be joining soon

[06:59] Karin (Green Prophet): Shalom!

[06:59] sarah from california, us: Shabbat Shalom to you (belated)...

[06:59] sarah from california, us: I'm not sure if everyone got a chance to review Karin's organization's website, www.greenprophet.com

[07:00] sarah from california, us: it's such a great source of information especially about environmental happenings in the middle east

[07:00] Karin (Green Prophet): If Shabbat Shalom comes late, we say Shavoa Tov, which means have a good week.

[07:00] Dominic333: ishilta so are you doing something for the full moon?

[07:00] sarah from california, us: Shavoa Tov to all...

 [07:01] ish: Sarah also asked me that question. Still waiting for my friends to organize. the full moon falls on a monday here in the Phils.

 [07:01] Dominic333: I saw the moon today

[07:01] Dominic333: and it looked stunning

[07:01] Dominic333: (tonight*)

[07:02] sarah from california, us: yes it looked nearly full last night for us as well

[07:02] ish: yep. it was beautiful!

[07:02] Dominic333: it has like an aura around it

 [07:02] sarah from california, us: what do you and your friends normally do to celebrate the full moon, ishilta?

 [07:03] ish: we usually hold fire ceremonies for the healing of the land and the people. we open sacred space, light the fire and give offerings to the fire

[07:03] Anqa (Pakistan): Hello all

 [07:04] sarah from california, us: welcome, Anqa! glad you can make it...

[07:04] Dominic333: hello! ap khairiyat se hai?

[07:04] elyse: hi, elyse here

 [07:04] sarah from california, us: it is switched for you now... thanks for joining, elyse!

[07:05] sarah from california, us: wonderful, shall we begin?

 [07:05] sarah from california, us: perhaps we could each briefly introduce ourselves and say why we are passionate about taking action for the environment ... let's go in the order on the right hand side

[07:06] Anqa (Pakistan): Han g Dominic hum sub kheryat sa hyn... thank U

 [07:06] sarah from california, us: i was just recently in colorado at a conference called Generation Waking Up and we were working on how to bring the issues of environmental healing, social justice and spiritual well-being together through a training for young leaders

[07:06] sarah from california, us: ok dominic, please proceed, we may have different orders...

 [07:07] elyse: ok, i'm interested in the way interfaith work can become more 'grounded' for the benefit of the earth and our human relationships. That’s why I'm studying this kind of work in my thesis and also started greenfaith australia

[07:07] Karin (Green Prophet): I am Karin and I founded Green Prophet www.greenprophet.com to explore the environmental issues at stake in the Middle East.

[07:07] Dominic333: ok, i believe that we have to protect the environment

[07:07] Dominic333: because it's a place of immense diversity

07:08] Dominic333: I read about forests in Brazil being burnt down

[07:08] Dominic333: and who knows what plants were inside

[07:08] Anqa (Pakistan): Im a chemist and we always try to use environment friendly chemicals called green chemistry

[07:09] sarah from california, us: wonderful, and Ishilta?

[07:09] elyse: Karin, I think at the global assembly the greenfaith president, jessiee, made us and green prophet sister/brother orgs. we're making a silk banner to send to you guys in a few weeks.

[07:09] Karin (Green Prophet): Oh great. Ira told me about the wonderful time he had.

[07:09] ish: Hi everyone, I'm Ishilta from the Philippines. The kind of spirituality I practice is earth-based spirituality.

[07:09] ish: I believe in the interconnectedness of life and that I feel I am called to do this work to heal the environment through the way of ceremonial prayer.

07:10] elyse: ish, do you know sarah who worked for the regional office? she is interested in that too

[07:10] ish: Yes, we've met during the seapac assembly

[07:10] sarah from california, us: beautiful... does our new guest also want to share a brief introduction?

[07:12] sarah from california, us: okay, maybe they are still adjusting...  Karin would you like to start us off by maybe sharing some examples of interfaith cooperation happening in the middle east around the environment?

[07:12] sarah from california, us: i'm sure we would all love to hear some good news...

[07:13] ish: definitely

 [07:14] Karin (Green Prophet): In Israel there are a lot of efforts to get people working together. But it's more based on culture than religion per say.

 [07:14] Karin (Green Prophet): People here live in separate communities based on their religions.

[07:14] Dominic333: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoAOIX60Ot8

 [07:15] Karin (Green Prophet): There is a new project in the north of Israel to get mayors from Arab towns to cooperate with mayors from Jewish ones. So that sewage doesn't go into the sea. They work together to make new bills and laws in the government.

07:16] elyse: Karin, do you think religion is important to environmentalism in your region?

[07:16] Karin (Green Prophet): It is essential.

[07:16] Karin (Green Prophet): It defines family values.

[07:16] Karin (Green Prophet): What people eat.

[07:16] Karin (Green Prophet): What they do on the weekends.

[07:16] Dominic333: does tikkun olam come into it?

[07:16] Karin (Green Prophet): How they travel.

[07:16] Karin (Green Prophet): For Jewish people maybe.

[07:17] Karin (Green Prophet): But most environmentalists in Israel who are Jewish don't think that way.

[07:17] Karin (Green Prophet): They just feel it is an imperative.

[07:17] Dominic333: ok

[07:17] Anqa (Pakistan): I think only religion can play a role no one else

[07:17] Karin (Green Prophet): They feel like the environment includes social issues, and that includes helping their Palestinian brothers in the West Bank for example, who are Christian and Muslim.

[07:17] sarah from california, us: Anqa - so religion is also a defining teacher in your culture as well?

[07:17] Karin (Green Prophet): They feel like the environment includes social issues, and that includes helping their Palestinian brothers in the West Bank for example, who are Christian and Muslim.

 [07:18] Peter Frank Womack: My name is Peter F Womack and I am from Cleveland Heights, Ohio. I have always been interested, generally, with the environment. I think it is from my Seminole side: wanting to keep the environment in the way that we find it.

[07:19] Peter Frank Womack: But as I have learned more about religion, I have learned about the interdependence that humans have with animals and the environment. This makes environmentalism more spiritual.

[07:19] Anqa (Pakistan): here only people listen to the religion may negative or positive

[07:19] sarah from california, us: i was interested to see on the website, karin, about the green festival happening in iran - the persian autumn festival of Mehregan, which has Zoroastrian roots

 [07:20] elyse: is the relationship between intercultural peace and environmental healing apparent? i don't think it is in australian environmentalism so much..

[07:20] Karin (Green Prophet): Yes. We have a writer from Iran...

[07:20] Karin (Green Prophet): It's interesting to see where religious beliefs derived.

[07:20] Dominic333: I never knew about Mehregan! Only Nowruz...

[07:20] Peter Frank Womack: One problem that I think faces environmentalism is that humans have yet to learn how to proficiently love each other and i think effective environmentalism must include this element as well.

[07:20] Anqa (Pakistan): If we will say religion should say something positive for the environment in order to save it them maybe people will do something in our area

[07:20] ish: In the philippines, the mainstream religions rarely speak of environmental issues. The ones that are in the forefront of environmental activism are the ones in the periphery

 [07:21] ish: ...those who are into non-mainstream spiritualities including the indigenous spirituality and other earth-based spirituality.

[07:21] Karin (Green Prophet): Now Noruz and Mehregan. Looks like there is a connection to Paganism there.

[07:21] ish: and I think that made a lot of sense because these non-mainstream form of spiritualities are more attuned to he rhythms and wisdom of the earth

[07:21] sarah from california, us: (@ anqa - i was very sorry to hear about the recent killings in pakistan. i hope you and your loved ones are safe)

[07:21] Karin (Green Prophet): Interesting to see how the traditions survived despite a less tolerant government in place.

[07:21] Karin (Green Prophet): In Iran.

[07:22] sarah from california, us: yes! that was what encouraged me especially...about that posting about Iran

[07:23] Karin (Green Prophet): I love exposing the religious teachings in other religions too... ones that really apply to many people.

[07:23] Anqa (Pakistan): Sarah.....Yes thank God we are safe. But it happened in our neighbourhood. situation still to bad

[07:23] sarah from california, us: it was interesting to learn that many of the oft-celebrated religious traditions in the christian faith are tied at their roots to pagan ceremonies - like easter, (from the goddess eostre) and christmas being celebrated at the winter solstice, etc.

[07:23] elyse: paganism and indigenous traditions are clearly connected to earth ... but how do we transform our faiths and cultures in a highly globalised industrial world now?

[07:23] Karin (Green Prophet): And Earth-based roots at the core.

[07:24] Karin (Green Prophet): Go back to basics.

[07:24] sarah from california, us: good question Elyse

[07:24] Peter Frank Womack: How do we connect loving the environment with loving each other (the stranger)? I believe this is essential.

[07:24] ish: very true Sarah! the old ways managed to survived in a different incarnation

[07:24] Dominic333: Protect our parks!

[07:24] Karin (Green Prophet): See every issue as an environmental one.

[07:24] Karin (Green Prophet): What you eat, what you breathe, what you buy. What you pray for. What you preach.

[07:25] Dominic333: Build a nest on a sky-scraper!

[07:25] Karin (Green Prophet): The environment is not a religion. We faith-lovers can remind people that.

[07:25] sarah from california, us: yes, peter, i also see that environmental and social justice are inextricably linked... in a recent video i saw van jones saying we have a mentality of throw-away things, throw-away creatures and throw-away people

[07:25] ish: in the native american tradition, for instance, there is a famous saying or prayer "mitakuye oyasin”

[07:25] Dominic333: "all is one"?

[07:25] Anqa (Pakistan): Pakistan had 0.8% forests now just 0.2% are remaining

[07:25] ish: ..which means "all my relations". We are all one and interconnected. What harms one harms the many, what heals one heals us all

[07:25] Karin (Green Prophet): The native Americans were very environmental. The most. They didn't even leave buildings standing.

[07:26] Anqa (Pakistan): 2%

[07:26] sarah from california, us: that is very sad Anqa

[07:26] Dominic333: In Mauritius it's the same 2%!

[07:26] Karin (Green Prophet): Deforestation is a global problem.

[07:26] Karin (Green Prophet): But not all societies should have forests.

[07:26] elyse: do you think we need a new belief system that connects different faiths on these questions of eco-ethics and spirituality?

[07:26] Karin (Green Prophet): In deserts for examples.

[07:26] Anqa (Pakistan): yes people know nothing about environment here

[07:26] sarah from california, us: i think that caring for creation is a value that can be found in all traditions - we just need to unearth it... no pun intended

[07:27] Karin (Green Prophet): No new belief system needed. We need to extract each from our own, and share.

[07:27] Karin (Green Prophet): One needs to define caring.

[07:27] Dominic333: there is something in each religion i feel that accommodates for the environment

[07:27] Karin (Green Prophet): It can be different for each.

[07:27] elyse: I agree, i like 'bio-cultural' diversity

[07:27] Dominic333: St Francis Xavier in Christianity!

[07:28] ish: I think that we should be aware that we only live in one big ecosystem. People believed for a long time that we are separate and there is a concept of a "far away place"

[07:28] Karin (Green Prophet): I like diversity. As it is in nature.

[07:28] Peter Frank Womack: i think humanity has been caught up in economic competition for the past few centuries. We are now at a time where we need economic cooperation that includes environmental conservation and restoration. It requires a comprehensive behavioural shift.

[07:28] sarah from california, us: there is the resource: the green rule, do you all know it? http://www.greeningsacredspaces.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3&Itemid=4

[07:28] Karin (Green Prophet): The mobilization of governments.

[07:29] Dominic333: In Madagascar they have an Animistic tradition so there are spirits living in the forests

[07:29] Karin (Green Prophet): Neat poster.

[07:29] Dominic333: and certain animals were taboo i think

[07:29] Anqa (Pakistan): yes Sarah the same rule on which we are working in our labs

[07:29] Dominic333: but even with that, deforestation become big

[07:29] Peter Frank Womack: interesting, sarah.

[07:29] ish: and that the natural world is a gift from Creator and therefore as stewards of creation, we should continue preserving it and respecting it

[07:29] elyse: Mary evelyn tucker talks about religions entering an ecological phase in this global era, that we all need to focus on that aspect of our traditions, her work is worth checking out

[07:30] sarah from california, us: Elyse, can you tell us about what inspired you to start Greenfaith Australia and how it evolved?

[07:30] Anqa (Pakistan): here in our side authorities are involved in deforestation

[07:30] sarah from california, us: I heard her speak recently... She is great!

[07:30] elyse: I saw the connection between ecofaith and interfaith work in US

[07:30] Peter Frank Womack: are there any Buddhists or Hindus here? it seems that in these religions, there is a direct teaching of the interdependence of life and sensitivity towards the environment. is this right?

[07:31] Dominic333: Yes, very true.

[07:31] ish: I agree, Peter

[07:31] Dominic333: I was reading an article by Thich Nhat Hanh

[07:31] Dominic333: comparable to modern society

[07:31] Karin (Green Prophet): everyone should read Silent Spring by Rachel Carson. It's the Bible of the modern environment movement.

[07:31] Peter Frank Womack: i think in the West, there has been an emphasis of having "dominion" over the Earth. and this has led to manipulating the Earth for economic gain. How do we change this at the root of it?

[07:31] Dominic333: where there was a tree in a town and it was the only tree but everybody would come and look at it. Thich Nhat Hanh is a famous Vietnamese buddhist

[07:31] elyse: so i wanted to see if there was any room or interest for that in australiaesp melbourne. so I put the word out and there has been a growing interest. that is how it started

 [07:31] ish: I'm actually a Tibetan Buddhist technically

 [07:32] Karin (Green Prophet): I think monotheistic religions in general advocate dominion over the earth.

[07:33] sarah from california, us: @elyse how are things now, after the walking humbly project?

[07:33] Peter Frank Womack: one teaching i like about Thich Nhat Hanh is how he describes the sunshine becoming the plant and when we consume the plant, we consume the sunshine and sunshine becomes part of who we are.

[07:33] Dominic333: I agree Karin

[07:33] elyse: I don't think we can change that dominion idea easily. it is at the core of our lifestyles and is spreading all over the world now - our global economic and trade system depends on eco-externalities.

[07:33] Karin (Green Prophet): We don't need to change it. But live with it.

[07:33] Dominic333: but there are people working to change that, I hope they do

[07:34] sarah from california, us: i think we need to become more aware of all the processes involved in the making of the things we consume

[07:34] Karin (Green Prophet): To know that to have dominion comes a responsibility.

[07:34] ish: modern man has forgotten that we are all at equal footing with the rest of creation. There's no hierarchy actually. We've lost the Sacred Feminine values of seeing everything as alive, of seeing everything in nature as divine, as an ally

[07:34] sarah from california, us: the price we are paying for things does not include the price of all the resources that were exploited and people that were affected by the waste produced along the way

[07:34] Karin (Green Prophet): I wouldn't call AIDS my ally.

[07:35] Karin (Green Prophet): Or cancer.

[07:35] ish: at least a teacher

[07:35] Anqa (Pakistan): All the time media talk about this environment problem but noone understand

[07:35] sarah from california, us: we have to realize that we will face the consequences of our short-term vision eventually... that will change the "dominion" myth

[07:35] Karin (Green Prophet): I don't believe it's a myth.

[07:35] sarah from california, us: i like this quote from julia butterfly hill, "when we throw things away, there is no away..."

[07:36] elyse: i wonder if humanity will need a huge crisis before fundamental change happens...

[07:36] sarah from california, us: how so?

[07:36] Karin (Green Prophet): There are crises all the time.

[07:36] Peter Frank Womack: Karin, i think that is just one interpretation. In whole, there is a symbiosis that is taught. There is a difference between being a "steward" and having "dominion."

[07:36] ish: the key is to live in harmony with nature, not control nature

[07:36] Dominic333: "God said unto them, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.""

[07:36] Karin (Green Prophet): Sure.

[07:36] elyse: one that affects those in power- crisis that affect poor people are sadly ignored...

 [07:37] ish: in living in harmony with nature, there is cooperation. Indigenous people understood the processes of nature and respect those

[07:37] Dominic333: I see what you mean Peter

 [07:37] Tareq Palestine: Greetings to you all from Turkey

[07:38] Dominic333: Salaam Tareq

[07:38] Karin (Green Prophet): Hi Tareq

 [07:38] ish: bec they knew tampering with mother nature has consequences

 [07:38] sarah from california, us: what are you doing in Turkey?

 [07:38] Tareq Palestine: I am in an International Conference

 [07:38] Karin (Green Prophet): Yes. What are you doing? Changing the world.

[07:38] Karin (Green Prophet): ?

[07:38] Tareq Palestine: sure, changing the world

[07:39] ish: that takes a lot of hard work

[07:39] Peter Frank Womack: "Elohim blessed them. Elohim said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply. Settle the land and preserve it. Care for the fish in the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that lives on the Earth."

[07:39] Peter Frank Womack: see, much can be differentiated in translation.

[07:39] sarah from california, us: that is an interesting translation, peter

 [07:40] Karin (Green Prophet): There are translations, and then there are interpretations.

[07:40] Tareq Palestine: The topic of today is really important

[07:40] Tareq Palestine: and we have a great guest

[07:40] Karin (Green Prophet): Any of your volunteers working on eco stuff now tareq?

[07:40] Karin (Green Prophet): You mentioned recycling paper cards...?

[07:40] sarah from california, us: i think, nature is a great teacher... we have to all live in balance. so whatever our religious texts say, we should strive to live in balance with the Earth. ultimately we need that for our the sustainability of our human race and of the planet

[07:41] Tareq Palestine: yes, we have actually 2 of our members are working in Environment

[07:41] Karin (Green Prophet): What do each of you think sustainability means?

[07:41] ish: i think that religions should pay attention to environmental concerns. Because with or without our religious labels, we are all citizens of this planet. And together we will experience the consequences if we do not act upon it

[07:41] Dominic333: Karin I was reading about an ancient technique for saving water they had discovered in Israel

[07:41] Karin (Green Prophet): There are many old techniques and wisdom that the middle east can share.

[07:42] Tareq Palestine: you remember Karin the conference which we organized together in MENA about Environment

[07:42] Dominic333: Palestine and Jordan

[07:42] Karin (Green Prophet): I am fascinated with the windcatchers of Yadz.

[07:42] sarah from california, us: great, karin, what are some of these?

[07:42] Karin (Green Prophet): Of course I remember Tareq.

[07:42] elyse: there are also lots of new technologies.. its not a tech problem its a will problem... which I think is why we need the power of religion behind eco-development

[07:42] Karin (Green Prophet): Tareq and I were part of a group that organized an enviro blogging conference in Amman

[07:43] Tareq Palestine: It was an interesting event and we still have its fruits up to today

[07:43] Karin (Green Prophet): Not just religion, but the culture developed out of religion.

[07:43] Karin (Green Prophet): I feel the effects too.

 [07:43] Dominic333: it was a Nabataean water collecting system

[07:43] Tareq Palestine: our Palestinian members who are doing an eco-village in Palestine are cooperating with the other participants from Israel and Jordan

[07:43] Karin (Green Prophet): Religion is a starting point.

[07:44] Karin (Green Prophet): The ancients used to collect dew for bread from stones.

[07:44] ish: correct, that's why environmental issues transcend religious barriers because it applies to all of us

[07:44] Karin (Green Prophet): In the desert.

[07:44] sarah from california, us: that's an amazing project, tareq! what is the vision for the eco-village?

[07:44] Dominic333: many faiths, one planet!

[07:44] Peter Frank Womack: i agree with sarah in that i believe the actual cost of environmental degradation has not been included. By including such costs in the price of products, we intrinsically change the behaviour of individuals. To do this, we need to influence government.

[07:44] elyse: Tareq, sounds like a great project - how did it happen?

[07:44] Karin (Green Prophet): Bustan Qaraaqa?

[07:44] Karin (Green Prophet): http://www.greenprophet.com/2008/09/15/2786/bustan-qaraaqa/

[07:45] Tareq Palestine: yes, it is actually a project that is implemented in a nice village called Marda

[07:45] elyse: was it hard to get the cooperation happening between the different faiths?

[07:45] Dominic333: in Australia we're talking about carbon credits

[07:45] Tareq Palestine: and it is organized by two members of our Palestinian CC Volunteering for Peace

[07:45] Tareq Palestine: it is a first step to an econ-village

[07:45] Dominic333: i think they're doing it in other countries too

[07:45] Peter Frank Womack: http://gen.ecovillage.org/

[07:46] Karin (Green Prophet): http://www.greenprophet.com/2009/12/26/15019/global-green-palestine-marda/

[07:46] ish: Another good point. People for example tend to disregard the value of water because the price of water is "cheap". They think that as long as they can pay the bills, they have the right to use water as much as they please

[07:46] Karin (Green Prophet): We wrote about them. Read Wael's interview.

[07:46] sarah from california, us: reading the article... very interesting!

[07:46] Karin (Green Prophet): The cost of water is usually subsidized

[07:46] Tareq Palestine: Thanks a lot Karim, yes you can see further info about it at our lovely Environmental site Green Prophet

[07:46] Tareq Palestine: which is also a CC in MENA region

[07:46] Karin (Green Prophet): water is actually expensive.

[07:46] Karin (Green Prophet): it takes a lot of electricity to pump and filter and clean

[07:47] Karin (Green Prophet): Ah... Tareq... you make me blush.

[07:47] Anqa (Pakistan):  but people waste it easily

[07:47] Karin (Green Prophet): True. They do. Washing cars and such.

[07:47] Karin (Green Prophet): And in agriculture.

[07:47] ish: the value of water is often undermined especially in places surrounded by water like the Philippines. They thought water is everywhere

[07:47] Dominic333: in the old times people used to drink the water from the rivers and bathe in them

[07:47] Peter Frank Womack: with the actual environmental cost included in the price of products, business finds its own innovations in environmentalism and this is what we need. how do we start calculating environmental costs?

 [07:48] ish: but when water shortage strikes, that's the time people only realize the true value of water

[07:48] Karin (Green Prophet): There are research firms who calculate the true environment costs of actions/products/commodities.

[07:48] Dominic333: we live in a world where it's hard to find clean rivers!

[07:48] sarah from california, us: if someone wanted to start an eco-village in their own community, what steps could they take?

[07:48] Peter Frank Womack: any websites, karin?

[07:48] elyse: I believe that embedding eco-costs is really one of the only ways forward - including carbon, water and waste 'tax'

[07:48] Karin (Green Prophet): Starting an eco-village?

[07:48] Karin (Green Prophet): First start at home. The village will come.

[07:48] elyse: would have to be global to work though...

[07:49] Karin (Green Prophet): Best is to make your existing home more eco friendly instead of building something new.

[07:49] Karin (Green Prophet): That's a big misconception in the eco world.

[07:49] Karin (Green Prophet): Insulate your windows.

[07:49] Anqa (Pakistan): first step should be plant more trees and plants

[07:49] Karin (Green Prophet): Get rid of chemicals.

[07:49] Karin (Green Prophet): Trees are good to produce shade in summer, insulation in winter.

[07:50] Anqa (Pakistan): cant get rid of (chemicals) Karin

[07:50] Dominic333: elyse, first people must learn that they must accept the taxes

[07:50] elyse: i mean the tax not the village/ house.. sorry

[07:50] Dominic333: when people first hear taxes they think negatively

[07:50] elyse: yes, they have accepted other taxes eg our GST here

[07:50] Karin (Green Prophet): Taxes are good. Incentives.

[07:50] Anqa (Pakistan): ye plants and water is main thing

[07:50] sarah from california, us: i think Transition Towns is also a good resource if there are people interested in greening"their own homes, then communities, etc. http://transitiontowns.org/

[07:50] Peter Frank Womack: the Global Ecovillage Network used to offer a questionaire for people to ask our own communities about the community's compliance with environmental protocols.

[07:50] Peter Frank Womack: From this questionaire, people are provided with suggestions as to how to make our communities more eco friendly.

[07:51] Karin (Green Prophet): neat resource. you know a lot sarah!

[07:51] sarah from california, us: learning...

[07:51] Dominic333: what about overpopulation?

[07:51] elyse: I like transition towns coz they look to the future, they are not chasing a dream of returning to an indigenous life, which is impossible with current population. very empowering, no despair

[07:52] sarah from california, us: it's a process. i agree with you that it's often easier to think of starting something new than thinking of how we can change our existing lifestyle

[07:52] Karin (Green Prophet): We won't return unless we are forced to.

[07:52] Peter Frank Womack: does anybody know what the international green parties are doing with regards to the environment, especially implementing taxation/actual cost of environmental degradation?

[07:52] ish: and we should strive to put a closure to the era of oil and instead develop eco-friendly and sustainable energy sources

[07:52] Karin (Green Prophet): Now it's a bit of a romantic notion.

[07:52] Karin (Green Prophet): Companies are working on it but it will take many years.

[07:52] Karin (Green Prophet): We still oil in the meantime.

[07:52] Dominic333: i think poverty and overconsumption are hurting the environment bad

[07:53] Karin (Green Prophet): The West is driving that hurt.

[07:53] elyse: any hopes politically on the global level were very much undermined with the lack of cooperation at copenhagen

[07:53] Anqa (Pakistan): thats true incereasing population is main factor

[07:53] Dominic333: yeah, like in the philippines

[07:53] Dominic333: correct me if i'm wrong ish

[07:53] Dominic333: but many poor people cut down the trees

[07:53] Dominic333: to survive

[07:53] Dominic333: which leads to flooding...

[07:53] sarah from california, us: what would you say the average citizen can do to make an impact around climate change - to influence governments? i think for many it seems like a pipe dream now that our governments will actually collaborate

[07:54] ish: true as with most developing countries

[07:54] elyse: yes, massive correlation between poverty and eco-degradation

[07:54] Karin (Green Prophet): Join a grassroots project.

[07:54] Karin (Green Prophet): Act locally.

[07:54] Karin (Green Prophet): Start recycling facility

[07:54] Karin (Green Prophet): Reuse projects

[07:54] Karin (Green Prophet): Cooking classes.

[07:54] Karin (Green Prophet): Gardening.

[07:54] elyse: that is also why we need a global economic shift to tackle poverty and ecological crisis jointly

[07:55] sarah from california, us: will this actually influence governments? or are we creating alternative communities that are self-sufficient? how can we hold our governments accountable?

[07:55] ish: there have been success stories of small towns in the philippines who managed to become zero-waste and transform the waste to cash by recycling and many more

[07:55] Karin (Green Prophet): Lobby.

 [07:55] elyse: question is, will the world's religions get behind the cause?

[07:55] ish: political will is the key here

[07:55] Tareq Palestine: ? what do you think about the environment occupation? did you hear this expression bfore?

[07:55] irfan: hi everyone

[07:55] Karin (Green Prophet): Governments are only as strong as their people.

[07:56] sarah from california, us: yes, along that line there is another URI Cooperation Circle called Interfaith Power and Light that does precisely that - lobby the government around climate change... they have chapters across the US

[07:56] Peter Frank Womack: Peace, Irfan.

 [07:56] Karin (Green Prophet): Religion can help but it won't be the only thing. Local efforts, laws, the media.

[07:56] sarah from california, us: Hi Irfan, wonderful you could make it! I am glad it finaly worked...

 [07:56] ish: elyse, I think they should. religions are very powerful forces in the society. And when they put their resources together to achieve a common end, success is very possible

[07:56] Dominic333: i read an article about slums in brazil

 [07:57] Dominic333: they were being blamed for environmental destruction

[07:57] Dominic333: but they wanted to live there to survive

 [07:57] elyse: my observation is that mainstream religious institutions are really slow to act on the eco-cause... why?

[07:57] Karin (Green Prophet): In the Middle East though religion more or less defines where you live more than how you act.

 [07:57] ish: because they've been disconnected from the wisdom of the earth for a long time, i guess

[07:58] sarah from california, us: @irfan, we are having a free-flowing conversation around interfaith action for the environment and what we can do

[07:58] Dominic333: i think the oasis symbolises protection of the environments in deserts, they need to be protected

 [07:58] Karin (Green Prophet): Dear friends... I must leave the chat room. If anyone has anything to share on my blog, will be happy to see if we can report it... meanwhile, keep the green wheels turning!

[07:58] sarah from california, us: that's a good question Elyse...

 [07:58] sarah from california, us: thank you so much for joinin,g Karin

[07:59] ish: I think environmental efforts should always team up with efforts addressing social issues such as poverty

[07:59] Dominic333: definitely!

 [07:59] Anqa (Pakistan): main need is to educate people for it

[08:00] sarah from california, us: Elyse - why do you think that is... that mainstream religious institutions are slow to act. I know that a number of religious leaders went to Copenhagen to try to say what they were doing, but perhaps they are not the majority

[08:00] ish: because poverty tends to get in the way of making people prioritize the environment

 [08:00] Anqa (Pakistan): religious institutions can play their role in this

[08:00] elyse: yes, i agree, we find it hard in greenfaith to draw the line around what is environmental work and what is more social.. i think specific eco-education in faith communities is really needed.

[08:00] Peter Frank Womack: i think driving automobiles has distanced the US from nature. There is less walking. Plus, the US has had a tenuous relationship with the land it is on (taking it from the natives).

[08:00] irfan: but i think we should review the concept of development under religion

[08:00] Peter Frank Womack: And the World has had to compete with the US so this has had global ramifications.

[08:00] Dominic333: read this ish: http://riotimesonline.com/news/front-page/building-walls-around-favelas/

[08:00] sarah from california, us: yes, Anqa, i think you are right. religious institutions can start by educating their people, and being good models themselves of greener methods.

[08:01] sarah from california, us: Irfan - say more about what you mean about development under religion

[08:01] sarah from california, us: welcome Naoufal!

[08:01] elyse: there are lots of connections with all the ills of modern society, lack of walking and connection to good nutrition leads to obesity and also over consumption and eco-degredation. also the alienation of children from open space. we need holistic change

[08:02] sarah from california, us: (@naoufal i hope you are doing okay... we were all so sad to hear the news of the passing of your father.)

[08:03] sarah from california, us: i think that is what is so exciting about action around the environment - it is connected to the health of people, nature and the planet - so if we act, we are making such an impact across all of those issues

[08:03] naoufal: welcome sarah , i read all writing now, sorry , the same time i was occupied but the new news , of my father , today all is ok ,

[08:03] sarah from california, us: elyse - what conclusions did you come to in your thesis? about interfaith action for the environment?

[08:04] ish: i think we must reconnect with the environment. you know begin with appreciating it. being in nature opens a lot of possibilities and insights. And when we feel how we are truly and deeply connected with the environment, we can begin to shift paradigms

[08:04] elyse: at the local level I think eco-interfaith work deepens dialogue because it becomes an organic extension of acting together and not abstract

[08:04] ish: thanks Dom. reading it now

[08:04] irfan: well as the world has seen the impact of development under modernism which today created a lot of problems and rest of the underdeveloped countries want to jump in the same race just imagine how much resources we need and how much pollution there will be

[08:05] sarah from california, us: @ishilta, i appreciate that... i think reestablishing our connection with nature is fundamental. this is why i so value what you are doing to celebrate the cycles of the Earth

[08:05] elyse: also, i think that eco-interfaith work is a two way stream, one of education of harder to reach communities and groups with eco-education and the also the need for environmentalism to have a spritual change aspect that traditions can provide

[08:05] ish: thanks Sarah. that's a good, even subtle as it seems, to start

[08:05] sarah from california, us: so if we bring together members of our community to act together locally, this gives us an outlet for practical action that makes a real difference

 [08:06] elyse: On that note, will have to love you and leave you. work early tomorrow. thanks all for the stimulating chat!

[08:06] sarah from california, us: thank you Elyse!

[08:06] sarah from california, us: wonderful having your voice and wisdom with us...

[08:06] Peter Frank Womack: Peace, Elyse.

[08:06] naoufal: same time the good born of our environment, is for the inspiration , to learn more about the life , the protection of environment is the big part of our life and relation with the good

[08:06] ish: thanks elyse!

 [08:06] Dominic333: bye elyse

[08:07] sarah from california, us: yes irfan, the development model is one of the real problems driving our overexploitation of the environment

[08:07] Tareq Palestine: I was really sad of your father passing news

[08:07] sarah from california, us: we have to question the assumption that "more is better"

[08:07] naoufal: thanks my brother tariq

[08:07] Dominic333: maybe ishilta the other religions can learn from your tradition to see ways to connect with the earth

[08:07] ish: i agree! the quality is important more than the numbers

 [08:07] sarah from california, us: at this point we are growing so exponentially, it is not sustainable...

 [08:08] Dominic333: true sarah

 [08:08] Peter Frank Womack: i believe one important element is introducing children to nature, particularly the food that children eat

 [08:08] sarah from california, us: i encourage you all to check out this website – Awakening the Dreamer symposium has some great resources: http://awakeningthedreamer.org/content/view/115/135

 [08:08] ish: that's a possibility Dom. After all, one way or another, we are all part of an ancient earth tradition

[08:09] sarah from california, us: do you all have some practices from your own life that you would like to share? like what Peter just mentioned

 [08:10] Dominic333: pachamama is an earth goddess in Peru!

[08:10] Tareq Palestine: Yes, sarah

[08:10] Tareq Palestine: there are many things to share about this from Islam

[08:10] naoufal: yes

[08:10] ish: Awakening the Dreamer is a powerful way to move people! I really want to facilitate a symposium someday. that's been my dream

[08:10] Tareq Palestine: Islam as a religion ask you always to care for the nature

[08:11] Dominic333: can u tell us about ways in islam!

[08:11] naoufal: yes  the same word is very important , we were born of the sea and the earth , for the inspiration for the people

 [08:12] sarah from california, us: @ish you can do it! i am working to set up a facilitation team to bring the WakeUp model (tailored version of the symposium for young people) to other youth in URI

[08:12] Dominic333: I spend some time in the park

[08:12] naoufal: to protect all space

[08:12] Dominic333: it gives me a feeling of connectedness

[08:12] ish: that's good news Sarah. I will so look forward to it

[08:12] Tareq Palestine: Ok

[08:13] Tareq Palestine: Surrah An-Nahl - THE BEE - No.16 - Verse: 14 -16

Allah Almighty has also subjected to you the sea so that, out of it, you may have fresh food and also what you use as your ornaments.

 [08:13] Tareq Palestine: You see how the ships plow through the sea carrying you forward in quest of His bounties so that your efforts may fructify. verse 14

 [08:14] Tareq Palestine: this is part of the Quran

[08:14] Peter Frank Womack: does anybody have any information about what the green parties are doing?

[08:14] Tareq Palestine: in which god spoke about the importaNCE OF NATURE

[08:14] sarah from california, us: sorry peter, i do not off hand have that info

[08:14] irfan: sarah we were the cultural visit to Sindh 2months ago , there we visited Mohenjo-daro, the Indus Valley civilization from about 2500 BC ,

[08:14] irfan: how people managed their life and environment much more in better and advanced ways as today the modern engineering and scientist are wondering how advanced high tech they were using fully environment friendly

[08:14] Tareq Palestine: Allah Almighty has formed the earth in such a way that you may sit on it firmly while it revolves. He has also created mountains and rivers and land tracks so that you may reach your destination (21/31, 31/10). verse 15

[08:15] sarah from california, us: yes we were speaking about that towards the beginning, tareq, and about the idea of dominion. how we can reclaim it as one of stewardship rather than dominance over the Earth

[08:15] ish: I read somewhere that in the Islam tradition, Allah only speaks to one creature in the animal kingdom. And that is the BEE.

[08:15] sarah from california, us: @irfan - that is very interesting! do you have more info about this civilization?

[08:16] irfan: what i am emphasizing about is to review our image of the development

 [08:16] irfan: yes

[08:16] Tareq Palestine: Ish this is not true

[08:16] irfan: i have we were on the visit with youth group

[08:16] naoufal: yes, the talk of being born the same animals women and male, for the egality

[08:16] ish: thank you for correcting the information

[08:17] Tareq Palestine: Allah spoke to all and Animals has a special status in Quran

[08:17] naoufal: zawjyene , two

[08:17] sarah from california, us: yes, irfan.. i think that there is a lot of wisdom to be found in ancient cultures that lived in greater balance and harmony with the Earth. that is why i am very passionate about including Indigenous people in interfaith work - they have much to teach us

[08:17] sarah from california, us: what is that, tareq? what special status?

[08:17] Dominic333: in my beliefs there is a deity that watches different parts of the environment

08:18] Dominic333: so we should not be destructive as it belongs to them

[08:19] sarah from california, us: interesting dominic, what belief is that from?

[08:19] Dominic333: um Afro-Brazilian and Hinduism too

[08:19] Dominic333: but my feelings too

[08:19] ish: and the Kami of Shinto

[08:19] Dominic333: yeah

[08:19] sarah from california, us: i myself am committing to learning more about gardening so i can begin to grow my own food at home. we don't have much space but i can start with just a planter box

[08:20] naoufal: becouse the animals was with rouh # life # egality with life all peuple egality with perssone . in QURan

[08:20] sarah from california, us: naoufal - so animals are seen as equal to humans in the quran? that is very interesting

[08:20] Tareq Palestine: And over the earth We created an atmosphere which is safe in itself and which keeps the inhabitants protected[2] (from the destruction caused by meteors falling from above).

[08:20] Tareq Palestine: yes, Sarah,

[08:20] ish: Aside from eco-activities, I practice agnihotra everyday to help repair the environment

[08:20] irfan: one other thing is we can work out about the teachings of religions about protecting the environment make leaflets etc and distribute and campaign in communities , and schools etc

[08:21] Tareq Palestine: The Special status is because it is given equal mentioning in Quran and it has special verses with its nams

[08:21] Tareq Palestine: names

[08:21] sarah from california, us: what is agnihotra?

[08:21] Tareq Palestine: and It says that it all also has its own way to worship to god

[08:21] Dominic333: agnihotra is a fire ceremony

 [08:21] Dominic333: agni - fire

[08:21] sarah from california, us: yes irfan, i was sharing about the green rule earlier. it is a poster that shows the value of caring for the Earth in all different religions.

[08:21] naoufal: yes sarah , the #rooh# power life , is important

[08:22] ish: it is a form of homa...a vedic healing fire ceremony. It is more of a science as it has specific tools and methodologies